Category: Interviews and features

Avril O’Neil is an alumna of our BA in Design who has now returned to Goldsmiths to teach on the course she graduated from herself. Together with her life and business partner John Nussey, she now runs her own design practice, ONN Studio. We interviewed Avril on her work and her relationship with Goldsmiths:

Q: Why did you first come to Goldsmiths?

A: I came from an open artistic background, after studying fine art at Central Saint Martins. I didn’t have much knowledge of design when I started and almost stumbled upon the course at Goldsmiths. It wasn’t until I talked to one of the tutors that I realised that the course was a perfect fit for me. I was trying to find a way of applying my creative practice at the time, which was a fine art practice, and I hadn’t found it- Goldsmiths seemed to be a perfect fit because I would be allowed creative freedom to do what I wanted.

Q: Starting this term you’ve been a visiting practitioner teaching on the first year BA Design at Goldsmiths. What are first year students like?

A: I think most of them are really enthusiastic, and it’s lovely to see some really talented designers in the making. I’m trying to put myself back into that position… Some of them are incredible thinkers, and the course is tailoring their thought processes to help them understand how they might practice design in the real world. They’re new and fresh to it, but it’s exciting.

Q: What would you tell them if they asked you for advice on how to start out in the real world?

A: Do everything! Take up any opportunity that you get. That’s how you get experience. As soon as you’re out of college, try to get a wide range of experience, so you can understand your own practice and how you want to frame it, whether you are a freelancer, have your own company or whether you want to work for a consultancy… Try everything out and don’t be afraid to approach people. Never be afraid to ask someone if you can come in and see their studio, if you can talk about their work. Anyone is flattered when someone appreciates their work. I think a lot of students are a bit embarrassed about that and are not sure about how to approach it! Continue reading “Avril O’Neil of ONN Studio: “I think the future of design studios might be smaller and more open to collaboration””

Mary Rose Cook is one of the founders and managing directors of UsCreates, a creative consultancy with a focus on social change. Ten years ago, Mary and her then-classmate Zoe Stanton started UsCreates after graduating from the BA Design course at Goldsmiths. Read our interview to find out what Mary has to say on strategic design for social change and running one’s own business:

Q: How did you end up studying at Goldsmiths in the first place and what were your expectations when you got here?

A: I looked at a few different universities and decided on Goldsmiths partly because my family was in London, but also because of the reputation of arts and design from Goldsmiths. I don’t know if I had any great expectations, but I thought the whole experience was eye-opening. I think I arrived with a limited understanding of design, which in my mind was a lot more about art direction and aesthetics, and I left with a new way of thinking about generating ideas and problem solving, which now I know as design thinking.

Q: What was it like for you on the course? Did you enjoy the experience? Continue reading “Mary Cook of UsCreates: “Starting a business right out of Uni is a great idea. You’ve got nothing to lose””