by Lily, an OU Design student<\/p>\n
Distance learning is great. It opens up so many opportunities. It allows you to study on your own terms and time. But at the same time distance learning can be strange.<\/p>\n
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You log in. You study. You log out.<\/p>\n
Days blur together. You might be surrounded by people online but still feel like you don\u2019t belong and are doing everything on your own.<\/p>\n
No studio. No shared space. No spontaneous \u201clet\u2019s try this\u201d moments.<\/p>\n
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So you wait\u2026<\/p>\n
Wait until you feel ready\u2026<\/p>\n
Wait until you feel confident\u2026<\/p>\n
Wait until you know enough\u2026<\/p>\n
But nothing interesting ever starts while waiting.<\/p>\n
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There is a great book, \u201cSteal like an artist\u201d<\/em> by Austin Kleon, which was recommended by a fellow Design Club member for our Book Nook session. One sentence in particular really resonates with what we do: \u201cDon\u2019t wait until you know who you are to get started\u201d. <\/strong><\/p>\n \n So here is what happens instead in the Design Club:<\/p>\n Someone throws out an idea.<\/p>\n Not polished. Not perfect. Just interesting enough.<\/p>\n \n A few people respond.<\/p>\n Different backgrounds. Different ages. Different time zones.<\/p>\n \n Someone sketches.<\/p>\n Someone questions.<\/p>\n Someone connects it to something else entirely.<\/p>\n \n And suddenly, it\u2019s moving.<\/p>\n This isn\u2019t a place where you are told what to do.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a place where you figure out what you want to do and find people who want to do it with you.<\/p>\n \n You might:<\/p>\n \n There is no \u201cright\u201d way to be here.<\/p>\n \n And it\u2019s not just about design.<\/p>\n \n It\u2019s about learning how to:<\/p>\n \n The best part?<\/p>\n This space isn\u2019t finished.<\/p>\n It\u2019s being shaped constantly by the people inside it.<\/p>\n Which means you are not joining something fixed.<\/p>\n You are stepping into something that is constantly becoming.<\/p>\n \n So if you\u2019ve been feeling stuck, isolated, or just a bit discontent\u2026 Try something new.<\/p>\n\n
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