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Interested Magazine

WITH STUDENT FEATURES Design Survival Tips_ Visual Research Stimuli Social Networking and Oppertunity features.

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Exclusive Design Interviews_

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Interested Magazine Spring Issue _

B o l a j i O s u n F e a ture Blog | Online | Print

Creativity allowing to make m Quote and Refrence Design Inspiration_

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y is yourself mistakes.

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Pages People Ka rla Stev ens - F a s hio n C o m F o o d &_ I nterv iew Ha nna h P la tt - P ho to gra p hy B ritt L lyo d - F ilm / F a s hio n Fil m

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Pages Design Survival A Des igners G u ide to Imp ro v in g The B ea u ty o f So cia l Netwo rk in g The B ea u ty o f R es ea rch & Str atagy

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Pages Interview L izzy Knight - F a s hio n Des ign er & Mod el L a u ra Do c krill - P o et & Illust r ator Simo n I s les - R o llerb la ding Cul tur e

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Pages A Designers Guide Ho w to ha ndle critis is m F eedb a ck & C o mmu nica tio n Ho w to ha ndle P res enta tio n/ s

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Pages Everyday F ilm Life of an Designer through Instagram

Pages Sneak Peak C onta c t Li s t C rea ti ve Studi o/s Index Us eful Webs i tes

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+ Editors Letter

Karla Stevens Blog Images_ Design Inspiration 01_

Inspiration Research Style Visual Layout Fashion Art Direction Editing

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Catwalk Live Communication

Interested in Fashion Be interested in Karla Stevens

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Karla Stevens Styling and Photography_

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It’s the beginning of the week and Karla Stevens has just come back from a location shoot at Louis Vitton. She entered a competition with the Fashion Communication girls to complete the brief.

So how did you get into what you do?

Creatively speaking?

Karla: Well I started off making bags from jean pockets when I was younger. I was always drawn to the creative aspects of clothing, who it was made. I used to love dressing up and experimenting with clothes. Lots of sticking and glueing my Mum would say.

Who or what inspired your work?

Karla: Lots of artisist and designers have inspired me throughout my life. Also just people who make lovely things and make eveything into something. I get very inspired by these types of people.

What inspires you?

Karla: Beautiful things and people around me.

What do you do when you expeirence a mental block?

I just keep doing what I am doing. I can’t seem to love anything and then just come back to it later. I have to complete it. I’m very stuborn for that, plus I love seeing something finished. I go grab a coffee have a quick cigertte and then I just crack on and push through.

What is your creative goal?

I want to work within this community.

Thats my goal. As long as I am happy with

my work and who I am.

How do you communicate with clients?

Karla: I like lists. (Laughts) Like alot of lists.

I write a list for what will be required with a specific brief, then each element can be picked apart and built upon.

Whats the best way to organise yourself?

Karla: I like alot of lists. (laughs) What keeps you motivated?

The acomplishments, my peers and seeing whats possible.

Any words of wisdom?

Karla: Do exactly what ou want to do.

Always.

Whats your day-today busy calander?

Karla: I get up, listen to teh radio, flick through my sketchbook then start the day with whatever needs to be done from my lists.

What do you enjoy creating most? Why? Karla: Something that brings all your work together. It must feel that it is completed and involving.

What do you do to get into your creative zone?

Karla: Researching. I always get creative when I start reasearching, my ideas seem to come together and it always excites me.

I think that researching is one of the most benifical tools you can use. It takes time but it definalty pays off.

On location with Karla Stevens

A Fashion Concepts and Communication student, who is currently looking to build upon existing experience in fashion retail, publication and design. A dedicated individual with the ability to initiate and communicate a fashion concept through working with a variety of techniques including styling, photography and graphic design for print. Not only able to understand garment design and construction, but also the importance of effectively communicating the story to an audience.

Experience Stylist Assistant (Workshop) Leeds College of Art September 2013 – December 2013 (4 months) Assisting stylist at workshop for students Organising garments and accessories for the session Suggesting alternative techniques and ideas for creating a story Fashion Communicator The Hip Store September 2013 – December 2013 (4 months)Leeds A collaborative project between Leeds College of Art and The Hip to create a communication package Creating and executing the concept for a collaboration Designing a logo for the alliance on Adobe Illustrator Photographing a styled location shoot Creating layout on Adobe InDesign for a printed promotion pack

Leeds Fashion ShowModel Dresser Leeds Fashion Show October 2013 – October 2013 (1 month)Leeds -Organising model looks -Styling models -Working alongside designers -Ensuring models are dressed correctly and on time for walking -Staying organised in high pressure.

