In this blog post, I’ll summarize what I learned through my academic experiences, school activities, and volunteer work while majoring in design in high school.

Academic Experiences and Reflections

I had the opportunity to systematically learn the fundamentals of design through my major at an art high school. Since there were more specialized classes than at a general high school, I worked hard to build a solid foundation through subjects such as form, conceptualization, and expression. Above all, because my goal was to become a designer with my own unique personality and creativity, I prioritized mastering the fundamentals during my high school years.
During my first year, I focused on two-dimensional and three-dimensional form, studying design elements and their applications. I sought out various relevant examples to connect theory with practice, and rather than simply memorizing theory, I broadened my understanding by observing and experiencing concepts firsthand through hands-on exercises. In particular, by studying the work of seniors who had completed similar assignments, I learned various methods of visual composition and developed habits that fostered creative thinking.
Starting in my second year, I began taking “Creativity and Concept Development” courses in earnest, deepening my training in drawing and design. In drawing classes, I learned the expressive characteristics of different materials, and in design classes, I learned image training methods for generating creative ideas. At first, many of my ideas were limited to imitating existing works, but through consistent concept development training, I became accustomed to coming up with ingenious ideas that had never been seen before.
Another major achievement was developing practical skills by turning the ideas generated through these exercises into finished works and submitting them to on-campus exhibitions and external competitions. These hands-on and exhibition experiences helped me understand the entire design process and provided an opportunity to demonstrate my foundational skills in a practical setting.

Major On-Campus Activities and Reflections

During my sophomore year of high school, I participated as part of a team in a large-scale on-campus art exhibition, where I displayed my work for the first time. Our school’s exhibition was a large-scale joint event involving not only design majors but also students from Western painting, Korean painting, and sculpture departments, so I gathered my team members to hold a series of brainstorming sessions. Unlike our usual assignment-focused meetings, this was a free-theme exhibition with no specific topic, so we freely exchanged ideas through brainstorming.
While identifying our team members’ common interests, the theme of “animals” naturally emerged. Many of us loved animals, and we wanted to create practical designs that would actually be helpful. Therefore, we selected two concepts—an outing kit for dogs and a disposable food package for stray cats—and proceeded with their development.
The dog outing kit was designed to simultaneously address pet food and waste management during picnics or walks. We combined small-packaged water and dog food with a scoop and disposable plastic bags for waste disposal into a single portable box, making it convenient to purchase and carry. We prioritized practicality in the package composition and packaging design, ensuring real-world usability.
The disposable food package for stray cats was designed with accessibility in mind, with the goal of making it suitable for sale at convenience stores. We placed the food inside a paper box the size of a food bowl so that anyone could easily purchase it and leave it where it was needed. The final products were exhibited at a trade show, where they received positive feedback and praise from visitors.

Examples of Compassion, Sharing, and Collaboration, and My Reflections

I participated in volunteer activities organized by a local youth center, carrying out various community service projects. This group was primarily composed of teenagers who had come together to help marginalized members of the community, and I utilized my talents in art and design to take part in a variety of activities, such as magic shows, wallpapering homes, and painting murals at public facilities.
At first, I was unfamiliar with performing magic, so I had to undergo special training and practice many times. Since I made frequent mistakes when practicing alone, I corrected them by demonstrating the tricks in front of my friends; as a result, I successfully performed magic for the elderly residents at a local nursing home. Seeing the elderly clap their hands and enjoy the show made me truly appreciate the rewards of practice and the value of bringing joy to others.
Wallpapering and mural painting required teamwork, so cooperation was especially important. At a local children’s welfare center, we replaced old wallpaper and painted murals on the exterior walls. We printed out design sketches, attached them to the walls, sketched the outlines, mixed colors, and completed the paintings. This process was an opportunity to directly apply my artistic talents to volunteer work, and the bond with my friends—who encouraged one another while enduring the heavy labor and cold weather together—deepened significantly.
Through this volunteer experience, I learned firsthand the value of sharing and truly felt the power and meaning of solving problems together. I also learned that we can create greater change when we use our individual talents to care for others and work together.