How far should I describe my experience for MFA Broadcast design?

Hi there,


I am applying for MFA in Broadcast design and Motion graphic, however I am not quite sure how far should I describe my experience in art and design. because my background was in design then I took Animation as BFA then I am currently working as broadcast designer.

Should I start with how I felt in love with art, or talk straight on why I choose broadcast design without starting from the very beginning.

Thank you!

Good morning :)

Many times these essays will have pretty strict guidelines; what they want you to write about, and how many words. Does your application have requirements such as this? These guidelines can help us decide where to start and what to include, so that we don't go on all day about all sorts of things :)
Knowing this information will help us get started.

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com

The statement should be a 500- to 750-word overview of the applicant’s academic and professional experience, describing preparation for and commitment to further study in a specific discipline. The applicant should state personal and professional goals related to the pursuit of an advanced degree in the discipline, indicating the applicant’s intended focus. The statement of purpose should describe qualifications for graduate study, and should demonstrate a high level of interest in and a highly developed understanding of the discipline.

This is their requirement...

Statement of Purpose

Art and design have always been my core passion. Blessed with natural inclination for artistic value, my life merits with art and design activities since I was able to hold a crayon and make a beautiful mark on my parent’s wall, which of course alerted them of my self-evident talent. I’d say blessed because I am loving every part of being in the industry of my choice.
But it was not until during my first year in art college that I began my fascination with moving images. I decided to expand my interest by marrying my initial passions of drawing and 2D graphics with motion. I enrolled myself in Animation course since that was the closest available course that accommodates my newfound interest. My motion graphics and broadcast design experience was barely existed before I landed my first job as motion graphic designer. From then, I never look back. I developed a keen interest and strong desire to cultivate my talents in that specific area of motion graphics. Soon my works were seen in various television channels and national television.

With regards of my formal educational background, I studied first year of Visual Communication Design in University of Pelita Harapan, Jakarta-Indonesia. Focusing on the foundation of graphic design such as typography, composition, layout and art history. At the end of my first year, I was awarded a tuition grant by the government of Singapore in ties with Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts to pursue a degree of my chosen path. Since I had graphic design background, initially I was going to apply for the course. However my attention was diverted when I had to take animation class during my first year. I was so interested in it, I worked hard and earned myself a High Distinction. I enrolled myself in Animation (Media Arts). It is a 4-year course resembles British tertiary education, which comprises of 3 years in Diploma equivalent to first 3 years of degree and the final year (fourth year) is the Bachelor of Arts (Hons). I was taught technical area of animation production such as intensive drawing lessons, character design, software knowledge in 2D and 3D and scriptwriting, as well as art theory and art history. In fact I took these theoretical lessons seriously, during my final year paper, I investigated the underlying message behind the elements of animation through the study of psychoanalysis. I argued that instead of just merely entertainment or visual pleasure, animation or any moving visual image carries a reflection of our unconscious mind, supported by theory of Jacques Lacan. My vast intensive research didn’t go in vain. I scored a first class grade for my dissertation. I graduated with BA (Hons) Upper Second Class from Lasalle-SIA, Singapore and validated by Open University, UK.

My first encounter with motion graphics happened when I was employed as a designer in a local production house, where I learned in-depth of After Effects knowledge and produced my first show packaging for national channel, including the logo animation, show opener, lower third, menu page and end page. It was a good thrill to see your work in public. Since the company was driving towards more of trendy and youth-driven graphics, I had the privilege to create promos for -- for their annual beach party and other -- projects. However I saw the need to be versatile without being confined with one particular style. Therefore I accepted the position as designer in an international branding broadcast company which focuses on re-branding and launching new channel. My responsibility included to develop the channel logo, create boards for the idents, opener, lower third, and other items in the package. It was the period during which I sharpened my 3D software knowedge a new dimension to my works hence extends the limitation of flat 2D images.
I have been working as motion graphic/broadcast designer for 2 years and counting. Currently I am working for an exciting broadcast design company that regularly serves the demand of graphic for national television and other well-known broadcast stations. However while enjoying the benefit of hands-on experience in the local and regional media industry, I always inspired by what is happening in the international creative scene which mainly happened in the mature and established industry in other part of the world. Internet and numerous website were vastly significant in showcasing the talents and marvelous works throughout the world. As an avid browser of www.--------.com and other motion graphic portals, ABCD is no stranger to the scene. Known for the producing award-winning quality graduates, ABCD stresses the importance of exposure to the industry by hosting ---- symposium for consecutively 2 years. Personally I was really excited looking at the panel of speakers from great studios. Being a industry personal myself, I am fully aware the importance of networking and exposure, of which ABCD has stages these essences through various channels.
I believe in expanding myself to the maximum, balancing both creative thinking and technical knowledge. Having read the curriculum for this course, I am confident that I would have a better understanding of endless possibilities this industry has to offer. Since I acquired my expertise practically by working experience, having a proper academic environment will encompasses my prior talent for the benefit of nurturing the younger generation of motion graphic designers. It is part of my agenda to eventually take part of the regeneration of talents through educational realm in my home base in Singapore. The government has been very supportive in promoting media industry through various scholarship and funding, hence I foresee a great future ahead locally and internationally. This new installment of advancing my study will pave the way to attain my dream of becoming a prolific player in the industry and supporter of the new generation talents.