Fashion Intern Look Magazine September 2013 – October 2013 (2 months) -Assisting Stylists with call-ins and style edits -Assisting on Photoshoots -Organising store visits -Writing up credits -Price checks -Researching trends -Sourcing products -Processing live samples and returns

Collaborative Communication Project Harvey Nichols Leeds May 2013 – June 2013 (2 months)Leeds Live Project -Creating a zine for Harvey Nichols -Styling looks with Harvey Nichols brands such as; ACNE, Finders Keepers, McQueen -Dressing and changing models -Creative directing photo shoot -Photographing models -Creating the zine using illustrator and inDesign -Presenting final product to Head of Visual Communication and Head of Personal Shopping

Karla Stevens Styling and Photography_

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Bolaji Osun Model

Interested in Food, be interested in Food&

Food&_ was set up in 2013 by Ross Featherstone, Katy Lanceley, Jonathan Finch, Rosalind Stoughton and Christopher Nunn to create a platform that would allow talanted individuals, creatives, cooks and makers to collaborate and share their skills and stories with the world.

It’s a miserable Tuesday afternoon in Leeds and we have asked Food&_ for a cheeky friendly chat to see what they are all about, how they work, and what has inspired them to create such a thriving project. The interview is taking place at ‘Duke Studio’s’ in Leeds. Full of inventive, creative people and companies that thrive off the relaxed and open studio plan. We head to the board room which is themed as a Mannor Home office. Very cool, very inventive.

Ross and Katy are present to discuss Food&_ Hey Guys, Thanks for doing this. It’s just a general chat really, something to keep readers interested and inspired. So shall we just jump straight in?

How did you get ‘into’ what you do creatively? How did the Food&_ idea come up?

Ross: Well I started out as a designer and web devloper but I have always had a connection and passion for food. So it has been my, well our plan, for many years now to set something up which stimulates food passion and creative minds. We decided on a food blog, but it just started to devlop.I created a Holding Page and it progressed from there. We pottered around Duke Studio and asked ‘Passport’ - (Graphic Design Studio) if they could help us out, and being the nice guys they are, they did the branding for Food&_ straight up. It turned out better then we ever imagined. From this people from around the world started to get in touch. They stared to send in work and we would pair and piece creatives toegther forming collaboration through a passion for food, photography, writing and other creative disiplines. So on the 20th July Food&_ opened and we dipped into peoples imaginations with articles being written in New York and images being taken in Austrailia.

Katy: This influenced a kind of networking as people could communicate and work with other creatives from around the world. Sometimes we would use images and articles from different displines and create the article, but in most cases we would introduce the creatives and allow them to collaborate.

It’s such an interesting way to work as you gain peoples influence and interests. Through contribution to the site, we have gained a ‘food’ community almost building a network together.

What do you look for in collaboration?

Ross: Just an interest I guess, paining or teaming contributers up is something that allows networking between them, so next time they can actively collab with each other.

Just an interest in their skills and/or their food is all that we need. Illustrators, photographers, story tellers, anyone who enjoys what they do is welcome!

How has Food&_ developed since opening Ross: It’s kinda just gone way over what we expected!

Katy: Yeah, definatly, it’s blown up into a crazy, amazing thing that is great! It’s a side project / interest that allows us to have a break from ‘real’ working lives but it’s something that we have so much passion for! It’s cool to see how many people also have that passion.

Ross: Yeah exactly, and people really do. We have had a launch party with contributers helping out on that. ‘Lord Whitney’ came in and styled the event and we automatically extended the project with an event which was really cool. For teh launch we invited contributers and told them to bring an ingridient, (like could be blackberries) and they had no clue why. When everyone arrived we made cocktails out of the ingridents they had brought. We had pasta cooking away (which me and Katy had been cooking for a good few days).

We also brought in independant buisnesses and intergrated everything in.

We are doing another event - because that was so sucsessful, in December called ‘A Taste of Winter.’ At Shears Yard, and we are bringing in more independant buisnesses such as Northen Streets and Sunbeam Brewery. So the street food and homemade beer will hopefully go down a treat.

