Graphic designer, illustrator and knitter
With a penchant for craft beer, giant tartan scarves and funky socks
Lovely graphic design by someone who cares a whole bunch.
As a kid I tried my hand at quite a few potential professions: comic artist, interior designer, jewelery designer, glass painter, fashion designer and newspaperwoman. Oh and briefly an architect, but then I found out you had to study for seven years.
It wasn’t until I was in my mid-twenties that I realised that all those things had one thing in common:
Creativity.
A lot of designers and illustrators say their journey began as soon as the could pick up a pencil.
Contrary to what this picture is saying, that’s not how mine started, and it hasn’t been that straightforward. It’s been more squiggly and rough around the edges (much like my make-up skills here). But the benefit of this meandering route is I’ve picked up inspiration and influences from loads of different places, which all smoosh together to make me the kind of designer I am today.
Love of making stuff + love of computers =
graphic designer
I’ve always loved making things and getting my hands messy. At the same time I’ve always been into computer games, and was a huge fan of the internet when it got installed in my house when I was 13 (the dial up noise makes me really nostalgic).
In fourth year of uni my self-directed project was called Best of Both Worlds: The Amalgamation of Handmade and Digital Design. Apart from the fact I felt super-smart for using the word amalgamation, that project summed up everything I was passionate about.
I even started a knitting group as “research”.
Quick-fire Facts
I’m a morning person
I prefer autumn and winter to summer
I love bopping to 80s and 90s tunes
I’m a knitter and a crocheter
I love to play video games
I make awesome brownies
It all started with being in the right place at the right time, sharing the same last name and a polar bear hat. For the first eight years of my professional life I worked at The Print Box, a small but kick-ass print and design studio in Finnieston, Glasgow.
I absolutely loved my time there, and I learned a tonne about paper, people and life in general. But in the back of my mind I always had the urge to run my own operation.
And so in 2018 I took off on my own.
I always wanted to run my own small business.
Leaping into self-employment in 2018
The best part of being a graphic designer is that you’re always learning.
Not gonna lie: being out on your own is BLOOMIN’ SCARY. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I love wearing all the different hats that come with the territory of being a business owner. It goes hand in hand with my tendency to be interested in absolutely everything around me.
I always say that the first thing they should teach you in art school is that you will never stop learning. The same goes for being your own boss.
