DESIGNING DURING A PANDEMIC

What does it take to be resilient in design?

It has been a year like no other and we are taking a moment to reflect upon the challenges, but also the positives that have emerged from designing during a pandemic. The patterns of our everyday life have been disrupted, changing the way we come together for work, education, socialising and design. 

The ND Class of 2020 were forced to rethink and develop resilience within a time of great uncertainty and we have been inspired by this year’s cohort. From design conception through to quality of production, the ND Class of 2020 have shined. We caught up with four designers to ask four questions around the theme of resilience in design. 

Carry on reading to see why textile designer, Sophie Marie Felgate, looks to the digital realm for her motivation or find out what Pentagram’s ND 2020 Young Designer Award winner, Eve Wallis, has been creating since our ND Awards Ceremony in September. 

EVE WALLIS

BA (Hons) Graphic Design, Nottingham Trent University, ‘The Endo Tales’, Winner of Pentagram Young Designer Award

It has been a year like no other and our resilience has been tested. Tell us, how has designing in a pandemic changed your creative approach?

As a graduate from the “Class of COVID-19” the pandemic started at the peak of my final year. The lockdown in March pushed me and all my fellow students away from the design studio, where we went every day to work and bounce ideas off of each other. It forced us to work independently and we had to quickly adjust to this ‘new normal’.

It allowed me to draw more on my own experiences, for example my ‘The Endo Tales’ project, which recently won the Pentagram Young Designer Award, allowed me to do more personal research. The pandemic has taught me how to be more self-reliant and more confident in my work.

 

How do you remain focused and motivated during times of uncertainty?

I use Zoom and Facetime most days to share and discuss work and any ideas I have. Our course built a nice online community which helped motivate us all during our final push at University. I also made sure to keep a routine and set myself goals, for example entering competitions, finding internships or junior roles and of course graduating! I found writing a to do list at the beginning of my day extremely helpful.

Aside from design, I made sure I was physically and mentally active. I took up couch to 5k, I went on cycles along the Thames and I began my own sourdough starter. I also began ’36 Days of COVID’, a little challenge I set myself to design a letter a day that is inspired by my days adventure.

Have the last months of designing in a pandemic changed the way you will design forever?

Yes and no. I believe some aspects will continue once the pandemic is over. For example, Zoom, has proved to be an excellent way of quickly sharing ideas and work. However, I have missed being in an office and interacting with people in a creative environment. I hope that we will return to the office soon!

Can you give us a sneak peek of what you have been working on recently?

As a graduate from the class of COVID-19, job hunting and gaining experience has been made even more problematic. And unfortunately, we have entered a second lockdown, making the impossible and little more impossible. So, I decided to re-create my own “36 days of type” – COVID style.

Each day, I design a letter that is inspired by what I have been up to. This pushes me to be creative, whilst documenting my life amidst a pandemic. I am envisioning a physical diary, or perhaps a zine, something tactile that I can keep and flick through to remember. You can view my letters so far over on my Instagram @evemaywallis.

View Eve’s short video campaign, entered as part the Pentagram Young Designers Award submission here.

SOPHIE MARIE FELGATE

BA (Hons) Fashion & Textiles, Colchester School Of Art & Design

It has been a year like no other and our resilience has been tested. Tell us, how has designing in a pandemic changed your creative approach?

Designing in a pandemic not only opened up new opportunities, but also gave me a chance to adapt and explore my capabilities even when limited with resources.

Having a lot of free time at home provided positive moments to reflect and reconnect with what is essential. Rather than seeing my creativity as a deadline, I used every day to the maximum to create luxury designs which surpassed every expectation I envisioned my graduate collection to be. My experience has shaped my mindset and redefined my values in improving the future of the design industry, such as sustainable sourcing to heal our beloved planet.

How do you remain focused and motivated during times of uncertainty?

Focusing on what I could control rather than what I could not was the first and most important factor in keeping motivated. The goal of designing a beautiful graduate collection was something I could control, so this become my main focus in times of uncertainty.

