The end, and the beginning

Hello again, lovely readers!

A lot has happened in the last month- some lovely weather, (which means fires on the beach and camping!) the vacating of the house I and my three housemates have called home for the past two years, and, in a week’s time, I graduate!

Also in this very busy time, I had the privilege of being chosen to represent my university at this year’s New Designer’s show with my final year work- meaning Erik also got to witness the bustling hub of London! (If you’re not a regular reader, please refer to my portfolio to find out a little more about my Viking friend!)

It was a fantastically exciting and yet rather intense few days- organising the space and helping to construct it, polishing everything to a gleaming shine, and invigilating as people walked slowly and scruntinisingly around.  Presenting work in the same building as household names like John Lewis and the mind-scrambling array of wonderful talent (design and visual communication) was almost enough to put you off trying- once you’ve glimpsed all of that competition, it’s sometimes a little difficult to steady yourself!

BUT.

I realised something very important while I was at this show. Yes, there is competition- but in what career is there none? Surely all the things that are really good, and which we really want in life require some gritted teeth at some stage, because they are worth the fight. I felt a fierce determination during that week which I will endeavour to keep blazing-  I am determined to find that chink in the industry’s armour which will allow me in.

If you click on the “Shows and Exhibitions” button above, you’ll see my little corner in the metropolis of New Designers. Also updated, as promised, is “My Recent Sketchbook”- with a new selection of sketches I’ve been scribbling away at: New Designers also had a variety of great competitions to enter, which have kept me inspired, and in practice of working to a brief. While currently working from home, I’ve tried to keep to strict working hours as I would in an office on these ideas and pieces, as well as developing a database of potential clients I can ask for advice and portfolio reviews over the coming months … In short, I am arming myself for battle!

One piece I was particularly proud of was part of a “design a day” competition I’ve entered. As I’m trying to keep to a tight schedule, I try to give myself only around 2 hours to complete these pieces- 1 hour to formulate ideas and undergo any visual research I might need (with this piece, studying bears in their form and movement) and 1 hour to execute the final artwork. Here’s the fruits of this particular design: under the theme of “Big and Small”:

 

Also, very excitingly, I’ve won an award!! But more on that next time.

Another huge thankyou to all you wonderful readers- we’ve reached over 1000 viewers now! Let’s keep up the good work, if you like what you see, don’t give up on me!

One parting note- no-one knows how their life will pan out. I won’t pretend that I know where I’ll end up- but I’m trying, same as everyone else.

Never, ever give up trying, and if you have a dream, don’t let it flicker out. Keep it alight, however dark the night gets!!

– The AutumnHobbit.

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