There will be Q&A with creatives and Food / Drink companies so you can see how all three parties have worked and what skills they have / achieved.

We hope to devlop futher buy working with buisnesses and creatives and start to put on workshops and more events in disiplines that relate to food and creativity. Such as brewery workshops.

Food& Images from Website Contributers _ 01_

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“Eating and sleeping is very good and having a chat with someone, (just popping your heads in) always seems to inspire you or help out your problem. I will say that enthusiasm and passion will always be well recieved with the right balance.

You can filter out the good people to work with and find out how you like working.

As long as you are comminted you will get work.�

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Ross, Food&

Illustration from Food& Contributor Food&_

That’s always a good one.

So far so good. Ross and Katy are mega enthusiastic about Food&_ and how far the ‘experience’ can go. It’s getting me so inspired listening to how they have set up a platform for creatives to collabarate and network in such an interesting way.

The idea behind Food&_ is so good in pulling in Ross and Katy’s passions for editorial, food, photography and design. The events are bringing in local buisnesses.

Ross and Katy and very interested in this, and take pride (as they should) in bringing in these people. They congratulate and celebrate the risk the small buisness are undertaking to follow their passion of food and it’s so worth while bringing them in as collaboratoers for events. So this instantely lead to the next question.

Who or what experiences have inspired your work? What inspires you guys?

Ross: Yeah, Home Cooking is mega inspiration. We’ve always been into that.

Katy: Yeah, we have a passion for food, Always have. It’s cool that we can bring in our passion for our own work like editorial articles, illusration and design/web.

Ross: Totally. People who take the time to write or take photo’s etc of projects off their own back is always great. The independant business that risks eveything. They show such commitment and give up steady jobs to work with food and drink. I think it’s great to support that independance.

It’s the exact same with contributers.

We say that all contributers can contribute more and more and they shouldn’t hesitate to get in touch. We have Saya in New York who writes regular articles called ‘Sunday Essentials’ which is cool, because we are building a platform to showcase skills and contributers are buildng profiles.

What do you do when you experience a mental block to your creative endeavors? do you scream. Panic, or just chill and work it out?

Katy: Working with editorial it’s just the initial things that cause mild panic but you get used to it really. It’s a combination of sheer panic and the need to sit back and work it out.

Ross: I worked at a few design agencies...

you would just have to churn out design after design but you learn alot over the years and what works best for me is trying to work on something different to have a break. Also eating and sleeping is very good and having a chat with someone - just popping your heads in) always seems to inspire you or help out your problem. I will say that enthusiasm and passion will always be well recieved with the right balance. You can filter out the ‘good’ people to work with and find out how you like working. As long as you are comminted you will get work.

What is your creative goal and how attainable do you think it is?

Ross: Food&_ was always a goal, but it wasn’t planned to become what it is, it was meant to be a personal blog - it just blew up with the right elements, right time, right place, right people. Ironically we thought we would have to contribute but we have so many submissions that we barely have a chance. We find this so enjoyable, it’s never a chore to find time to look and contributers. There is no pressure surrounding Food&_ it’s just an enjoyable feeling.

It was great to chat to the guys today. It is cool to see the link between all these methods of creativity and how they all interlink through this love of food.

Katy and Ross have certainly considered this as their ‘baby’, and by the looks of things it certainly has started to pay off.

There seems to be alot of hype surrounding the Food scene at the miniute which has left this space for Food& to jump right in.

Interested in photography, be interested in HannahPlatt.

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Hannah Platt Crossing Boarders Website_

01_ Hannah Platt No Forgien Lands Website_

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Hannah Platt Photography

Hannah Platt Images from Website_ Dog Days

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Hannah Platt Images from Website_ Spare Moment

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Interested in Fashion Communication Be interesed in Britt Llyod

Britt Lloyd

Britt Llyod Fashion Shoot Shot from Film_

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is a Fashion Communication student currently studying at Leeds College of Art. In her degreee, she has specialised in film directing and editing, along with photography and digitial promotion.

Originally from North London, she has taken part in an internship at Nick Knight’s SHOWstudio.

All black everything. Britt’s main acsessory.

We walk into the studio were Britt’s just finishing up her latest fashion film. She greets us with a charming smile and we take a seat having a sneak peek at the film.

