What?
As the spring semester of freshman year came to a close, I was making plans for my design portfolio. I had some good ideas for showcasing a variety of design skills, but I wanted to challenge myself with a big, multilayered project...and why not make this an honors experience as well? The idea came in the midst of COVID-19 quarantine, where I found myself with plenty of time to do whatever I wanted. I decided to combine several interests to design a bilingual cookbook of French recipes that I tried while at home over the summer.
To bring my ideas to fruition, I reached out to close friends in Paris who know far more about French cuisine than I do. They were able to give me suggestions on simple, classic recipes that don’t require a lot of extra equipment — things that can be made in the average American kitchen. I realized that this was exactly the theme that I was looking for.
I was learning so much about cooking and French influence, but each recipe still felt attainable, and eventually I wanted to make others just as eager as I was with a fun cookbook. My family was excited to try each new creation, and my nervous approach to ovens subsided over time as I grew more familiar with ingredients and processes. I’ve kept a record of my progress in a blog that can be read here.
So what?
This experience matters to me because it combines so many things that I’m passionate about. I never know how to stop at just one thing — I have to do all of it. To be able to blend design, baking, and French language and culture was so exciting to me! I’m more confident when I cook, and far less hesitant to dive into a new project that I’ve never stepped into before. I challenged myself to only use recipes written in French...and yes, this did sometimes mean translating cooking terms, but I think that the best way to learn is through experience and context.
I’m also more comfortable in solo design projects because I had to learn to critique myself along the way. Although I am going to continue my cookbook design process after the conclusion of my experience, I don’t see this as a setback. I’ve gained so much more knowledge of design this semester, and I keep revisiting my sketches to redo a page or create a new layout theme.
At first I was frustrated by needing more time, but I’m learning to trust the process. This is an important connection to my professional goals in ensuring that I put enough time into each project to yield a final result that I’m truly proud of. I’ve learned to be patient with myself and question why I make particular choices in both design and cooking.
Now what?
My next steps are to complete my cookbook and add an exciting personal project to my design portfolio...and of course, continue exploring French cuisine! I’ve shown myself that I know how to research to better understand a recipe or a design trend, and this is a skill that I’ll apply to my career and to external hobbies for the rest of my life. I think it’s important to channel energy into learning about other cultures, and through my own experiences with French language and culture, I can pass this on to others and help encourage their own passion for learning.