Statement of Intent

At this point in the course, I feel my interests and specialisms haven't changed too much. I've gained a broader understanding of specialist fields within the graphic design sphere, yet my talent for typographic and editorial is still promininent. The plan for after graduation has somewhat evolved from the start of this acedemic year, from leading my own studio to gaining some experience in the field first. And that ambition is driving me towards living and working in Europe. I'd be happy to remain in the UK, yet I've got a thirst to experience life abroad. I have a small roster of places that fit the criteria of a city that's buzzing as an up and coming creative hub. Of the four of these places, I've been lucky enough to visit three of them, and know that they would be idealic places for me to go too. The plan is hopefully to gain some experience as a junior designer either at a creative studio or a magazine.

Copenhagen

I visited in 2011 and fell in love with the city straight away. I know there's a buzzing creative atmosphere and would be a great place to work, however it is my understanding that it can be difficult securing housing and work there if you're a foreigner. I have however been trying my best to stay informed with the processes of the logistics of how this would work, there's an excellent channel on youtube that posts videos with the specific intention of moving to and living in Copenhagen. It's certainly cleared up a lot, and gave me a much clearer idea of how to go about moving there, the channel is called Københavns Kommune, and some of there videos are exceptionally useful:

Amsterdam

I've been to Amsterdam twice, and I'm very fond of the city. The friendly and energetic style of life fits my lifestyle quite well. There are a few studios I like over there including:

http://www.experimentaljetset.nl/misc/contact-new

http://www.uxus.com/

http://dutchydesign.com/

http://www.ok200.nl/

I'm especially a fan of experimental jetset, and have been for a while. I was recommended to look at their work in my first year, and was surprised to find that I could see a lot of the styles I strived for in my own within theirs. Their minimalist and type-heavy approach is something I'm very fond o

 

 

There's also a place I stumbled across last May by chance, me and six friends were looking at hostels for a short holiday, and we came across:

http://www.wow-amsterdam.nl/ 

It's a hostel doubled up as an 'artist in residence' space, where graduates can come to further their practice and look for work within the city, which sounds brilliant!

  Berlin

The one place on my list that I've not visited, yet have heard great things about is Berlin. I've planned a trip there in early March, with the intention of turning up with a portfolio (hopefully digital & physical) and checking out some studios. I like the work hort studio is turning out at the momet, they're a big name in Graphics at the moment. The likes of Printed Pages have featured them in their most recent issue.

 

 

I should get the chance to visit Hort in March, among other studios.

Barcelona

I was in Barcelona in 2012. Following on from Berlin, Hort studio reminds me a lot of a studio that I visited back then called Vasava, they're a really talented bunch that have had a similar kind of clientel to Hort; the likes of Nike etc. I'd love to get in touch with them again, hopefully the fact that I've already been should stand me in good stead.

More than anything it's about giving myself options. The more I have the better. And I think if I adopt an attitude to getting my foot in the door, with the consideration that the worst a studio can say is no, I should be okay.

Once again: If you don't ask, you don't get.