Hey Britt, hope you are well, I guess we should just jump staright in. How did you get into what you do creatively ?

Britt : It was clear to me that it was my main interest in like, what I was automatically drawn to, so i just knew I guess. Which made my early decisions pretty straight forward.

Who or what had inspired your work?

Britt: other creatives in my field who push the boundaries. People like SHOWstudio and certain online magazines. They are great for looking at the uniqueness of a situation. SHOWstudio is so appealing to me and really spurs me in the right direction.

What inspires you?

Britt: I’d have to say that Locations inspire me the most.

It’s always a good shout to keep your eyes open for new places to visit. A good location can change a shoot drastically and it’s always good to get it right.

What do you do when you experience a mental block?

Britt: I tend to take it back to a simple idea. (Laughs) I try to start again, thinking with a clear mind. It works i’d say a god 90% of the time. I think it’s great to write these ideas down in stages. When you start to struggle thats when you can flick back and find the route of an idea and it will work itself out from there.

What is your creative goal? How attainable do you think it is?

Britt: I would love to work for a company I admire. A place that’s not too big but really enforces my beliefs and aims also. I can imagine myslef working proffesionally very soon, so hopefully it will be attainable, and quick (laughs) How do you communicate with clients?

Britt: Mostly through converstation. I do this so I can get my ideas across clearly. I think it’s more appropriate to chat face to face. You can portray yourself clearly and your enthusiam and personality can come across. The ideas can then also take on a new form and become more exciting and well explained. I think it’s down to what ever the person and client feel comfortable with.

What is the best way to organise yourself?

Britt: To plan as much as I can and be prepared. My calander helps me to know my deadlines. I think it’s great to keep log of all dates and important happenings. It allows you to do more, as your day is planned in and theres always enought time to pencil something else in.

What keeps you motivated?

Britt: New Ideas. When I think of a new idea it makes me want to execute them automatically. The excitement of a new idea is such a nice feeling as well. When you really want to do this, and feel that it could be of impact, that’s what keeps me motivated.

Any words of wisdom?

Yeah, I’d just have to say ‘Work hard’. I know everyone says this, but when you actually work hard it does pay off.

Whats your day-to-day on a busy calander?

Britt: 1. Organise my day 2. Edit some work 3. Make sure I am prepared for what I have comming up. Normally I will be working on 2 briefs and some other work. I like to keep busy but editing does take quite a while to complete so I also give myself enough time. You can’t rush your work.

What do you enjoy creating most? Why? Britt: Filming. Definatly. When you know you are capturing something beautiful at that moment in time.

What do you do to get into your creative zone?

Britt: Be focused on gaining a sucsessful outcome. I think you should always have this in the back of your mind when it comes to your work. Aiming for sucsess will motivate you. You are you hardest crituqe.

How important is education to your creative process?

Britt: VERY. To get and recieve critique from peers or tutors is very important. Its key to relaise that other people may know more about the work you are doing. So always listen. You shouldn’t stop learning.

Do you critique your own work?

Britt: YES. I am my biggest critique.

What is your prime motivation?

Britt: To be the best and to create work that inspires others.

I think that would be a really cool thing.

Britt Llyod Inspiration_ Image from Blog

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A Designers To Improving Guide Inspiration Create a dedicated blog or use Pinterest to post and tag design projects that inspire you; reference this material for fresh ideas.

Dissect why particular projects appeal to you and how well they function in their intended environments. This could be textures, colour and type treatments, layouts and grids or a new and innovative approach.

Grow “horizontally” and “vertically” Become an expert in something specific, but try new creative mediums, wood working, oil painting, sculpting, street art, music, dance or food. These creative outlets can stimulate different thought patterns, approaches and understand creativity as a multi-sensory experience.

Collaboration

Avoid stagnation

If a client needs a particular skill set that is highly specialist (and you realistically couldn’t learn it in time), look at collaborating with another designer and learn from what they do. They may require you to output a new file type or a particular resolution for 3D environmental maps for their part of the project, these small pieces of information will give you the necessary insight to streamline your processes, make you more efficient and hopefully be able to take on more aspects of a project.

The most dangerous disease in a designer’s career is going stagnant. Learning and evolving are as important as making money because our industry is almost 100% reliant on technology.

