OUGD402: Tea and Talks Questions | Reflection On My Experiences

As I write that blog for Tea and Talks and reflect on everyone else's lives and years I can't really interview myself so as a small study task for myself I have decided to answer the questions then write a few that are personally applicable to me which is similar to what I have done for everyone else. I have also taken the questions from the module studio brief 2 - self branding as an opportunity to answer those questions about my personal and professional practise.

Why did you choose to come to Leeds College of Art?

“Honestly, when I was applying for university I didn't even know it existed. I originally planned to study Law at the University of East Anglia because it's on my door step but after going through the entire process of applying and sending off my UCAS statement I didn't think that it was right for me. I couldn't image myself being a solicitor. I had always had a creative side which worked in conjunction with my academic skills. I studied Law, English Literature and Art as A Levels and always get surprised reactions when I tell people because I know they do not coincide. I then contemplated weighing up what I actually want to do as a job and if I could actually imagine getting there. The pros of law are that it's a financially stable career path. You put in the work you get out. This also meant exams which have horrified me since GCSE. I wasn't bad at them but the sheer stress during those periods was enough to put me off ever wanting to take an exam again. The cons are that it seems like a dead end job where you would be proud of what you were studying because it's a reputable career path but I don't want to be drawing up legal matters for a career. I thought that with art there is more freedom to do what I actually wanted. I wanted a challenge. I always say law would have been the easier life but settling for something is boring. I feel inspired everyday and pushed to be doing something to engage with my aspiring practise and at LCA there are no exams. Only module hand in's which was ideal for me although it is stressful. I found LCA through a small group of girls I follow on twitter and they all highly rated it. I also love Leeds because my cousins live near here and I visit them every summer. It has always felt like a second home to me.”

Why did you choose to study Graphic Design instead of illustration?

“I really like illustrating things but there is no way I could have done that as my entire degree. I feel like on Graphics you get a lot more potential to explore every avenue and adapt your visual identity to what brief you are currently working on. I don't have a "style" that is distinct to me yet so I am here to develop my identity as a designer. I am here to learn. I feel like Graphic Design gives me the ability to explore more.”

(I always stress that I didn't know how to use the software before coming here) 

Why didn't you learn how to use the software during A Levels / before coming to University?

"Because it is always something I wanted to learn but never gave myself the opportunity to do so properly. I knew very very very basics on photoshop and illustrator. I think after looking at my interview portfolio it is obvious my knowledge was very limited so it was something that I could definitely improve on during my degree. I felt like during A Levels, especially art we weren't really taught how to use things so I had hoped at university as it is more independent I could teach myself, get others to help me."

Did this make it harder for you on the course?

“The course brings everyone to the same level in first year. Throughout the year we have had inductions and workshops within photoshop, illustrator and indesign. I feel like when advertising the course it should be stressed a bit more that you do not have to come here with a full knowledge and understanding of what Graphic Design is because I still don't really know and you will be taught how to use things. I feel like the course definitely would have been harder without my flat mate. He does illustration and is a professional with photoshop so a lot of the time during freshers I would ask for advice on how to add colours to things and just little things like that. Tutorials on youtube are also great for teaching yourself! Simon also always reassures me that I will get a hang of the software. We use it every day so it's impossible not to. It's more important to be able to conceptualise your work because anyone can make it but ideas take more time and thought.”

What are three things you have learned in University so far?

“Get on with it, you don't have a choice. This basically means whenever you get stressed with work you just have to do it. There is no point getting stressed or saying you can't do it because you physically do not have a choice especially if there is a deadline.

Try to keep in contact with your parents. Even if they don't say they miss you all the time, they do. I surprised visited mine in February because I felt bad for being busy with university all the time and it made them and me really happy.

People are too busy worrying about themselves to be worried about you. Especially during presentations. I know I'm sat there crying over what I'm going to say and when it's my turn to actually listen to who is talking which isn't great but it generally means everyone else is panicking about themselves as well.”

What is your favourite thing to do in Leeds?

“I love going to gigs. My friend told me before coming here the music scene was really good and it is. There's a little black book called Independent Leeds and it's filled with lots of nice little things to do in Leeds.”

How do you find the distance and divide between north and south? 

“When coming to University I knew wanted to get as far away from home as possible. This was purely because my home town is very small and unheard of. There are no opportunities there and not a lot to do to be honest. I knew if I stayed in Norwich I wouldn't meet any new people because all of my friends are already there so it would mean I could make less of an effort to meet people. I love the friends I have back at home but I really wanted to meet more people especially with the same interest in art as me that's why it was nice to go to an art institution. Sometimes I don't understand the accent here not gonna lie. I also miss the beach.”

How do you manage your time?

