What does the word “power” bring for you?

Reflecting on the coincidence of the question that book-ends my professional path

This was a question that was asked during my interview for design school—now asked as part of Active Voice’s Power Shift, led by and .

It seems to have come up repeatedly throughout my professional life, literally starting at its very beginning.

Since this week’s homework is to reflect on this question, I’m able to reflect on how my relationship has changed with it over time.

My first portfolio review

I had just presented in a portfolio review where I was the only one in the room of 30 or 40 potential students with a laptop open, a scrap book, and some creative writing.

Other candidates had filled the octagonal, domed rotunda with traditional art—sculptures, paintings, sketchbooks that could be counted in multiples. I had gotten my first sketch book a few weeks prior and had a quick “how to draw” session with a friend because a sketchbook was a requirement…😅

After discussing various posters, words, and photos—physically developed and digital explorations—to graduate students, professors, and faculty, I waited for my name to be called for an interview.

I sat with Scott Townsend and Will Temple, and they asked the basics of, “why do you want to study graphic design?” Then, the question came, “What do you think of when you think of the word power.

I sat with it.

Came up blank.

I had never thought of the concept before, especially in a context of Design.

I shared that answer.

“Okay, well, there are a lot of different ways. There’s things that have power, but also people, like the President or…”

“Oh, I definitely don’t think of power when I think of the President.”

“Really?” them, genuinely surprised.

“Nope. The accent ruins it for me.”

They laughed.

I got in.

I keep thinking it had something to do with this response.

What does it mean now?

My relationship and understanding of power is much more robust these days. It’s most notably matured to a point of understanding the interconnectedness, ecosystemic, and depths of how power impacts Life.

There are those that hold it and do nothing with it; but don’t want anyone else to have it. There are those that wield it indiscriminately, willfully ignorant of its far-reaching aftershocks. There are those that yearn for it, and will fight anyone who gets in the way of it.

Then, there are those that use their power for Good. That wield it with purposeful intention, striving towards access and autonomy. There are those that understand systemic impact of their actions, decisions, and pursuits—and strive to grow something better. There are those that fight for power for the collective over individual.

I vibe with the later and tend to clash with the former.

Specifically and purposefully

For me, there’s an internal struggle between the individual and collective. Individually, I tend to come back to my remix of the Serenity Prayer:

Grant me the serenity to:
Accept things I cannot change;
Courage, to change the things I can; and 
Wisdom, to know the difference.

I try to focus on what I have the power to control and do. Granted, there’s a limiting factor of Potential Energy that I can’t “see” so don’t fully realize.

On the other hand, by recognizing the power dynamics of the current local and global contexts, I often feel powerless. In the United States, power tends to come down to who has the most money. It’s the employers that have power. The barons and billionaires that buy off or pay their way out of accountability and responsibility.

Then there’s the collective of individuals that feel powerless that, when coming together, have far more.

I’m still working through it

It’s a large word that I could write on more, exploring the many facets of how my relationship and associations to the word’s evolved. From power maps to labor law; from electoral maps to global monopolies; from hiring to firing.

It’s a Big Word for being only five letters.

It’s powerful.

Yay puns.