Designer’s must keep up with the latest software and print techniques in order to deliver clients and consumers the most engaging pieces of communication.

Inspiration

“Through personal experience I find the best way to avoid designers block or burning out is to try to learning something new or focusing on developing my weaker skills. The results may be horrid but the process is fun and the techniques I learn along the way are inspiring and allow me to improve my overall designing abilities.”

Create a dedicate blog or use Pinterest to post and tag design projects that inspire you; reference this material for fresh ideas.

Dissect why particular projects appeal to you and how well they function in their intended environments. This could be textures, colour and type treatments, layouts and grids or a new and innovative approach.

Work in style, work with focus Work with a system, perfect that system Break the Rules

Design Survival Tips Useful Info Inspiration_

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A DESIGNERS GUIDE TO IMPROVING - FOR INSPIRATION * Design Survival Tips Tips and Hints Inspiration_

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Learn from different disciplines Attend as many events as possible where the delegates work within different area’s of design to you. If you’re a print designer, turn up to a 3D conference and learn about the tools, and techniques these designer’s use and look at the opportunities to implement these into your workflow and design projects. @richbaird - This isn’t about spreading your skills too thinly but about improving the gaps between your responsibilities and the next designer/ coder/3d visualiser along, as well as the opportunity to develop new aesthetics within your own work.

Learn at every opportunity Learning on-the-job is standard practice in a consultancy when coming from University but as a freelancer without an art director or finisher to guide you, the chances are you will make mistakes. Make sure you take the time to read up on new print techniques or web design standards, swap your fiction for some non-fiction in the evenings and focus on your weaker skills. Try to mix your learning across different sources to keep it interesting and engaging, spending even more time on the computer isn’t always the best way to absorb large chunks of technical information.

Resources There are plenty of websites that provide designer’s with the tools to continuously learn, develop, and practice – a lot of these are free and should be considered as part of a weekly activity.

Recommended resources: Tutsplus Aisleone Notcot Fromupnorth Uxbooth 365psd Provided by @HeyRui Learn by association Always work with someone better than yourself. It’s pretty basic, but in terms of covering all aspects of being a designer it’s one of the better things you can do to improve. It goes without saying, but to make it work you need to be open-minded and observant all the time.

Challenge yourself There will be occasions where a client may ask you for something that you have little or no experience with. Rather than passing this work on, discuss with the client the opportunity to explore some initial ideas at a special rate. This will give you the chance to gain experience without overselling or under delivering. Be honest, enthusiastic and prepared to learn what you need to make it another skill. If it really is specialist, look at collaborating with another designer and learn from what they do.

Asking for advice: Social networks If you work in a design agency asking for advice and direction is easy but as a freelancer this can be difficult. Sites like Dribbble, Forrst and Logopond are great places to get feedback but try to be specific about the advice you require. Be polite and appreciative of other opinions regardless of whether you agree and don’t be reluctant to accept someone else’s idea as a better than your own.

Be selective There is a fine line between getting yourself exposure and imposing yourself. If you’ve got something to shout about, tweet it, mail it, post it through the relevant channels but try to be selective in what you want showcase, know the difference between an average piece of work and something of note.

And if you get no reply, no mention, negative feedback or knocked back be even more selective the next time.

Asking for help and advice When asking for advice on sites such as Dribbble and Forrst be sure to respond to each comment and show a bit appreciation for the time another designer has taken out of their day to help you along. If it’s a particularly good tip that sent you in a new direction or improves your work, show them your gratitude and credit them in your post .

Developing online relationships Graphic design social networks are like any other social networks; if you’re new and trying to make a name for yourself, you can’t just pop up on the scene, announce your presence, and expect that a flurry of friend requests, helpful critiques, gallery spots, or freelance gigs will land on your e-doorstep. Much like how it works in “The Real World,” fostering these online relationships takes time, effort, and patience. Spend the time to comment on others’ work, offer helpful suggestions/critiques of your own, make informative posts, contribute to group discussions, and heed the advice of well-respected senior members. And no matter what, be cordial — especially when receiving criticism no one likes a grumpy and defensive newcomer.

Also, during this time, it’s crucial that you become a sponge and absorb everything you possibly can — advice from senior members, tips, tricks, new techniques, etc.

— and apply all this gained knowledge to your own work.

