Irish graphic designer Claire Dillon graduated in 2020 from Limerick School of Art and Design, with a First Class Hons degree in Graphic Design Communication. Her brilliant portfolio showcases her love for branding and typography, with projects that incorporate thought-provoking concepts combined with witty copy and fun, bold letterforms and colour palettes.
Claire understands the essential role of graphic design in our society and aims to create work that is meaningful, engaging and has a positive impact on people’s lives. Throughout her time as a student and during internships, shehas focused on projects that revolve around issues close to her on a personal level. This keeps her constantly inspired and allows her personality to show through in her work.
‘Dear Liary’, Claire’s final year project, is an honest and heartfelt publication about relationships in Irish homes. The work combines well-balanced typography with carefully directed photography of things that can be found in everyday homes, intended to put you instantly into a familiar setting. This cleverly puts the viewer on the spot and highlights the ‘white lies’ we use in our everyday language and through which we communicate with people close to us. Like much of Claire’s work, this project illustrates her understanding of how to communicate an interesting concept whilst utilising copywriting and design skills.
Claire’s clever use of language that makes you ‘want to read it all’ is something that Jim Quail of agency Dorothy highlighted when he selected her as one of his ‘Pro Picks’ in Office of Craig’s ‘Grad Showcase’ on Instagram. She is also one of the Design Kids Winners 2020 and her work was shortlisted in the RSA 2020 Awards. Currently interning at design agency Post Studio in Dublin we definitely think she’s got a very bright future ahead!
We caught up with Claire to find out more about how she’s managed graduating in 2020 and her tips for current design students.
Can you tell us a bit about why you decided to become a designer?
Originally, I planned to study psychology in college. I’m a problem solver and communicator at heart so I have always been drawn to learning about why we think the way we do. But after being dragged around art galleries by my parents from a young age, art and art history have always interested me. Graphic design presented an interesting bridge between these two aspects of myself, the creative and the problem solver.
After studying graphic design and experiencing internships, I’ve become more and more aware of how essential graphic design is in society, in businesses and in how we communicate with each other. This awareness has helped shape my goals for the future and inspired me to create meaningful design that can be a positive catalyst in people’s lives.
Where did you study and what do you know now, that you wish you’d known when you started your design course?
I studied Graphic Design Communication at Limerick School of Art and Design, Ireland. Going into it, I was pretty nervous that I’d feel like an odd one out and that I wouldn’t have the illusive ‘IT’ factor that I had heard so much about on Project Runway. But as time went on, it became clear that raw talent is only part of the equation. It’s determination and hard work that gets you places.
How have you developed through your education and career so far?
When I first started design, I was very measured and controlled in my work, always following rigid grids and guides in order to make my work look more ‘corporate.’ I felt this was how designing should be. But as I began to find my feet, I started adding more of myself and my personality to my work. This has allowed me to take risks and explore topics that affect me personally, which I have found really inspiring creatively. I’ve been very lucky to have had some amazing tutors who challenged me to push projects further and develop my creative voice.
What tips would you give to current design students or women thinking about a career in design?
Say yes to every opportunity and then think about the specifics later. It might be a little terrifying to go out of your comfort zone, but the chance to grow your skills will pay off in the long run.
I think imposter syndrome is pretty common among designers, especially when you are surrounded by highly creative people all day long. When you feel like your work isn’t as good as your peers, chances are they’re thinking the same about their own work. Reaching out to other designers and asking for advice can add a new perspective on your work, and it also gives you a support system you can turn to when you have doubts.
As a young creative do you have any thoughts on how we can counteract the gender imbalance within the design industry?
The fact that there is a clear drop in the number of female designers working in the industry compared to the number of those studying design in college is really telling. In Ireland, 70% of graphic design students are women, with 40% moving onto the design workforce and only 11% of these women having leadership roles. I think the best way to counteract this is to support young female designers who are entering the industry to get their foot on the ladder. Whether this is organising meetups and events or introducing them to your network, supporting graduate female designers to enter the workforce can help form a more balanced and representative demographic within the design industry.
How has graduating during a pandemic impacted your career and how have you managed this?
Being trapped in a confined space with my family made me look for stimulus at home, rather than in the studio or in college. Cut off from the resources of the outside world, I was presented with the new challenge of creating work that didn’t involve interaction with the rest of society. This led me to focus on the intricacies of family life, and more specifically, our relationships and the role of honesty in them. Surprisingly, the pandemic led me to a subject matter that I would never have tackled previously and prompted me to analyse how to make something work with minimum resources.
Career-wise, graduating into an economy hit with a pandemic probably felt much the same as if I were graduating under normal circumstances. There is the same feeling of being dropped into a moving car and not knowing where the brakes are and feeling that you have still so much to learn. The only difference is, right now, most people are experiencing the same feelings of uncertainty, loss of control and a clear pathway as new graduates. Post-pandemic, most experienced designers, not just new graduates, will re-enter an industry that is a bit alien to them and will have to respond to a society with changed values. I’m hoping that for the graduating class of 2020, the design industry will still hold opportunities for those trying to find their footing.
I have been incredibly fortunate to have been given the chance to intern at Post Studio and be mentored by an experienced and talented team who are constantly looking towards a new way of doing things. Their advice and support has been invaluable to me as a developing designer.
Where do you get your inspiration from and how do you approach a new project?
Most of my work centres around social taboos or things that everyone is thinking but is too afraid to say. My final year project, Dear Liary, looked at my own family and the lies we often tell each other. I think it’s important to tackle issues that we are sometimes uncomfortable talking about. I’ve found that design has a unique advantage in communicating and interacting with an audience about these issues, in a quirky, fun and accepting way.
I normally begin a project with a lot of research on the topic and then develop a few concepts from this. Once I have selected a concept or merged a few together, I can then judge the best way to represent it visually. I emphasise forming a good concept as it plays an essential part in how I can communicate with an audience.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully, I’ll be still learning more about my field and improving the way I work. At Post, I love getting involved with branding for small businesses and this is a path I’d really like to pursue further. I’d love to continue being part of a team that is collaborative and that push each other to make work that challenges the designer and their audience.
Who are your current top five female design crushes?
Instagram is a great place to discover amazing female designers and illustrators. My favourites right now are Mary Kate Mc Devitt, Gemma Correll and Marloes de Vries. Their work is always so honest and natural and packs a great copy-writing punch. I’m also a huge fan of fellow Irish designers like Shauna Buckley and Annie Atkins, who were a big inspiration to me starting my career.