My SoP is exceeding the word limits, should I cut down or just let it be since I already editted it.

Really appreciate what you guys are doing through this website!

Cheers!

Good morning.

OK, let's see what we've got here:

"Art and design have always been my core passions (Two items, more than one passion) . Blessed with the natural inclination to identify artistic value, my life has been filled with art and design activities since I was able to hold a crayon and make a beautiful mark on my parent's wall, which of course alerted them of my self-evident talent. I'd say blessed because I am loving every part of being in the industry of my choice.
It was not until during my first year in art college that I became fascinated with moving images. I decided to expand my interest by marrying my initial passions of drawing and 2D graphics with motion. I enrolled myself in an animation course. My motion graphics and broadcast design experience barely (Unnecessary word) existed before I landed my first job as motion graphic designer. From then, I never looked back. Soon my works were seen in various local television channels as well as national television.

With regards to my formal educational background, I studied visual communication d esign my first year at the University of Pelita Harapan, Jakarta, Indonesia, where I focused on the foundations of graphic design such as typography, composition, layout, and art history. At the end of my first year, I was awarded a tuition grant by the government of Singapore in ties with Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts to pursue a degree of my chosen path. Since I had a graphic design background, initially I was going to apply for the course. However my attention was diverted when I took the animation class during my first year. I was so interested in it I (Remove comma) worked hard and earned myself a High Distinction. I enrolled myself in Animation (Media Arts). It is a 4-year course that resembled British tertiary education and was comprised of 3 years in Diploma, equivalent to the first 3 years of a degree and the final year is the Bachelor of Arts (Hons). I was taught the technical aspects of animation production, such as drawing lessons, character design, software knowledge in 2D and 3D and scriptwriting, as well as art theory and art history. In fact I took these theoretical lessons seriously. During my final year paper I investigated the underlying message behind the elements of animation through the study of psychoanalysis, and I scored a first class grade. I graduated with a BA (Hons) Upper Second Class from Lasalle-SIA, Singapore and waswv alidated by the Open University in the UK.

I was employed as a designer at a local production house where (Remove unnecessary comma)I learned in-depth of after effects and produced my first show packaging for national channel including (Remove unnecessary comma) the logo animation, show opener, lower third, menu page, and end page. The company was driving towards more trendy and youth-driven graphics and I created promos for their annual beach party, among other projects. I saw the need to be versatile so I accepted a position as a designer in an international branding broadcast company which focuses on re-branding and launching new channels. My responsibilities included developing the channel logo, creating boards for the idents, the opener, lower third, and other items in the package. It was the period during which I sharpened my 3D software knowedge.
I have been working as motion graphic/broadcast designer for 2 years. Currently I am working for a broadcast design company that serves national television and other well-known broadcast stations. While enjoying the benefit of hands-on experience in the local and regional media industry I am inspired by what is happening in the international creative scene, which mainly happens in other parts of the world. The internet is vastly significant in showcasing the talents and marvelous works throughout the world.
I believe in expanding myself, balancing both creative thinking and technical knowledge. Having read the curriculum for this course, I am confident that I would have a better understanding of the endless possibilities this industry has to offer. Since I acquired my expertise practically by working, having a proper academic background will give me a well-rounded, comprehensive work persona. It is part of my agenda to eventually take part of the regeneration of talents through education in my home of Singapore. The government has been very supportive in promoting media industry through various scholarships and other funds, hence I foresee a great future ahead locally and internationally. This new installment of advancing my study will pave the way to attain my dream of becoming a prolific player in the industry and supporter of new talent."

OK, I went ahead and trimmed it down, you're right at your 750 word limit. You can trim it further down if you'd like, but you've got so much experience it's hard to decide what is more important than another. Mainly I took out alot of your descriptions and emotions; they want the bare bones facts in this essay. Your personality will come through during the interview, which is what it is for. This is not the place for that, hence the limitiations. Good job!

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com

Hi Gloria,

Thank you so much for helping me in my essay. Since english is not my primary language, it's rather challenging to put this essay together.

I am quite enlightened by your comments on what is needed in this essay, because I tend to be quite open with my feeling hence make this essay rather personal.

Probably is not the right place to do that.

Cheers,

Hellen

Good morning!

Well, it's not like you write these everyday! :)

I'm the same way, and it's easy to overwhelm people with our enthusiasm, especially when it's something we really care about. You'll get your chance. :)

Keep up the good work!

Regards,
Gloria
Moderator, EssayForum.com