Forging a Creative Identity for Yourself
Oscar Merritt's Creative Journey: From the Air Force to Graphic Design
Oscar Merritt, a former Air Force Logistics and Transportation specialist, is embarking on a new creative journey after completing his BFA in Graphic Design. His career aspirations involve a unique blend of identity design, art instruction, and freelance work.
Merritt's BFA project was a museum-like event focused on American motorcycles, specifically American-made V-Twin motorcycles. The project aimed to promote the similarities and differences between Indian Motorcycle (IMC) and Harley Davidson (HD), helping people make informed decisions. This project was inspired by Merritt's personal interest in motorcycles and a dilemma he faced while shopping between the two brands.
Merritt discovered his current institution through their YouTube channel and has since launched his own channel, Finesse The Challenger. His dedication and informative content earned him a membership into the Indian Motorcycle Ambassador Program.
Merritt's creative goals post-graduation include freelancing for logo designs, potentially teaching grade school art, and delving into animation design. He believes in the importance of understanding proven styles and philosophies to adapt and innovate when needed.
During his BFA program, Merritt found the depth and focus, as well as the addition of Zoom meetings and instructor feedback, to be key to his success. However, he struggled with the Drawing course due to the need to follow a structured approach, but found it rewarding in the end.
Looking back, Merritt misses the people he worked with in the Air Force the most. But he is excited about the future, eager to bring his unique perspective and style to the world of graphic design.
Merritt's advice for someone considering a creative career is to be authentic and let personal style shine through. He believes that digital art serves as a source of inspiration, rather than following specific artists.
One of Merritt's favourite projects so far has been a narrated video assignment in phase three. This project showcases his passion for dynamic visual media, a focus that will likely continue in his future freelance work.
Using technology as a medium, Oscar Merritt intends to fuse his graphic design skills with education-and-self-development content, creating engaging lifestyle videos that cater to his motorcycle-loving audience. His distinctive style, a blend of traditional art principles and embracing technology, will resonate in the design of logos for various clients and potential art curriculum in grade schools.
