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Shakeel Mohamed

MFA in Graphic Design - 3 Yr Path — Graduate Graphic Design
Course:
661 Graduate Thesis 2
Faculty:
Michael Neal

Applied Designer (Thesis)

My thesis explores looking at new career possibilities for early and mid-career graphic designers. I created Applied Designer, part hiring agency, part advocacy platform, to support designers looking to make career changes. As we face economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancements, I believe Applied Designer is an opportunity to build a sustainable community of designers with meaningful creative careers.
Project Website:
https://shakeelmohamed.com/projects/thesis/
At the heart of my thesis is the Applied Designer identity. The wireframe aesthetic conveys the transparency I aim to bring to the design industry.
As a hiring agency, Applied Designer can meet early and mid-career designers at industry events like the AIGA national conference. This begins with a trade show booth.
Designers approaching the booth can access a number of training materials I created.
The career stages brochure maps out the 5 stages of a designer’s career, and lists other services Applied Designer offers, like personalized coaching.
At networking events, Applied Designers can create name tags based on their relevant career stage.
After engaging with the booth, designers can explore the 12 career archetypes on the microsite. Here, the logo comes to life as a 3 dimensional interface.
I believe the design industry has no fixed position, so why should the logo for my thesis be a fixed form?
This tool enabled me to create an infinite number of logo variations, perhaps one for each Applied Designer.