In 2025 to 2026, I was a senior in high school. I wanted to be a singer, songwriter, designer, and content creator. I knew it sounded like I was all over the place, and I kind of was, but I had a dream and just didn’t know exactly how to achieve it. Ever since 2nd grade, I have been filming and editing videos for my YouTube channel (@Shakti Ann). I loved scripting and sharing content—especially about mental health.
Sadly, because of how out there I was, I had been severely bullied in elementary and middle school. That prompted me to create Bullying Support Groups in the community. For me, it was really important to always be kind and stand up for others, as I wished someone had stood up for me.
My passions were making content, designing, and creating music. I loved repurposing clothing and turning it into new designs. You should have seen the walls in my room, which were covered with sketches of dresses, suits, and even bathing suits. Connecting this to my dream, my goal was to create a fashion brand that mixed streetwear with casual clothing and had an inclusive size range with incredible runway shows.
In terms of content creation, music was another major part of my dream. I wrote around two songs a week and tried to find guitar chords for them. Music had always been a great way for me to feel heard and understand that someone else shared the same pain or struggles I did. Before I even started making music, I would go on walks for hours every day and listen to it. Music was there for me when I wasn’t comfortable talking to anyone about my struggles, so I wanted my music to be there for others. I wrote songs about facing death, heartbreak, living life to the fullest, and even topics like feminism.
Now that you have heard a bit about me, you could probably understand why I wanted to come to Freestyle. Freestyle was able to give me opportunities I could only dream of, from having access to a state-of-the-art music studio where I could record music to teaching me how to digitize my designs on a tablet so others could better understand my clothing concepts. All the tools, opportunities, and creative freedom at Freestyle helped me feel closer to achieving my dreams.
Reflection
Even though I started a year late at Freestyle, my experience here has been nothing but life-changing. Coming into a school of technology, not even knowing how to create a folder on my desktop, I definitely struggled in Digital Media and Design. But as I kept asking questions to the teachers and students around me, like Jerry, who were always there to jump in and help me navigate Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, I started to gain confidence. Then, somehow, after a week, I knew how to use tools like the brush tool, color matching, cutting out parts of photos, and organizing layers. Eventually, I learned skills like designing product logos, such as the BONITA blush I created to honor my family’s Aboriginal art as turtles. Later in the year, I learned more about graphic design and made movie posters for my world-building project and a concert poster for the Spice Girls. Finally, I completed my own choice project (Zenith), in which I created an app that allows children to use their creativity and be the authors of their own stories. Freestyle has given me endless opportunities to use cutting-edge technology, such as a laser cutter and a Cintiq, in a professional music studio. But that’s not what’s most special; it sounds cheesy, but it is the people. It’s the people who aren’t afraid to be themselves, the ones who do something and aren’t ashamed because they love it, the people who dress the way they want and act the way they want. Freestyle has given me the priceless gift of not apologizing for being me and of actively working to be more me rather than hiding it.
Mini Portfolio
Bonita Logo and Branding Design
One of my favorite projects at Freestyle was creating the Bonita logo and applying it to realistic mockups. I wanted the brand to feel elegant, fashionable, and modern while still keeping a simple and recognizable design. I experimented with typography, logo placement, and symbolism to create a strong visual identity that could work across different products and platforms.
Using mockups helped me better understand how professional branding works in the real world. Seeing my design displayed on products made the project feel more realistic and polished. This project strengthened my skills in graphic design, branding, composition, and digital presentation. It also helped me realize how much detail and intention goes into building a successful brand identity.
Creatures of the Cult Movie Poster
My movie poster project, Creatures of the Cult, focused on visual storytelling and creating emotion through design. I used photo manipulation, layered imagery, textures, and typography to create a dark and suspenseful atmosphere that matched the horror theme of the film. I wanted viewers to immediately feel uneasy and curious when they looked at the poster.
This project pushed me creatively because I had to think carefully about how every design choice affected the mood and message. I experimented with contrast, transparency, and composition to make the poster feel cinematic and intense. Through this piece, I improved my Photoshop skills and learned how graphic design can communicate a story before someone even watches the film.
Cultural Art Piece
My cultural art piece was one of the most meaningful projects I created at Freestyle because it connected deeply to my personal life. I created this piece to honor my grandparents and cope with the emotions surrounding their passing. The circular design represents connection, love, tradition, and the continuous bond between family and culture.
Creating this artwork allowed me to express emotions that were difficult to put into words. I used patterns, repetition, and symbolism inspired by my culture to make the piece feel personal and emotional. This project taught me that art can be both healing and powerful. It reminded me how important my cultural identity is to my creativity and how personal experiences can inspire meaningful artwork.
Reflection
Looking back on my time at Freestyle, I can clearly see how much I have grown as a digital artist. Each project challenged me to improve my technical skills while also helping me become more confident in expressing personal ideas and emotions through media. Freestyle gave me the opportunity to explore graphic design, branding, storytelling, and artistic expression using professional tools and creative freedom.
Most importantly, Freestyle taught me that digital art is more than just visuals, it is about creating meaning, telling stories, and connecting with people emotionally. Through these projects, I discovered how creativity can turn personal experiences, ideas, and passions into impactful art.