Well, Hello.

Welcome to my first blog of many.

I've recently taken the Myers-Briggs personality test and a professional designer skills assessment. After completing both, I found a few things to be true of myself. Firstly, I was shocked at how accurate the personality test was. I was categorized as an ENFP, which stands for Extraverted (1%), Intuitive (38%), Feeling (12%), and Perceiving (1%). In short terms, the test said I didn’t really have a strong preference of extravertedness or introvertedness. It said I like people, and I want to help and be admired by them (I don't know of a person who this is NOT true of).

Secondly, I have a stronger lean towards intuitiveness over sensing. This meaning:

• "I remember events by what I read "between the lines" about their meaning.
• I solve problems by leaping between different ideas and possibilities.
• I am interested in doing things that are new and different.
• I like to see the big picture, then to find out the facts.
• I trust impressions, symbols, and metaphors more than what I actually experienced
• Sometimes I think so much about new possibilities that I never look at how to make them a reality."

I find this particularly interesting because I am in the process of becoming a professional designer. As a designer, I am forced (for lack of a better word) to look at the big picture, find what's wrong, broken, or inefficient and design a better solution. I need to be able to to take a problem and solve it. Designing is a process that requires conceptualizing and testing as many possibilities as you can to solve the problem to the best of your ability. And, yes, sometimes you get caught up in that ideation phase that it's hard to settle on one solution (been there, done that).

Thirdly, the test said I had a 12% lean towards feeling over thinking. In the explanation it said, "I believe I can make the best decisions by weighing what people care about and the points-of-view of persons involved in a situation. I am concerned with values and what is the best for the people involved. I like to do whatever will establish or maintain harmony. In my relationships, I appear caring, warm, and tactful." I think having a warm and empathetic heart is a very important trait to have as a designer. It would be pretty difficult to produce a good product for people if you don't feel what they feel. But, of course, there is a balance between logic and feeling that must be had.

There was a description, after I completed the test, that went into greater detail on ENFPs. The most accurate part of the test said that ENFPs have a “silly switch.” It said that they can be “intellectual, serious, and all business for a while, but whenever they have the chance, they flip that switch and become CAPTAIN WILDCHILD.” This is so true of me. In fact, I showed my husband that fact, and he said, “That’s just called being a Cribb (my maiden name).” I grew up in a family with 5 kids, multiple pets, and tons of friends who were over all the time. My life was crazy- in the most awesome way. Everyone was loud and playful and got along. I wouldn’t have it any other way because I grew up with playmates (siblings) who grew to become my friends and confidants. But, I also know how to be serious, respectful, and hardworking through the training and examples of my parents.

My mom always made sure we did our homework to the best of our abilities (and our best was straight A’s in her eyes. No questions asked.). She made us sit at the table and finish our work before we were allowed to go play Secret Spy outside on our new Razor scooters. She was tough on us, but in the most fair and loving way. My dad was, and still is, Mr. Humble. He’s a quiet spirited man who is wise, serious, and always learning, but he has that crazy switch too. We learned from watching him that there’s a time for work and there’s a time for play. We also watched as my dad handled difficult people from work and lead our family through the good and the bad times. From that, I learned how to persevere and respect others. All of this life training taught me to handle my responsibilities with my head held high and my feet firmly planted. I also learned that I need a little chaos and craziness every once in a while to let loose. A super structured lifestyle exhausts me.

I think that these personality assessments have just confirmed what I already knew about myself. I do like people, and people generally enjoy my presence (or, at least, I think they do. They might just be good liars.). I do make an effort to help people and I do feel empathy for peoples’ various situations, which is vital as a designer. How would you be able to design for people if you couldn't feel the same way other people felt? How can you solve a problem if you haven’t experienced the problem yourself? How can you design for people if you can’t relate to people?

As far as the design skills assessment goes, I found I definitely have things to work on. There are a lot more “needs” checked than “strengths.” But, I am aware that I am still a student working on gaining core skills and perfecting them so that I am able to get into the professional world. I am not self deluded into thinking that I will ever be able to check "strength" in every area, either. I plan on using these last few semesters at Georgia Tech to practice my hand sketching skills, graphic design capabilities, visual and verbal communication skills (gotta be able to present my ideas!), and digital modeling skills. Practice makes perfect, I suppose.

It's time to build that portfolio and start getting my name out there.

(wish me luck)

Best,

Mallory Becker

Wife. Expectant Mother. Designer. Fashion Lover.