If you’re actively participating AND visibly evolving as a designer, not only will people begin to notice and accept you into the community, but they will also begin to respect you. And respect goes a long way.

Commenting

Commenting can be a good way of building up good relationships with fellow designers, when commenting spend a bit of time considering your post, make sure that it is clear, concise and grammatically correct. Avoid any unnecessary criticism and be constructive at all times.

Share you appreciation When using social networks such as Dribbble and Forrst consider it as an opportunity to be inspired and not as an ego boost. If you genuinely like a piece of work show your appreciation, don’t expect anything in return, if this remains the standard then the likes and follows you receive back will be genuine opinions of your work.

Presentation When you are presenting your work on-line for feedback or just as a portfolio piece consider the way you present your work. Is the design clear? Has it been well spaced within the shot window? Have you given it a suitable description?

Each of these will influence whether people choose to offer advice or not.

Share the work of others

Mix self-promotional activities with the sharing of inspirational content. Avoid the saturated and hunt out undiscovered and under shared gems. Look for old articles that still have relevance and that reflect your own philosophies. Ask questions and foster discussions about the pieces that you post.The beauty of social networking Years ago “networking” involved cold calling, conferences, events, lugging around portfolios, referrals, and so many other tactics that took an enormous amount of effort with little results. Now, with the likes of twitter, facebook, youtube, dribbble, behance, and other online communities the opportunity to connect with other designers and potential clients has never been easier.

Remember even simple things like writing a 140 character update in twitter requires consistency, substance, and effort. What I mean by that is if you want to take full advantage of networking tools you have to include them into your daily routine and aim to provide something unique, engaging, educational, or something funny and charming. There are plenty of tools to help you with just that such as Buffer app to schedule your tweets & facebook updates or Klout to gauge your social network involvement and user engagement, or twoolr to provide you with analytical data from your twitter account.

Personally, I would say these sites are essential to anyone who wants to take social networking seriously. Buffer and Klout alone has helped me pay more attention to my own followers, engage with them more, and spread out my tweets throughout the day. Other sites catered specifically for designers like behance, dribbble, forrst, and even deviantart take much more effort than the likes of twitter and facebook, and because of this it’s wise to consider which ones would be most effective for you, because trying to consistently contribute to all of them is extremely challenging and eats away at the time you could be designing.

Design Survival Tips Tips and Hints Inspiration_

The Simple Beauty of Social Networking.

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The Simple Beauty of Research and Stratagy.

Strategy Insight My process is aimed at helping me to brand and package new products and typically begins, following the brief, with the identification of values and propositions drawn from questionnaires, informal conversation and workshops. Personal client information such as their background, inspirations, aspirations and journey to market can also provide interesting references and avenues for exploration. These initial exercises are designed to tease out unique details that a formal brief can miss and help to create a unique brand DNA from which I can build a relevant and specific visual result.

Clients new to the design process don’t often know what they want or need to communicate and end up citing general marketing buzzwords such as ‘artisan’ and ‘sustainable’. A lot of these terms will fall under the same themes and can be distilled down to a number of primary brand values. Conventional marketing practices suggest that consumers tend to respond well to one or two messages but I work with between two and four to deliver depth and a sense of narrative with each component contributing to a wider brand story. Following this I assign each value, in written form, visual characteristics and cues that can be understood by the demographic.

For example: Speed – sweeping terminals or italics Reliability – consistent line weights Security – bold geometric typography Clinical effectiveness – spacious and uncluttered layouts Expense/sophistication – foiling and embossing Exclusivity – specialist and rare materials and print treatments To create a broad brand experience I execute these visual cues, with mixed impact, across an identity and packaging solution that utilises both graphic components and layouts, material choices, print treatments and through structural design.

It’s important to present these ideas to the client for discussion and revision before design work begins. Try not to hit them with an essay and be sure to include visual and physical references. This is a good opportunity to show your client that you understand their problem and can offer a broad and consistent design solution that compliments their product and engages their consumers. This design strategy document can also be used as a proposal prior to securing the job.

Calm your enthusiasm with a quick sketching session Young designers frequently make the mistake of jumping straight into the visualisation process without spending an appropriate amount of time on research and strategy. This is understandable as design is often presented as a predominantly artistic discipline (by logo specific publications and websites) rather than one of communication. The enthusiasm to bypass a structured analytical process and get sketching is likely to only generate ideas that are instinctual rather than insightful but should be utilised as an opportunity to clear the mind of any preconceived ideas.

