How I Decided to Become a Graphic Designer and Why the Green ASC VET Project Is Important to Me
My name is Eva. I’m 20 years old and autistic. In this blog, I would like to share my story on how I discovered my love for graphic design. Ever since I was little, I have loved to draw and watch animated movies. I watched a lot of flash animations, fanarts and different drawings on the Internet. I was mostly on DeviantArt, YouTube and Amino, while it still existed. As a child, I was fascinated by colours, design and the way the animations were made.
Due to autism, I would rewatch scenes. I never found it boring. It helped me to calm down and notice a lot of tiny details I hadn’t noticed before. I watched what way the characters were drawn; what colours were used and how interconnected everything was. I think that was precisely the moment my love for graphic design started, even though I didn’t know it was called that at the time.
After finishing a specialised art high school, I decided to enrol on the micro qualification “Application of Computer Methods and Tools in Graphic Design” using a voucher at Algebra Bernays. It was a very nice and interesting experience, to spend evenings learning something I really like. The teacher explained really well how to use the Photoshop and the Illustrator. Before this course, I didn’t know how important these programmes were and how they lend themselves to so many different things. I realized that the graphic design can be both a hobby and a job.
I successfully completed the course and because of it got the chance to volunteer as a graphic designer on the Erasmus+ Green ASC VET project. I design cover pages and posters, so I get to apply the knowledge I acquired during my education. While I was making the covers and the posters, I was thinking about what message the project was trying to convey. I wanted to show that it opens the door for autistic people. It doesn’t provide them with jobs but rather gives them the opportunity to show what they know, to develop their skills and become part of the team. This is why I tried to show with my work the journey from feeling that you are alone towards new opportunities, learning, working and belonging.
While I was attending the course, I got the feeling for the first time what the classes at university would be like. I realized that I can keep up with the lectures, learn new things and develop my skills. That is why I decided to enrol on the Visual Communication Design university course at Bernays Algebra. I want to use my creativity to create digital art. It is something I have loved ever since I was a child and I want to keep learning. I believe I can make a lot of progress during these four years and make graphic design my career.
I am very grateful to have been able to participate in the Erasmus+ Green ASC VET – Metautism project. I got familiar with the project first at the Association for Autism Zagreb, and then later on participated in the testing of project results at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences in Zagreb. After that, I got involved as a graphic designer on a voluntary basis.
The Green ASC VET project works to make education and employment easier for autistic people. Its aim is to remove barriers and discrimination, enabling more autistic people to have the opportunity to learn, develop their skills and find a job that suits their abilities. The project uses modern technologies such as extended reality simulators and immersive 360° videos to make learning safer, more tailored and less stressful.
During the testing phase, I tried out the Interview Master, which is a job interview simulation. I liked it very much. I could practice the job interview in a quiet and safe environment, which helped me to better understand what an interview entails, to practice the answers to questions and be less anxious. I think this will help me when I, one day, have a real job interview with a real person.
I also tried the videos Occupations on the Spectrum. I could see different working environments before finding myself in a real situation. It helped me to better understand what kind of jobs there are out there and which of them might suit me. I think this is especially useful for autistic people because it reduces the sensory overload and enables them to slowly get familiar with the work environment.
I also got familiar with the XR skills simulators, such as the welding simulator and the painting simulator. The fact that I could learn at my own pace is what I liked the most. If I make a mistake, I can retry without the fear of something bad happening. This boosted my confidence and my sense of security. As an autistic person, it means a lot when I can learn in a predictable environment and when I have enough time to repeat actions.
I think that the Green ASC VET is an important project. When we provide autistic people with support, understanding and the opportunity to learn in a way that suits them, they can demonstrate their knowledge, creativity and abilities. When we exclude them from education and employment, we deprive them of the chance to develop their potential and participate in society.
I am grateful to have been able to participate in this project through which I didn’t just learn new things but was also able to contribute to as a future graphic designer. I am pleased to be able to support a project through my work that believes education should be accessible to everyone and that autistic people deserve equal opportunities.
I hope that in the future there will be more projects like this. I believe that autistic people can do many beautiful and useful things when someone gives them a chance and believes in them. I am one example that effort, support and understanding pay off.
Finally, I am very happy that I decided to go to university and further develop my creativity, learn new things and one day have a job I really like. I believe that studying will help me realise the slogan of Algebra Bernays: “Be excellent at what you love. Sparkle.” I sincerely hope that one day I too will sparkle by doing what I love – graphic design.