Graphic Design & Illustration at UCA

I began by designing a very small range and then set out to find suppliers in the UK that printed with eco-friendly materials; one of my main goals was to make my stationery as sustainable as possible... The Oliver Bonas deal came about after I sent connections to a couple of their buyers on Linkedin

I absolutely loved my time at UCA. I loved that it not only focused on the design aesthetics of creating a brand, but also the thinking behind it, which has definitely played a part in getting me to where I am now.

 

Try your very best to turn every negative into a positive. Seven years ago when I started working on blackboards I was low in confidence and working in a pub kitchen as a kitchen porter, but I worked really hard to build my business on the side, as I knew painting was one of my passions.

I was only ever interested in space from an art perspective... I had the misconception (as do many others) that to work in the space industry you have to have a very scientific. I have definitely learned more about space and physics on the job than I ever did in school.

I enjoy my Creative Designer role because there is so much variety in the work that comes my way — I can be working on social media posts, digital designs and editing videos one week and the next, be photographing satellites in our cleanrooms, designing large scale exhibitions stands or even working on a mission patch for an upcoming launch!

I lost someone very close to me and it was a sudden death, which was an experience that I wish no one had to go through. But I found there were no engaging or visual books to help me understand what I was going through, and young adults are experiencing more problematic responses to loss than we think.

I like making images that can make a difference to people, whether that’s as part of educational books or just fun, creative illustrations that make people smile.

It affects me a lot, I sometimes have insomnia, and I sometimes have trouble concentrating and twitching... I liken Tourette's to an elephant in the comics because that's how I feel... everyone knows I'm different, even think I'm weird, but because they are adults, they don't say it directly.