Initially wanting to become an actor, Ami-Lou’s path to becoming a designer and illustrator has been an interesting one. After completing a degree in Theatre Acting Ami-Lou started her career as a performer and spent time travelling before ending up in Australia. Looking for a career that could give her the flexibility and freedom to continue acting and having always loved drawing and illustration, graphic design felt like a natural progression. She completed the three-month Shillington course in Melbourne and hasn’t looked back since. “It’s a great career if you want to pursue other passions. The fact that design is a job you can do from home gives you flexibility and has meant that I can continue my career whilst spending most of my time looking after my two daughters.”
As Ami-Lou’s career progressed her passion for illustration grew and she developed her own unique style. Her experience ranges from illustrating for a book publisher in Melbourne to working in-house at De Montfort University and for design agencies including Arch in Derby. Now primarily a freelance illustrator, specialising in children’s illustration, Ami-Lou’s clients have included the publishers Random House and Parragon. Ami-Lou also makes prints and takes commissions for family portraits, which are available on her Etsy site.
She has recently collaborated with Creative Director Joe Nixon to illustrate a children’s book he wrote inspired by reports of animals around the world, venturing into towns and cities during lockdown called: ‘The Fearless Fox and Daring Deer’. All proceeds from the book go towards a specialist NHS children’s hospital in Leicester. Ami-Lou’s illustrations have been advertised through the Street Stories project in Leicester, transforming empty shop windows, and have also featured in an advert on Sky and Nickelodeon.
We chatted with Ami to hear more about her carving her own path as a designer and illustrator and her thoughts about the experience of imposter syndrome.
When did you first become interested in working as a designer and illustrator?
I’ve always love drawing and design. As a little girl I loved writing and illustrating stories. I thought about becoming a designer when I was at school, but was a bit put off by the idea that “in the future it was all going to be done on computers” haha! (I was at school in the 90s). At university, I chose to do a degree in Theatre Acting, which is my other big passion. The year after graduating was tough. I did get some acting jobs but they were either for short periods of time or unpaid. At that time, I didn’t really know what to do, so I went travelling on my own in Thailand and Australia. It was during my time in Australia that I found out about Shillington College, which offered an intensive 3-month program in graphic design. I went to the open evening and knew instantly that it was what I wanted to do. It felt like an exciting career in something I loved, which would allow me to continue acting as well. Taking the course was one of the best career decisions of my life.
Describe how you got to where you are now.
After completing the course at Shillington College, Melbourne in 2004, I returned home to Derby and within about month or so had been offered a job at a local design agency as a junior graphic designer. It was a great start as it allowed me to learn the ropes and work on a variety of projects. I was lucky to work with a fantastic bunch of people, most of whom I’m still friends with.
After a couple of years there, I decided to move back to Melbourne, where I got a job as a designer for an educational book company, Cengage Learning. The great thing about working for Cengage was that they allowed you to work flexible hours. So even though I was working full time, I was also doing lots of acting and theatre work and for some time I toured with an outdoor Shakespeare Company. I mention this because I think design is a really great career if you want to pursue other passions. It’s less possible now I have children but back then it gave me a lot of freedom.
Eventually I left Australia and came back to London where I started freelancing and doing a lot more illustrating. I met a children’s author who recommended a few illustration agencies. By a stroke of luck one of these agencies took me on and I got to do work for Random House and Parragon. I then got a job for Baker Ross (based in Walthamstow) designing craft kits for children.
Having decided to leave London and buy a house I came back to Derby where I got another agency job. This was the only negative experience I’ve had as a woman designer, where. I felt there was a sexist atmosphere at work and that my boss was a misogynist. I switched to a designer job at De Montfort University and whilst working there had my first daughter, returning after maternity leave. However, after I had my second daughter, returning to that job just wasn’t possible for me and I started freelancing on a more regular basis.
How has being a woman impacted your career?
On the whole I think it’s been a positive thing. I’ve worked with many very talented women who have inspired me and helped me along the way and I’ve personally found that it’s a career in which woman can gain equal respect to men. I suppose having kids has probably prevented me from wanting to climb the career ladder higher, but I see that as being more my own preference.
I have noticed a culture of kindness between women develop over the last few years, possibly as a result of social media. I love it when women support women and rather than seeing them as some kind of threat see them as an ally. They see the value in being able to support and empower each other. It’s a great thing. I support that culture wholeheartedly. Long may it continue.
As an illustrator do you suffer from imposter syndrome and how do you cope with it?
Illustration can be a really competitive industry, and it can be a bit off putting when you see the thousands of illustrators out there on social media. I think that the evolution of the smart phone and social media are primarily to blame for this because when I started I didn’t have that comparison. Particularly since instagram has become so huge within the illustration industry, you’re just constantly bombarded with people’s work and it’s hard to switch off from that. It’s a great way to get inspired and exchange ideas, but the flip side is that you start to question your own style and you can feel overwhelmed by the competition. I definitely struggle with this. I see other people’s work and think that’s so much better than mine. Perhaps I should be working in that style, rather than being true to myself? I think that it’s really important to remain true to yourself and your style. This is something I’m working on!
Can you tell us bit more about the Fearless Fox and Daring Deer children’s book project?
At the beginning of lockdown, my friend Joe Nixon asked me to illustrate a children’s story he had written. The story was inspired by news reports of animals around the world, venturing into towns and cities during lockdown. The idea came about through wanting to give something back to the NHS. The book is aimed at children aged between three and eleven and all proceeds from it will go towards creating one of the UK’s newest children’s hospitals, where services include world-renowned heart surgery and a NHS Trust-supported Arts in Mental Health charity. Leicester Children’s Hospital Appeal and BrightSparks Arts in Mental Health will form a partnership to support the thousands of children and families around the UK who will receive care at the new state-of-the-art hospital.
If you could go back to the beginning and start your career again what would tell your younger self?
Network. Get out there and meet people in your industry and also those not in your industry but who may benefit from your skills. Make as many contacts as you can. So much of my work has come about through people I know. The old saying of It’s who you know, not what you know, is so true. Also, don’t rush into taking the first job that comes your way. I know getting a job can be tough but it’s so important to really consider if you think the job is a good fit for you, your style and your values. I have made the mistake of taking a job, just because I was offered it, and I really regretted it.
Which female designer/artist/thinker has most inspired you?
Gosh, so many, but the one that springs instantly to mind because I just love her work is Lisa Congdon. I love her style, especially how colourful her work is. She seems to be someone who really wants to inspire others to be creative. I admire that a lot.
How has being a designer influenced you as a mother?
The fact that design is a job in which you can work flexibly from home has been a life saver. I’m not saying it’s been easy, but it has at least been possible to continue my career, whilst spending most of my time looking after my daughters.
Can you name other female creatives currently working in the industry who you find inspiring!
- Rox Webster from Young Double
- Claire Hardwick @littlem_papergoods
- Katy Cowan of Creative Boom Magazine
- Karuna Patel @karuna_kreates
- Camila Prada @camibami
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