A common sentiment has been creeping up among the Interior Design denizens, myself included.
"I'm not motivated"
Over winter break I was constantly excited about what lay ahead. I got a couple of paintings done, did some matting work and put down sketches or concept statements for a dozen other projects. Then the new semester hit and nothing seemed worthwhile. The two new design assignments handed down were rather bland in my opinion (heaven help me if an ID instructor reads this). I thrive on creative problem solving, and neither of the new assignments offered me a place to shine in that regard. But assuming I was the only one feeling this way, I kept my opinions to myself. Then someone else mentioned that they weren't feeing motivated, then someone else said it, then another person, and another person.
I'm a firm believer in grading curves. If a few people aren't performing well, its their fault. If the majority aren't doing well, maybe something is wrong with the institution. Of course, it would take a very (very very) brave soul to complain about lack of motivation to the instructors because one of two responses are expected.
"I'm not motivated"
Over winter break I was constantly excited about what lay ahead. I got a couple of paintings done, did some matting work and put down sketches or concept statements for a dozen other projects. Then the new semester hit and nothing seemed worthwhile. The two new design assignments handed down were rather bland in my opinion (heaven help me if an ID instructor reads this). I thrive on creative problem solving, and neither of the new assignments offered me a place to shine in that regard. But assuming I was the only one feeling this way, I kept my opinions to myself. Then someone else mentioned that they weren't feeing motivated, then someone else said it, then another person, and another person.
I'm a firm believer in grading curves. If a few people aren't performing well, its their fault. If the majority aren't doing well, maybe something is wrong with the institution. Of course, it would take a very (very very) brave soul to complain about lack of motivation to the instructors because one of two responses are expected.
- "You're just being lazy"
- "Its not my job to motivate you"
So its unlikely that the topic will even be breached with the powers that be.
Is cooperative motivation a viable solution? Do we need to be each others cheerleaders? I think its a great motivator to have someone offer words of encouragement, but unless its an instructor, I usually treat compliments from others as sycophantic ass kissing. Maybe thats just a personal problem I need to overcome. In any event, I'm not sure I have the type of personality to inspire motivation in others. I'm much more of a 'shoulder to cry on' kind of person, which is a necessary role to play, but not always the most helpful.
So it all boils down to self motivation. We all have days when we don't want to get out of bed, or when being a couch potato is the highest aspiration of the day. But god dammit, we're artists! We create. It is our passion, and we're good at it. If we cease to create, we destroy our identity. And that perhaps is the greatest long term motivating factor in my life.
Persistence until death.
Is cooperative motivation a viable solution? Do we need to be each others cheerleaders? I think its a great motivator to have someone offer words of encouragement, but unless its an instructor, I usually treat compliments from others as sycophantic ass kissing. Maybe thats just a personal problem I need to overcome. In any event, I'm not sure I have the type of personality to inspire motivation in others. I'm much more of a 'shoulder to cry on' kind of person, which is a necessary role to play, but not always the most helpful.
So it all boils down to self motivation. We all have days when we don't want to get out of bed, or when being a couch potato is the highest aspiration of the day. But god dammit, we're artists! We create. It is our passion, and we're good at it. If we cease to create, we destroy our identity. And that perhaps is the greatest long term motivating factor in my life.
Persistence until death.
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