Although I am loyal to the Public Relations Committee, I still can attest that Design is one of the coolest committees in TEDxOhioStateUniversity. Design is TEDxOhioStateUniversity’s communication hub for branding and the building of the TEDx experience here at OSU. It’s an all encompassing committee that works alongside other committee to create the TEDx experience for the viewer.
Design handles everything from stage design, the designs for social media, the cool activities at the event, to the awesome motion graphics. The Design Committee is the most niche committee in TEDx, since one needs substantial “design” skills to be selected for the committee. Each member of design has their own talent and passion; some members are fluent in motion design, others in editorial design, and so on. All members encompass the various skills of Visual Communications Design. Each member hones in on their skills to create the textual, visual, and auditory components at each TEDx event.
Design is definitely the most creative-intensive team in TEDxOhioStateUniversity. Which proposes the question of how do Design members cope with creators’-block while being held accountable to incremental deadlines? Well, I got the run-down of Design from the Director of Design herself, Tiffany Lau. Tiffany has been apart of the Design Committee for three years, and she’s seen how the committee has evolved firsthand. At a young, innocent, and impressionable age, Tiffany - then a pre-design major - heard about TEDxOhioStateUniversity through a friend who urged her to join the organization. Now, Tiffany is the Director of Design and a graduating senior. Tiffany tackles creative blocks through communication and creating a space specifically for creativity in her committee to thrive. Over the years, Tiffany has watched the committee grow. This has allowed her, through experience, to understand the intricate networking that must be established to allow the Design Committee to succeed. Communication is key in Visual Communication Design; Every artist of the committee has their own specialty, and through communication, Tiffany can utilize the available skills to create this conglomerate of niches.
As Director, Tiffany sets the expectations of the committee from day one, but her expectations for Design are #limitless. She establishes her committee as a chance for Design students to build their craft and portfolio. Everything the Design Committee makes is their own. They are designing for an organization with the mission ideas worth spreading, not just turning in work for a letter grade. Each member can delve into things they otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to, had they not joined TEDxOhioStateUniversity. The committee allows for members to establish lifelong skills that sets them apart from others in the market.
The Design committee evolves through the innovation of its members. As mentioned, Design is constantly evolving. For the first time this year, the design committee is pushing motion design; Nick, a new member, is passionate about creating motion design; Something that hadn’t been available in the past. Each year the bar is raised higher on what the Design Committee is capable of achieving. Design is the infrastructure that holds TEDxOhioStateUniversity together. They create the experience for live and at home viewers.
Also, if you happen to come across a member of the Design Committee, make sure you tell them that they are awesome. All their creativity is pushed into TEDxOhioStateUniversity, and they create magic. So round of applause for Design.
