lifestyle" project. She produced a creative campaign that highlighting … part of the 2015 Emerging Creatives programme at Design Indaba Expo.
When did you first discover you wanted a career in design?
I always knew I wanted to be involved in the art world in some way or another. In pre-school I had wanted to be an art teacher, but in high school I discovered the world of design and fell in love with it and knew it was what I wanted to do.
What is your main inspiration as a designer?
Many things inspire me and I would love to say that my main inspiration comes from the natural world and my surroundings. However, "my surroundings" are my desk and my computer, so my inspiration is primarily found through my Facebook newsfeed, Pinterest, multiple design newsletters and inspiring YouTube or Vimeo videos (cat videos included).
Tell us how you mesh together digital design and handcrafted elements?
To get away from always using and relying on my computer, I enjoy drawing out type or illustration instead of simply using a font or the pen tool. I then use these elements and put my designs together digitally. I do edit my drawings where needed, but I try to keep a looseness or roughness to them as I don't want to lose the hand-drawn look and feel. I love working on a computer but there's just something magical about working with your hands and crafting something off-screen.
Are there recurring themes in your design work? If so, what are they and why?
I don't intentionally have a recurring theme but I suppose my work often lends itself to an environmental theme in some shape or form. I think this is due to my personal outlook on life. However, after completing my BTech project on Zero Waste, I might ensure that I do have more of an environmental theme in my work.
How important are environmental issues in your work? Can you give us an example of how this plays out in your designs?
In the case of my Zero Waste project, it was a very crucial element and one that I do wish to continue in my work. My designs for this project all offer various ways to help people live a Zero Waste life which ultimately would reduce the amount of waste produced and, in turn, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.
Tell us how you use design to make the world a better place?
During my BTech research, I came across two quotes which hit me hard as a designer: "Designers make the world's most beautiful trash" and "One fifth of the mass of municipal solid waste in the US today is good packaging."
When considering that my designs, or any other designer's for that matter, are possibly going to end up in landfills one day, it totally changed my perspective on things. I'd love to come up with more practical solutions to solve part of our environmental issues. I believe we should all be doing our bit to solve these problems, and design is a great way to create awareness around such issues.
Tell us a bit about your creative …
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Interviews • Q&A • 6 Feb 15
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