Turning to social media and digital platforms to display my creativity was a huge part of keeping motivated and positive – the design community grew in helping to inspire and keep focused on goals every day!

I was also extremely fortunate to have the most amazing opportunity to feature on BBC News and a local newspaper. I discussed being a final year degree student and how it affected, but not defeated my creativity. Reaching out to a wider audience with a message of normalising that everyday life is different helped focus my mindset that we were and still are all in this together.

Have the last months of designing in a pandemic changed the way you will design forever?

It has taught me to never restrict yourself and the ability you believe you have. I have surprised myself a lot over the last few months and become increasingly ambitious to thrive and succeed in the design industry.

Can you give us a sneak peek of what you have been working on recently?

I am in the very early stages of working on a small business venture that I am very passionate and excited to show – following on from my graduate collection, my love for luxury aesthetic in prints and fabrics will be available. Keep your eyes peeled on my Instagram – @sophiemarieuk in the new year – watch this space!

IZZY ROOPE

BA (Hons) 3D Design and Craft, University of Brighton

It has been a year like no other and our resilience has been tested. Tell us, how has designing in a pandemic changed your creative approach?

It has been quite the year! 

It has been interesting considering how the pandemic has changed my creative approach. Through the final five weeks of my degree, in 3D Design and Craft, my focused move from almost entirely workshop-based practice to almost entirely computer-based work. This was a huge learning curve to really develop my skills in InDesign, illustrator and photoshop. I feel this has been really beneficial for my creative skills as it has made me a more well-rounded practitioner.

How do you remain focused and motivated during times of uncertainty?

My focus and motivation for finishing the degree came and went as I spent the majority of the time totally alone, which was tough. However, I have moved to the countryside and into a communal studio with a bunch of other makers which has re-inspired me and it is incredible to be making again.

I had an exhibition in Hastings during September. I sold the majority of my work and have commissions to be working on which is a great focus to have during this time. I am running online classes and looking to develop this further. If you’re interested in keeping up to date with what i am doing and designing follow me on instagram, @izzyroopedesigns.

Have the last months of designing in a pandemic changed the way you will design forever?

I would say it has made me realise how important being around people is. I’ve also seen how beneficial it is for me to have a physical workshop. Learning new digital skills has been helpful too.

KIEREN SWINDEN

BA (Hons) Product, Spatial & Industrial Design, Kingston University

It has been a year like no other and our resilience has been tested. Tell us, how has designing in a pandemic changed your creative approach?

My creative approach hasn’t changed dramatically. I’m still continuing to start projects in a similar fashion as I did before lockdown. However when it comes to the final stages of a project, I am spending more time on the computer than before.

This time has allowed me to explore the finer details of my pieces on CAD. Exploring different variations of sizes and shapes of components allowing me to shape my design to its chosen environment.

How do you remain focused and motivated during times of uncertainty?

Remaining focused doesn’t come naturally to me!

Being my final year of my degree I wanted to achieve the highest grade I could so I could achieve something positive within a negative time. 

It was a nice escape to be creative and take my mind off everything else that was happening in the world at that moment. 

Have the last months of designing in a pandemic changed the way you will design forever?

No! My design beliefs before this pandemic are the same as they are now.

One of my projects, ‘Panel’, is about negating our throw-away culture. Designing furniture for life, with enhanced construction and material selection it is designed to remain for many years. This message is what I believe in and strive to stamp on in my future designs.

Can you give us a sneak peek of what you have been working on recently?

Currently I’m making up for lost time during lockdown where I would have produced my final major projects. My dad and I have constructed a makeshifts workshop allowing me to explore the materials selected for my final designs. Now I am starting to produce a prototypes of my table range from the project, ‘Pinch’. Ultimately my ambition is to use this time to kickstart my career into the design world. I post frequently on my Instagram so give me a follow if you want to see what projects I’ve been working on, @kierenswinden_designs.

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