Falmouth University graduate Claudia Aggett believes that although these are very challenging times for new designers, it also is an opportunity to see the world from a different perspective and to develop new ways of making connections. As with most 2020 graduates, Claudia initially felt deflated at the beginning of UK lockdown in March with her degree show cancelled but quickly realised this meant there were a lot more opportunities happening online. She feels that the combination of online degree shows and the way that established designers and organisations in the design industry have used their platforms to promote young creatives, has meant that student work is more easily accessible. It has provided an opportunity for more exposure than with the usual limitations of a physical degree show.
Claudia strongly believes in the importance of spreading kindness, creative courage and drawing out of people creative skills they didn’t know they had. With this in mind, whilst still at university, she set up JoyFal with fellow students Emma and Mollie Baker – an initiative with the aim of spreading joy around Falmouth through hand crafted creativity.
Encouraged by her mentor and Falmouth alumnus, Luke Tonge director of Birmingham Design Festival, to speak up more and contact other designers, Claudia set up Class of 2020 a Slack channel support network for new graduates. This provides a platform for exchanging and sharing ideas to foster creativity and connections between young designers, in a world where networking events and final shows are off the table for the foreseeable future. Having a mentor has given her the confidence and belief in her own voice to reach out and build friendships with other graduates and established designers. Through a combination of determination and enthusiasm Claudia has also used social media, live streams and video calls to successfully make connections within the design community. She’s realised that everyone’s human and the established designers she looks up to were once in a similar position.
Since graduating, Claudia has been recognised by D&AD’s Ones to Watch 2020, selected to take part in Ian Wharton of Publicis Sapient Best New Creatives, featured on Craig Oldham’s and the Typographic Circle’s Graduate Showcases and completed an internship at Fiasco Design in Bristol. She has been featured in 99% Lifestyle weekly e-newsletter and been part of a panel discussion about graduating in 2020 for the podcast series Unfiltered, by We Are Outspoken and Women Untld. Claudia was also named Overall Creative Champion at the South West Design Awards and commended for a Creative Conscience Award 2020. Next up is an internship at Supple Studio in Bath before heading back to Fiasco for a further four-months.
We caught up with Claudia in between her internships to find out more about her experience as a graduate in 2020.
Why did you decide to become a designer and how has that evolved over time?
From a very early age, if you were to ask my parents, I was definitely drawn more to the world of colour as opposed to the world of dentistry, accountancy and medicine, like the rest of my family. I have a very early memory of creating some (not so) beautiful wall art and designing menus for every family gathering. Little did I know at the age of six that these were the foundations for my love of this thing called ‘design’. It’s safe to say, I think ‘creativity’ (used loosely) has always been a part of me.
It wasn’t until music became an important part of my life that the word ‘design’ was taken more seriously and seen as a realistic career path for me. Growing up with an older brother who enjoyed listening to bands like Green Day & Franz Ferdinand and then later going to gigs with my Dad, exposed me to a whole other world. I used to see the graphics on record sleeves and tour posters, and I knew I wanted to do that at some point in my life. To cut a long story short, I believe music was a turning point and helped me realise where my passions lie.
Now, as I have grown as a designer and kickstarted my career, I strongly value the beauty of craft and the importance of creating meaningful outcomes with passion, whilst also having a positive impact on the world. Spreading kindness and creative courage and giving a helping hand to others – in addition to, if you haven’t already guessed, championing women in design.
Where did you study and what do you know now, that you wish you’d known when you started your design course?
I was lucky enough to study in arguably one of the most beautiful places in England – at Falmouth University in sunny Cornwall. I (virtually) graduated just a couple of months ago and I have to say, I have learnt a lot of things along the way that I wish my 18-year-old self knew. First being The Industry™ is not out of reach. It is not as scary as many paint it out to be. Designers are just normal people and the more I understood that, the happier and more confident I was. Secondly, you don’t have to be from the South or have a stereotypically ‘posh accent’ to be heard – yes, your accent may stand out in a crowd, but it isn’t something you should wish to change as a way to ‘fit in’. And lastly, you are good enough. I wish I had had just that touch more confidence in my abilities, and still to this day, it is something I struggle with, but I am getting there, slowly but surely!