Insight will come as a designer gains experience, for a beginner it’s better to generate ideas from a solid and tangible foundation.

Design Survival Tips Tips and Hints Inspiration_

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Elizabeth Knight Pink Flower_ Manipulated Pattern

01_ Elizabeth Knight Yellow Flower Manipulated Pattern_

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Interested in Food, be interested in Food&

Food&_ was set up in 2013 by Ross Featherstone, Katy Lanceley, Jonathan Finch, Rosalind Stoughton and Christopher Nunn to create a platform that would allow talanted individuals, creatives, cooks and makers to collaborate and share their skills and stories with the world.

It’s a miserable Tuesday afternoon in Leeds and we have asked Food&_ for a cheeky friendly chat to see what they are all about, how they work, and what has inspired them to create such a thriving project. The interview is taking place at ‘Duke Studio’s’ in Leeds. Full of inventive, creative people and companies that thrive off the relaxed and open studio plan. We head to the board room which is themed as a Mannor Home office. Very cool, very inventive.

Ross and Katy are present to discuss Food&_ Hey Guys, Thanks for doing this. It’s just a general chat really, something to keep readers interested and inspired. So shall we just jump straight in?

How did you get ‘into’ what you do creatively? How did the Food&_ idea co me up?

Ross: Well I started out as a designer and web devloper but I have always had a connection and passion for food. So it has been my, well our plan, for many years now to set something up which stimulates food passion and creative minds. We decided on a food blog, but it just started to devlop.I created a Holding Page and it progressed from there. We pottered around Duke Studio and asked ‘Passport’ - (Graphic Design Studio) if they could help us out, and being the nice guys they are, they did the branding for Food&_ straight up. It turned out better then we ever imagined. From this people from around the world started to get in touch. They stared to send in work and we would pair and piece creatives toegther forming collaboration through a passion for food, photography, writing and other creative disiplines. So on the 20th July Food&_ opened and we dipped into peoples imaginations with articles being written in New York and images being taken in Austrailia.

Katy: This influenced a kind of networking as people could communicate and work with other creatives from around the world. Sometimes we would use images and articles from different displines and create the article, but in most cases we would introduce the creatives and allow them to collaborate.

It’s such an interesting way to work as you gain peoples influence and interests. Through contribution to the site, we have gained a ‘food’ community almost building a network together.

What do you look for in collaboration?

Ross: Just an interest I guess, paining or teaming contributers up is something that allows networking between them, so next time they can actively collab with each other.

Just an interest in their skills and/or their food is all that we need. Illustrators, photographers, story tellers, anyone who enjoys what they do is welcome!

How has Food&_ developed since opening Ross: It’s kinda just gone way over what we expected!

Katy: Yeah, definatly, it’s blown up into a crazy, amazing thing that is great! It’s a side project / interest that allows us to have a break from ‘real’ working lives but it’s something that we have so much passion for! It’s cool to see how many people also have that passion.

Ross: Yeah exactly, and people really do. We have had a launch party with contributers helping out on that. ‘Lord Whitney’ came in and styled the event and we automatically extended the project with an event which was really cool. For teh launch we invited contributers and told them to bring an ingridient, (like could be blackberries) and they had no clue why. When everyone arrived we made cocktails out of the ingridents they had brought. We had pasta cooking away (which me and Katy had been cooking for a good few days).

We also brought in independant buisnesses and intergrated everything in.

We are doing another event - because that was so sucsessful, in December called ‘A Taste of Winter.’ At Shears Yard, and we are bringing in more independant buisnesses such as Northen Streets and Sunbeam Brewery. So the street food and homemade beer will hopefully go down a treat.

There will be Q&A with creatives and Food / Drink companies so you can see how all three parties have worked and what skills they have / achieved.

We hope to devlop futher buy working with buisnesses and creatives and start to put on workshops and more events in disiplines that relate to food and creativity. Such as brewery workshops.

