I feel like I need to buckle down, get serious about this semester, and produce outstanding work. It's been mediocre in design this semester, yet my photography is excelling... How can I make both rock?

I was watching FutureCar on the Discovery channel and wow.. The ability and amazing things they produce... with some kids from UofC and CIA.. Two schools nearby with amazing programs. And they're designing concept cars for GM. That, my friend, is so cool.

What are my designs lacking?
Thought process. Ingenuity. Cleanliness. Wow-factor.

Where can I go with this? This is my inspiration. This needs to be my motivation.

This is my future, for Pete's sake. I need to make it presentable NOW. Not just envy other people's great designs, but create my own -- even for the mundane everyday assignments.