Has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your career and how have you managed this?
COVID-19 has definitely thrown a few spanners into the works, but it has also brought along a number of positive twists and turns that I did not expect. Putting lack of networking events and the cancellation of a full-time job aside, I think (for graduates, in particular) the pandemic has provided us with some fantastic opportunities. With a lot of graduate shows moving online and organisations and designers, such as Craig Oldham, using their platforms for promoting young creatives, I feel as though we, as a year group, have had more exposure than previous years, standing us in good stead for when ‘normality’ kicks in.
My way of working, due to COVID-19, has changed quite drastically. During lockdown, my mentor (and now good friend) Luke Tonge gave me a much-needed push to speak up more, communicate with other designers, overcome that dreaded ‘imposter-syndrome’ and share my work. By doing so over the past couple of months, I have been lucky enough to get to know and build some fab friendships with not only fellow students but also grads and designers from across the country. It has been an eye-opening and refreshing experience, not only talking to new people but also gaining new perspectives, new ideas and new opportunities. This is why I was so passionate about creating the ‘Class of 2020’ Slack channel and I hope it has helped others realise the importance of this too.
What top tips would you give to current design students or women considering a career in the design industry?
First of all, ignore people who disregard creative careers or call them ‘soft’, I heard this countless times and I hope, that in time, the Arts will be seen as equal to STEM subjects. Listen to your heart and follow your own path. Be yourself, there’s nothing more important than this – don’t let anybody change who you are to fit a certain mould. Don’t be discouraged by comments about the industry being male-dominated, you can be the change you want to see in the world. Find yourself a support network, surround yourself with inspiring individuals who will encourage you to keep moving forward, who will pick you up when you are feeling doubtful and be your biggest cheerleader! Don’t beat yourself up if something doesn’t go to plan, sometimes it takes a couple of falls to get where you want to be – as Miley Cyrus once said, “life’s a climb, but the view’s great!” You don’t have to know everything by the time you graduate, I certainly don’t and having the willingness to learn means you approach things in a different way. But, most importantly, be kind to yourself – my Mum always used to say, “All work and no play makes Claudia a dull girl”.
How has being female impacted your education/career so far?
I personally have not had any negative experiences being a female. I recently was invited onto We Are Outspoken’s ‘Unfiltered’ podcast where we discussed the lack of equality in the design & marketing industry. I was particularly shocked to hear that 63% of design students are women, but only 11% of female graduates went into creative departments. I hope that over time the industry will become more accepting and supportive of female designers in senior roles. Even though we are heading in the right direction, there is still work that needs to be done.
Having a more positive spin on things, I believe that being a woman in this industry brings along a lot of support and guidance from other fellow female creatives. Initiatives like this one, Ladies Wine + Design and as mentioned We Are Outspoken are just a few examples of networks which have positively impacted my design career so far!
Who are your top five female design crushes currently working in the industry?
This is a tricky question as there are so many incredible female creatives who I admire and who inspire me and my practice – some of which I am lucky enough to call my friends. However, if I had to select my ‘top five’, first and foremost I would have to say Astrid Stavro. Astrid has been the designer I have looked up to since I knew the words ‘graphic design’. When she came to visit Falmouth University as a visiting lecturer in my final year, I must admit, I was blown away and maybe a *little* starstruck. It was a moment which I will definitely treasure forever.
More recently, I have had the privilege of working alongside some brilliant female designers such as Julia Darze at Fiasco Design and Sheri Dykes & Yee Poon of Supple Studio. I must thank them for their endless support and having a positive impact on my design journey!
And last but not least, being from a small town in Lancashire, I find it incredibly exciting to see such successful female designers working and living in the North. Laura Jane Boast, of LJB Studio, Danielle Molyneux of Studio Dotto and Eve Warren, Senior Designer at Robot Food, are to name just a few. Having these wonderful women as role models in the industry, locally, encourages and motivates me to pursue my design career, in the hope that one day I will be like them!
A couple of other names which I could not leave out are; Alison Haigh and Katie Cadwell – both absolutely brilliant people, inside and out.
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