When I came to the UK and began my studies, everything was like watching a movie. It all seemed like a dream. The language, the culture, the backwards traffic, the double-deckers, it was all a bit surreal. I felt free. For the first time, I was living on my own and could do whatever I wanted. But rather than going all out and causing havoc, I actually became more responsible and found a way to commercialise my creative talent. The only work I had been commissioned thus far was graffiti for some Russ-buses. (It’s a tradition in Norway when you graduate to chip in on a bus and paint the name on the side, full of sound systems, drive around to party for weeks right before school graduation.) I had also hand drawn the logo for our rap group and made stickers and t-shirts, but that was as far my graphic experience had gone thus. All by hand, no computer graphics. When I look back at it now, I guess I was old-school, even though I was half the age!
Arriving at the campus at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design was like entering an international student conference. I met people from all over the world (including my future wife!) whilst studying and learnt so much from each and every one of my classmates, tutors and professors. To this day I recall thinking - “What a good choice!” (More like chance - this was the only course in the whole of Europe that offered me a place. My final school marks were horrendous, I was getting in trouble and was doing drugs but somehow managed to finish…..)
Throughout every class I was absorbing the new subjects, experimenting with traditional techniques and learning new technology. From photography to typography, from image manipulation to colourful illustration – it all came very natural to me. I couldn’t help thinking that the letters I had been spraying on to trains had prepared me for these undergraduate modules. Amongst the students, I naturally found my fellow writers, and hooked up with local artists to go on painting jams across the midlands. Those were the good days! No responsibilities, just freedom and following your passion through the course. My final coursework was creating a wine brand using digital calligraphy. It made me finish top of class – First Class Honours. I carried on doing my post-graduate studies and started working for a local print shop. That was my first design job. Business card and flyer designs gave me such joy and a sense of achievement. We all start somewhere, and it’s often the humble beginnings that lead to great stories….
You might be starting out on your path, or you might be in the exact position you want to be. In any case, this will hold true; your success is based on your ability to create a product or service people are willing to pay for.
All of us have some type of outlet and need to adapt it to the modern, monetary world by channelling it in the right direction. If you liked to dress up dolls, you might become a great fashion designer. If you loved building houses with lego, you might study architecture and become the next Philip Starck. Your creative curiosity should have brought you to this point where you are now. Your mission is to follow it through to the end. By expressing your creativity in a medium which is commercially viable you will achieve the success you want. Even Picasso knew he had to build a brand to become a historic icon. His signature has literally become a trademark. Today we have an advantage Picasso never had (not that he needed it!). We have more advanced technology and the ability to produce and sell our creations faster, directly to a global market via the internet.
The world is digital, we are living in the digital age.
If you haven’t done so yet, learn how to make a digital product using your talent. The digital world has only been around less than a century, and it is only the beginning of its impact on humankind. It will continue to change our lives and influence everything we do and think about. Therefore it is key for you to position yourself correctly to take advantage of this monumental milestone of homo sapiens.
Final University project for a brand created using digital calligraphy.