Probably the most interesting representation anything related to this I've seen is the stalk-eyed fly[1]. Their compound eyes are at the end of long stalks, and apparently the primary reason for this is to attract a mate.
Bachelor Graphic Design, Bachelor Business, Minor in Architecture.
Started programming at around the age of 10 on an Apple II.
As others have mentioned, one of the most valuable aspects is critique and all the benefits of being able to be critical of what you see as well as what you make in a constructive way.
The other useful bit of knowledge that I employ rather often is frequently referred to as the creative process. The process of starting with a rough exploration and refining it iteratively, or moving quickly through many explorations until you find one you'd like to refine. Basically, a toolset that enables you to go from nothing to something regardless of the tools you are using.