JFS—Youth Activity Center Signage
Anne Swanson Graphic Design designed this sign for the Youth Activity Center at Jewish Family Service.
Anne Swanson Graphic Design designed this sign for the Youth Activity Center at Jewish Family Service.
It’s back-to-school time, and I am reflecting on this seasonal change in my life. It got me thinking about the parallels between raising children and the creative work that I do.
Before your child are even born, you have dreams and aspirations for them. You even have an idea of how they might look and what type of personality they might have. You begin making plans for them, even before they have arrived.
I start designing. I often get input from my brother and fellow graphic designer, Ed Gumnick. I research and sketch, on paper or electronically, to get a better idea of what solution might work best. Ed helps me decide which direction my design should take and the best way to “get there.”
Similarly, as a parent, I often turn to friends who have children the same age as mine. We discuss, compare, complain, and often find that we are encountering the same type of child-rearing challenges. By collaborating, we are better able to see the many possible solutions and approaches.
And…as all parents know, we do occasionally get a call. A call from the school nurse, a call from the teacher, a call from jail (okay, we haven’t had this one yet.) Then, we spring into action, doing everything we can to make sure we do what is best for our child (and we also know this sometimes means doing nothing and living with that decision.)
I think you know where this is going…in the same way, we send our children out into the world, to succeed and make a difference in this world. We launch them and know we have done our best to help them be happy and succeed. And when they do succeed we know that all the planning, all the work, all the struggles were worth it—our life’s work is rich and fulfilling.