Looking Beyond the Surface

This week’s focus on design critique and visual literacy made me realize how much deeper fashion really is than just clothing. As a fashion merchandising major, I’m constantly looking at outfits, ads, and displays, but I wasn’t always thinking about the meaning behind them. Learning how to break down a design into description, analysis, interpretation, and judgment helped me slow down and actually understand what I’m seeing. I also found the discussion on cultural appropriation important because fashion often borrows from different cultures, and it made me think more critically about what is respectful versus harmful. This connects to my future career because I’ll need to not only create visually appealing displays but also be aware of the messages they send. It also changed how I view social media and fashion brands, since now I question the intention behind their visuals instead of just accepting them at face value.