During my time at art school, I delved into the intricacies of technique, studied renowned artists, and explored various styles. In my drawing and painting courses, I found myself attempting hyper-realism to impress my professors. Although learning the official techniques is a skill most strive for, this pursuit did not encourage thinking outside the box.

Let’s dive into what it means to be a neurodivergent graphic designer — commitment to excellence, freedom of choice, flexible work-life balance, intentional work environment, strategic communication preferences, and proficiency in the visual realm as a means of self-expression.

The grand prize was a family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. As a nerdy 13-year-old girl with an A+ video project record in school and my crafty mom there to support me, we came up with a story about Toontown-itus, a mild condition of the mind where you experience brief lapses of reality and envision the world around you as Toontown.

Corporate America wants you to categorize your basic human needs as personal time, but you should only be using personal time to live life. In order to achieve a true work-life balance, we need to introduce a new category.