The project I recently completed was a shirt design for the school’s science department.

I initially began brainstorming with Mr. Brian in October 2024. After he repeatedly encouraged me to simplify my designs, I transitioned from paper to digital art. Over time, I met with more of my science teachers to brainstorm the project, generate ideas, and get feedback. They pointed out inaccuracies and potentially controversial elements in my artwork, helping me revise the illustrations to be more inclusive. What I had originally expected to take just a month ended up taking five—but I enjoyed every second of it.

At first, I was nervous about meeting with teachers to receive criticism on my artwork. I had no clear reference point for artistic direction, which made me hesitant. But as I met with them more often, I developed a respect for constructive feedback. Their input helped me understand what students and faculty hoped to see in my work. One suggestion was to enable customizable hairstyles, hair colors, and skin tones for the student icon. I also created another astronomy-themed logo for the elementary school science faculty.

I had two major takeaways from this CAS project. The first was that collaboration helped me better understand my strengths and flaws—especially when viewed through my own bias or self-deprecating lens. The second was that creating inclusive work requires discussion and feedback from a broad community. For example, one of the stars in my second commission unintentionally resembled a Star of David—something I hadn’t noticed until it was pointed out.

Over five months of perseverance, I’ve gained new digital art skills, grown in my ability to collaborate, deepened my understanding of the ethics behind my work, and addressed the global issue of misogyny against female scientists through this project.

I’ve become a better person through this CAS experience. For future IB students, I highly recommend art-based projects to anyone with a passion for expression—regardless of skill level. When you work collaboratively, you begin to see your reflection through others’ eyes. You come to understand both your strengths and your areas for growth.