What led you into design?
I don't have the most conventional path into design - I actually originally studied biological sciences at university. I enjoyed the analytical and research-driven aspects of studying a science, but I wasn't 100% fulfilled and I missed being creative in a more visual sense (aside from science, I also loved art in secondary school). I finished my biology degree and spent a year looking into other career paths, and learnt that branding and graphic design seemed to have the best of both worlds - research, problem solving, detail-driven work, but also the visual and expressive aspects that I was missing. I did an associates degree in graphic design at Parsons in New York to learn design fundamentals and the rest is history.
My parents and others thought it was crazy to make such a drastic career change but sometimes you’ve just got to trust your intuition. Now I can confidently say that following my heart and switching to design was one of the best decisions I’ve never made. I can't really imagine doing anything else.
What does a typical day look like?
Depends on if I’m working remotely or on site for a client. If I’m working from home in London, I’ll typically make breakfast and coffee, check emails, write down priorities for the day, then start working. Sometimes I’ll go out and work from a cafe to get a change of scenery.
The kind of work I'll do varies from day to day - sometimes it involves brainstorming concepts or gathering inspiration/references and sketching to solidify my ideas before I start animating. Other times I dive straight into After Effects.
What's your workstation setup?
The essentials: Macbook Pro, my favourite Artline 200 fineliner pens, plain notebook, Nothing earbuds, as much sunlight as London is willing to offer.
Where do you go to get inspired?
This will sound cliché but everywhere—books, exhibitions, films and TV shows, title sequences, music, travelling, different cultures, nature, interior design, architecture, packaging, signage from different places, and so on. I think being curious about your surroundings and areas outside of the discipline of graphic or motion design is really important for developing original ideas as a creative.
For example, I was in HK recently and always knew Wanchai MTR station (a tube/subway station) had a green interior but only this time did I notice the pop of fluoro yellow in the tiles (photo on the left). I'm saving this colour palette for a project in the future. I also went to a brilliant light exhibition by UVA last year that I continue to refer back to when I want to feel inspired (right).
What product have you recently seen that made you think this is great design?
MUBI's Notebook magazine is a beautiful piece of editorial design, as is their curated Instagram account MUBI LAB. I love the conceptual and intelligent use of typography and art direction in their designs.
What pieces of work are you most proud of?
Motion for Sequoia's AI podcast opening - I worked with a creative director on this who was fantastic and gave me a lot of creative freedom with the motion for this project. I was also able to contribute to the designs of some frames. Projects where I get to work on both the visual design and motion are my favourite.
All the work I've done with the skincare and beauty brand Clinique, which has the loveliest creative team. I've also been doing some work with Nothing and McLaren that I can’t talk about yet, but I feel incredibly blessed to be able to work with so many incredible clients and brought on for lots of different projects as a freelancer.
What design challenges do you face at your company?
Not letting work take up all your time and making sure you set firm boundaries. As a freelancer, you're a company of one juggling all the balls - you're the designer, the project manager, the finance person, and so on. You might have multiple projects you want to take on, but because there's only one of you, you might have to sacrifice evenings or weekends to do them. Earlier in my career I'd do this quite frequently (I'll admit, I'm a workaholic) but nowadays I'm trying to really protect these down times. I think it's so important to take the time to properly rest and and detach from work to avoid burn out, so you have the physical and mental energy to be creative and do your best work, but also have a fulfilling life outside of work!
What music do you listen to while designing?
Any advice for ambitious designers?
Work on personal projects or experiments that show off your personal style and skills that other projects in your portfolio don’t highlight. This has helped me not only develop existing and new skills more quickly, but it's also allowed me to tailor my reel/portfolio and attract clients that resonate with my approach and design style.
Anything you want to promote or plug?
If you need motion graphics or kinetic type for a project, check out my work here. I’m also starting an online shop with my partner where we’ll curate and stock considered, beautifully designed home wares and lifestyle goods we’ve found on our travels (Tokyo, Hong Kong, wider Europe, and more). Check out my Instagram for updates!
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