After this semester, I realize how much design plays a factor in very simple tasks we’re set to expect getting deeper into the profession. It’s become clear how important learning and utilizing tools are to practicing public relations, and this class has been a key stepping stone in being more effective in my design skills.
The most valuable aspect of this class was getting used to the industry standard tools such as Photoshop, Indesign and Canva. I have a lot to learn about each of them, but the base knowledge taken from this class makes me want to use them more.
With Photoshop and Canva, I can make basic social media campaigns look more professional and unique to any organization. With Indesign I can lay out the framework for a brochure or a newsletter. And by blogging I can share my insights on whatever I feel like and tell a story the way I want. And with Mailchimp, I’m able to send e-newsletters to multiple people without effort, expanding any client’s reach significantly.
Overall though, I feel the importance of understanding audiences was another one of the key insights gained from this class. I learned how certain design elements can resonate with different stakeholders and how these tools introduced to us can help shape different messages through design.
I look forward to using what I’ve learned next year when I take PR Campaigns.