Designing Meaning in Japan through Advertising and Graphics

Aubrey Vanson, a third-year design major and art history minor, loves all things creative and is deeply passionate about how creative disciplines are essential to her everyday practice. “I’ve always seen design as centered around problem-solving, as creative yet practical,” she explained.

Focused on interior and graphic design, Aubrey noted how, despite being creative her whole life, she hadn’t quite developed the technique or skills to move beyond design’s conceptuality. She considers her experience as a designer so far — having all the ideas in the world but never quite the space to transform them into effective outcomes — until now.

Design in Japan

This past summer, Aubrey participated in the study abroad program Design in Japan, working to further explore the ways in which her designs could convey meaning. The program took students to Tokyo and Kyoto to immerse them in Japan’s wealth of culture, while challenging them to translate concepts into effective graphic form.

To help support her study abroad experience, Aubrey received the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship after applying in March, a few months after enrolling in her program. She undertook most of the research for the program herself, gaining more information through the Global Learning Hub. She also shared that the on-campus scholarship advising sessions were extremely helpful in aiding her completion of the UC Davis Prestigious Scholarships application essays and in making the process less daunting than the influx of information had initially made it out to be.

Advancing Global Goals

Aubrey, after stumbling upon what she called her “dream program,” felt called to expand her worldview through experiential learning. She shared that studying abroad with UC Davis made her experience less intimidating, simultaneously prompting her to absorb the lessons in synchrony with her peers. She spoke warmly of the group’s first class excursion to the Tokyo Skytree — the famous observation tower is approximately 2080 feet tall — noting how surreal it felt to step out of the elevator onto the observation deck. “They played this really cheesy instrumental music that made it feel like being in a movie,” she recounted. Labeling this expansive view of Tokyo as one of the most stunning things she had ever seen, she described being struck with disbelief, with a sense of near pride at having gotten to where she was.

The immersion program’s project involved creating a brand identity for an unappealing product pitch from scratch. Students worked to develop a logo, backstory, advertisements, social media content and packaging for the consumer product. Aubrey shared that the class included extensive feedback and peer review. “Their collaborative efforts enhanced my own ideas,” she said. She noted that her biggest challenge was allocating her time wisely, and that studying abroad helped her find a balance between her personal and professional goals, and make the most of her time in Tokyo. She added that the experience allowed her to build a network, partake in fulfilling conversations, and form lasting personal connections.

Sneak Peek at Aubrey’s Magazine

Following her summer abroad, Aubrey began to work on a magazine, compiling useful information about the program to demystify the application process for her peers. She condensed months of preparation into fewer than 20 pages, hoping that it would benefit students considering applying.

Aubrey’s advice to anyone interested in studying abroad is to do it anyway.

“It can feel overwhelming, but there are so many resources available within the community, and at the end of the day, with such a big experience, you can never be fully prepared,” she said.

She implores you to go with the flow and seek guidance from those who’ve gone through similar experiences themselves.

Aubrey’s Parting Words

One of Aubrey’s biggest takeaways from the program was the confidence it instilled in her to continue pursuing her education and career, reminding her of why she fell in love with design to begin with. While Aubrey drew inspiration from her life for years, she shared that “observing a lifestyle so different led me to see firsthand how design choices suit different needs,” preparing her to be a more holistic, effective designer.

For Aubrey, participating in the program was eye-opening, strengthening her understanding of the designer-audience relationship, helping her learn about design innovation, and discovering new approaches to advance thinking. By the end, she said of her experience:

“It was everything that I was looking for.”