Emerging Media Narrative

Coming into the Emerging Media program in 2024, I was finishing my undergraduate degree in advertising with a minor in business. I had always been drawn to creative work, but I did not yet have a clear sense of what that could look like professionally. Most of my undergraduate experience focused on strategy and concepting, which I valued, but I often felt limited by not knowing how to fully execute my ideas. The Emerging Media program stood out because it offered something I had not fully experienced before. I was excited for both the technical skills and the clarity to better understand my place within the creative industry. When I received the congratulations email over Spring Break, I was so excited and grateful to be accepted into the program.

My first classes in the program were coding-based, which immediately pushed me into something completely new. The technical side of the program pushed me the most. Coding, in particular, was something I had no prior experience with, and learning how to build websites and applications challenged the way I approached problem-solving. Over time, I shifted from seeing development as something intimidating to something I could actively use and bring my creative visions to life, even if it meant crashing my computer at times.

Visual Studio Code; cPanel; Code crashing

However, one part of my experience I valued was being able to put the work I did in coding to use by helping others. I was selected as an NMIXpert my second semester in the program, where I supported other students as they worked through the same challenges I had faced. It pushed me to better explain what I had learned and approach problems from different perspectives. Over time, it made me more patient, more adaptable, and more confident in my own understanding. It also reinforced how collaborative this field is, and how often progress comes from working through problems with others rather than in isolation.

That shift carried into other areas as well. As I spent more time working with design tools and prototyping platforms, I started to think differently about the relationship between aesthetics and function. Designing became less about the appearances, and more about the functionality. Learning how it works, how it guides a user, and how it communicates an idea. Learning tools like Figma introduced me to a more interactive and strategic side of design, and it became one of the areas I found most engaging. What started as unfamiliar gradually became part of my process.

Software I learned within EM

Then, in my Masters year, I had the opportuntiy to be on the Georgia on Your Mind podcast. I was extremely grateful to be put on this project and it was an opportunity for me to bringt everything together in a way that felt tangible. As a team, me and my group members expanded the podcast beyond the studio and took it on the road, which required us to rethink not just production, but planning, content strategy, and overall direction. It was a fast-moving, collaborative environment where I had to apply both creative and technical skills at the same time. That experience made it clear to me that I work best in spaces where ideas are constantly evolving and where I can contribute across different parts of the process, from concept to execution.

Georgia on your Mind Capstone Project

Looking back, the biggest change isn’t just the skills I gained, but how I see myself as a creative. I no longer feel limited to one role or one type of work. I’ve become more comfortable navigating ambiguity, figuring things out as I go, and contributing in multiple ways within a team. I’m especially drawn to work that sits at the intersection of design, digital media, and storytelling, as well as spaces where both strategy and execution matter. More than anything, I’m leaving the program with a clearer sense of how I think, how I work, and the kind of creative environments I want to be part of moving forward. This program has been one of the best parts of my time at UGA and I will always feel so grateful to be a part of the NMI!