“I write so many lists. My room is currently filled with A4 sheets of things to do. I prioritise modules which isn't the best because we need to be working on them all at once but it's easier and gets whatever is due first out of the way. I kind of just get on with it. If I know a blog post needs to be done I will do it within the lesson it was given to us or that night so that it's fresh in my mind and gets out of the way. I couldn't think of anything worse than having to come back to it a few weeks later and knowing nothing which I used to do in the past and with homework. I also don't really sleep that much like all students I'm basically nocturnal now so I do a lot of work during the night.”

How do you avoid being stressed?

"Naturally, I'm quite a chilled person. However, university tests my patience. I think having so many briefs currently is the most stressed I have ever felt in my life... and it's only first year. Strangely it is nice being busy all the time and working on things but I wish it wasn't everything at once. I think definitely take time to do things you enjoy doing. Go out, see friends. Me and Beth do a lot of days where we hang out together but we do work. It means that we both get to socialise but are being productive. We had a nice little day visiting The Tetley earlier on this year which meant we had seen an exhibition then treated ourselves to lunch at Starbucks then we went home and worked. Doing things like that with friends makes you feel good for leaving the flat and getting outside but you're also not wasting time and being productive. Stephen, Shelley, Beth and I also do tea nights where we will work throughout the day with tea and biscuits then get dinner and watch a film later on. As long as you put the work in and get stuff done then you can avoid drowning in work."

Who are you now?
"I'm genuinely a hard worker. I got into a mindset coming back after Christmas that people think that I am stupid and don't do any work purely because I found it difficult to work in the studio in first year because I was awkward that I didn't know how to use the software or a mac properly. It feels like people were judging me so sometimes I would just plan what I was going to do instead of actually doing it which is productive procrastination. I work hard to achieve what I set out to do within the tasks and feel slightly more confident with my degree and practise."

What skills do you have?
"I know now that I can start to slowly and confidently engage with people in the creative industry. I think it helped a lot going to Alphabet's design studio and speaking to them about being at LCA and what they're doing now. It gave me a lot of confidence and I was genuinely surprised I was the first one to visit them after they came in and spoke to us. In terms of design skills I can now more confidently work with the software."

What do you know now?
"That the minimalist, swiss design style isn't what you have to do. "It looks nice but it's been done." Also "the brief isn't boring, you're boring." If you aren't finding a brief exciting then it's a reflection of who you are as a person."

What tone of voice best reflects you, your practise and ambitions?
"I think I maintain quite a professional tone of voice. I always get told I'm quite dainty because I'm little so that could be reflected more in my visual identity because I also like doing illustrations. I want to take more design inspiration from my favourite designers and illustrators and hopefully by the end of the three years will have a style that is distinct to me."

What experiences have shaped your opinions and views both in and outside of the programme?
"Going from 68% to 61% which wasn't bad and I know why I got a lower grade. It pushed me to work harder for my future modules. I'm extremely scared of failing and people thinking that I don't do the work or purely that I am unintelligent. So receiving this made me want to put in more effort for my future modules.

The like 10 briefs we have at the moment. I have never felt so overwhelmed by so many tasks because there are module briefs and studio briefs within briefs and outside learning but PPP is almost done and everything is due in within the next month so hopefully things will get easier and my work reflects in my grade.

Starting a shop again gave me a lot of confidence that people actually want to buy my work and have it in little frames on their walls or in there houses. It's extremely nice and people on the internet are so kind which is lovely. I have a nice little supportive group of friends that are all independent shop owners and it's nice we all network and help each other. This constantly inspires me and makes me want to keep going.

The group of friends I have made at University also inspire me everyday. I have never met a more genuinely nice group of people that are always willing to help and be there for you. I obviously struggle a lot on the course because I don't know how to do anything professionally in regards to print, software etc but my friends are very supportive and help me. I think that peer learning is more helpful than trying to teach yourself."

What is 'Brand You'? Your visual identity will help tie the information together. What fonts, formats, colours and production methods will help communicate and enhance your content?

"I really enjoy using Futura because it is a sans serif font. It is one of the six fonts in Vignelli's Canon. I use it for all of my design boards and presentations now. I really like pastel colours because they are my favourite shades or black and white colour schemes because it maintains a minimalist aesthetic to the work and because black and white can be easily translated on a digital or printed surface whereas with colours nothing will ever look exactly how you wanted it. We also did screen printing yesterday. It is an extremely long process, it genuinely took from 9:30 to around 5 but the outcome looks very nice. I would hope to use that method more within my practise because I think it's important to not focus on digital even though it is Graphic Design but to incorporate traditional analogue methods within your work."

What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?

“The best quote I have read is: "I am learning everyday to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me." Let your creativity and ambitions drive you, not scare you.”

What piece of advice would you give to someone else?

“Do what makes you happy. At the end of the day your emotions come first as selfish as that sounds. It is perfectly okay to do things to make yourself happy and not constantly put others first.”