introduction
The Zenith Project is the final, end-of-year project for second-year Freestyle students. It’s meant to be a celebration of everything we’ve learned, giving us the freedom to create something we’re genuinely passionate about while also challenging ourselves with something new. The word “zenith” means the highest point, which reflects how this project represents the peak of our growth, creativity, and skills developed throughout our time at Freestyle. Over the course of a few months, students fully direct their own projects, making it one of the most anticipated and meaningful experiences in the program.
For my Zenith Project, I created a clay jewelry stand designed in the shape of a mini building, complete with windows, stairs, and compartments for storing jewelry. I chose this project because I enjoy working with physical art more than digital media, and I wanted to create something both creative and functional that I could use every day. This project was also a risk for me because I had never worked with clay before and found it intimidating. I had to push past the fear of not being “good enough” and trust the process. Throughout the project, I applied skills like time management, self-direction, and creative problem-solving to stay organized and bring my vision to life. In the end, this project became both a personal challenge and a reflection of my growth as an artist.
process
completed project
reflection
For my final Freestyle project, I chose to work with clay because I wanted to create something both artistic and functional, something I could use in my daily life. I have a lot of jewelry and am always looking for better ways to organize it, so I decided to design a jewelry stand. To make it more unique and personal, I created it in the shape of a mini building. This idea excited me because it combined creativity with practicality and pushed me to try a new material.
To prepare, I spent time researching and gathering inspiration, mainly from Pinterest. I found many examples of artistic and multifunctional jewelry holders that helped me visualize my design. I also researched technical aspects, such as what type of clay to use, how long it takes to harden, how to sculpt and paint it, and how clay interacts with cardboard since I used that as a base. This helped me better understand the process and avoid mistakes.
Although I mostly worked independently, I did receive guidance from Ms. P, who gave helpful suggestions that improved my project and encouraged me to add finishing touches. Working alone allowed me to fully explore my creativity and manage my time effectively. I created a schedule and stuck to it, which helped me complete everything I planned. However, working independently also made it harder to step back and evaluate my work objectively.
The skill I improved the most was self-direction, especially through time management and staying organized. I also strengthened my creative thinking by turning a simple idea into something detailed and unique. Collaboration was the skill I improved the least since I didn’t work closely with others.
One of the biggest lessons I learned is not to expect perfection when trying something new. At first, I put pressure on myself to match my exact vision, but I realized that this only made the process more stressful. Focusing on progress instead helped me stay productive and enjoy the experience.
Overall, I feel I accomplished my goals. I challenged myself with new materials and created a project that closely matched my vision. If I could redo it, I would leave the piece all white instead of adding stamped details, since that took away from the clean look I originally wanted.
My final takeaway is that growth comes from trying new things and letting go of perfection.