Q&A with Phoebe Ward

Hi, I’m Phoebe, I am 21 and I was born and raised in Cambridge before moving to Norwich to study fashion design at the University of the Arts.

Q: When did you start developing an interest in graphic design and illustrating?

A: Fortunately, I grew up in a family of artists so have always been encouraged to explore anything to do with art! I loved to draw and paint from a young age and always found fashion illustration really cool and I guess that lead me into the actual world of fashion that included the textiles and making aspect of it. I would say that the fashion industry has been my main focus for probably the past 5 or 6 years, so in terms of graphic design, it was only really until I was able to experiment and play around in photoshop that I began getting interested in graphics. I think I really liked how quickly you are able to create something from scratch or easily manipulate something that already existed. I’ve only ever had two inductions to the program but actually really enjoy trying to figure and work out stuff for myself. I feel like the illustration part has always been there, but it was only when I started uni that I really discovered a style that I liked. I originally began drawing alien-vibe, totally out of proportion fashion figures, always in awkward and unusual positions, I enjoyed the fact that they were noticeably my work.

Q: If you can remember, what was your first design/illustration?

A: I honestly have no idea, it sounds so cliché but I feel like I have been sketching, drawing and designing for as long as I can remember! I guess the work that I first actually felt quite proud of and still am till this day is a series of big, messy, collaged paintings of rugby players in scrums and tackles that I did for my A-level art. I loved that my school was so shocked that a girl was interested in something that was as boisterous and forceful/powerful as rugby.

Q: What advice would you give to your past-self when it comes to illustrating/ life?

A: I think I would advise myself to be a lot more free, experimental and bold. To think outside the box a bit more and push my creativity as much as possible. Don’t play safe. When you’re young and in education, you’re given time to discover what you’re passionate about and you are (hopefully) encouraged to be daring and innovative and push the limits of what you’re capable of. When you step out of education and into full time jobs, chances are you aren’t going to be able to do whatever the heck you want to, so just take this opportunity to have fun and be as shocking and limitless as possible. And in terms of life, again it sounds quite cliche, but take every opportunity you can and surround yourself with people that lift you up and make you happy, work hard and play hard.

Q: How would you describe your designs/ illustrations?

A: Ooh that’s super hard! I think it’s difficult to say because the illustrations that are in this zine are quite commercial, like they’re quite aesthetically pleasing, and I try to use really nice colour combinations in them and people seem to really like that. But then the illustrations in my sketchbook and portfolio are a quirkier, they are stylised but in a slightly more unique way.

Q: Where do you draw inspiration from, when it comes to your designs?

A: Literally anything and everything. In terms of my fashion designs, I find it really important to discover and focus on a narrative that I can portray throughout a collection, I need to have a reason behind certain aspects and functions of a garment design. And with the digital art that you can see in this zine, a lot of this is simply inspired by the culture of skateboarding. I became interested in this when we were given a project to design a collection for Supreme, I soon realised that there was so much more to this world that just the big brands like Supreme and Palace. I just loved the fun and playfulness that can often be seen in skate-wear designs as well as the vibrant colour combos.

Q: Do you see graphic design as an art form and why?

A: Definitely and its such a hugely important part of every society and culture around the world, I wouldn’t say that graphics is really my area, but having dabbled a little in creating a zine this year as well as living with graphic designers for the past two years, I completely appreciate the dedication and artistry that goes into every form of graphics. I hate that so many people are quick to shoot down the arts as being unimportant when they don’t realise that almost every aspect of their life has been designed - from the clothes they’re wearing, to the packaging of food they’re eating, the fork they’re eating it with, to the cities and buildings that they live in. Whether it be a graphic designer, fashion designer or architect, creative/ artistic minds have allowed all of this to happen.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

A: I can’t say I’ve thought about it too much, but honestly I think I would just be really happy to work for a menswear company that I love the design, work ethos and ethics of and have slowly worked my way up so that I can have a bit more control and design influence over what is being made. I would love to have a varied and versatile job that can also allow me to travel all over the world and just experience and soak up as much as possible.