Elizabeth Knight Print Pattern 01_

Lace Print Pattern

Elizabeth Knight Print Pattern 02_

An example of Impermanence Decay

Lizzy Knight Model and Style Photoshoot_

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Lizzy Knight Fashion Design Photoshoot 02_ Featuring Mood Board Colour Scheme

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Laura Dockrill Exclusive Interview_

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Laura Dockrill Author / Illustrator and a very Creative thinker / Poet / Story Teller / Speaker.

We sent Laura a few questions the other day, this was her response.

1. I feed my brain as much as possible. I believe that brain food comes from trying to show an interest in everything and everybody. I remember once reading a piece roald dahl said about his mum, he said that she was ‘interested in everything’ and that’s how I want to be. From nature to books to fashion to music to people to food. Don’t be contained or boxed in. Let your mind untangle and tangle itself. When in need of creative surge I like to draw or paint, run around the park, swim, bake or go and see a good play or film. You can’t create if you don’t live.

2. Whoops sort of answered them Both. I am interested in everybody and everything.

I try to say yes to everything too which can often get me in trouble. I think every day should be different for a healthy mind, although it’s utterly chaotic and exhausting, for me, variation is key.

3. I like do-ers. Far too many people approach me like ‘I’ve written this thing’ or ‘I’ve for an idea for a film’ and they never do it. In general ideas are so flitting and dangerous. They forget themselves. Everything needs to be urgent, I have a fear of sitting on ideas too long then they become stale and dull, there is something in the fresh spark of an idea that is the ignition. That’s the one that needs to be chased and made use of.

4. Lots of listening to myself. If I’m tiredsleep. Angry- run. Hungry- eat. I have to be in tune with myself, in fact I was just saying the other day, it’s rare a second goes by in the day that I’m not feeling ‘something’ I am always charged. I feel weird if I am not ‘something’ and find I have to channel that into something new. I zone out of the world when I am hungry for an idea or get really distant and irritable. It’s actually quite an ugly trait of mine, so I have to keep my process constantly thriving and churning otherwise I get grumpy and selfish. Breaks are really important for everybody. People think when your job is being yourself that you’re always on a break but it’s the opposite. You’re never on a break!

5. I don’t think I have a creative zone. It’s not organised. It just summons me and I have to be prepared. I work at my best when I am happy. When I’m not arguing with my friends or family, don’t have negative stuff on my plate. That’s when I’m confident Thank YOU. Laura x Laura’s creativity isn’t limited. She sent us a futher email about how she will continue to try new things. It inspires her and pushes her work futher. Istead of just writing, she guest speaks and lectures. It’s about new things and creative outbursts that can allow you to become the best you can be! That and having alot of fun. You have to love it.

I guess what it’s all about really, loving being creative.

Simon Isles Culture Images from blog_

Simon Isles on, Rollerblading Culture

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It’s a miserable Tuesday afternoon in Leeds and we have asked Food&_ for a cheeky friendly chat to see what they are all about, how they work, and what has inspired them to create such a thriving project. The interview is taking place at ‘Duke Studio’s’ in Leeds. Full of inventive, creative people and companies that thrive off the relaxed and open studio plan. We head to the board room which is themed as a Mannor Home office. Very cool, very inventive.

Ross and Katy are present to discuss Food&_ Hey Guys, Thanks for doing this. It’s just a general chat really, something to keep readers interested and inspired. So shall we just jump straight in?

How did you get ‘into’ what you do creatively? How did the Food&_ idea co me up?

Ross: Well I started out as a designer and web devloper but I have always had a connection and passion for food. So it has been my, well our plan, for many years now to set something up which stimulates food passion and creative minds. We decided on a food blog, but it just started to devlop.I created a Holding Page and it progressed from there. We pottered around Duke Studio and asked ‘Passport’ - (Graphic Design Studio) if they could help us out, and being the nice guys they are, they did the branding for Food&_ straight up. It turned out better then we ever imagined. From this people from around the world started to get in touch. They stared to send in work and we would pair and piece creatives toegther forming collaboration through a passion for food, photography, writing and other creative disiplines. So on the 20th July Food&_ opened and we dipped into peoples imaginations with articles being written in New York and images being taken in Austrailia.

Katy: This influenced a kind of networking as people could communicate and work with other creatives from around the world. Sometimes we would use images and articles from different displines and create the article, but in most cases we would introduce the creatives and allow them to collaborate. metimes we would use images and articles from different displines and create the article, but in most cases we metimes we would use images and articles from different displines and