Best New Creatives — 2019 Graduate Showcase — Part 1

Over the course of an article in four parts, I intend to share a selection of what I consider to be the most exciting creative talent entering the industry this year. These graduates, many of whom I have met over the past 12 months, are gifted and hireable in equal measure and all possess a desire to exercise a broad application of their creativity. They have hailed from the top educational institutions in the country with a large proportion having already been celebrated in award programmes or experienced professional practice.

Importantly, where most programmes honour graduates by individual projects alone, selections in this article have been made based on the individuals' current body of work in its entirety. This is done to present the breadth and solidity of their talent to an audience of potential employers or collaborators, and to surface those who are already multidisciplinary.

I have also asked each of the creatives to write a short response to two questions. What are your ambitions? What are your hopes for the industry? Although brief, the answers may offer useful perspectives for recruitment and as a temperature-taking of this generation as a whole. Finally, I invite you to explore the portfolios of these brilliant and soon influential people in more depth, to meet with them, and to welcome their imagination and enterprise into your teams where possible.

01. Rianne Jones

Graduate of the University of Hertfordshire. "I'm a Suffolk-born graphic designer with a Jamaican, British and Scottish background and a strong interest in culture, narratives and improving diversity in design. My approach to design embraces a love for colour and visually bold graphics. However, I also like to stay curious and curate thought-provoking ideas when tackling design briefs."

Ambition: "To work somewhere where I can grow, I want to learn as much as I can from people I admire to help shape my growth in the industry! I want to explore my own creativity, be multidisciplinary, and create work that I can be truly passionate about, along a sustained and enjoyable career."

Hopes for the industry: "I definitely see an opportunity for racially diverse female creative directors as I feel these are very underrepresented in the industry. Diversity and inclusion is important to me; being mixed race myself, it’s inspiring to see diverse people making their way to the top in the industry, but it’s concerning that we’re not seeing enough of it. I hope to be able to help change that landscape with my own ambitions."

riannejones.co.uk

LinkedIn

02. Lucy Child

Graduate of the University of Central Lancashire. D&AD New Blood 2019 Yellow Pencil winner and awarded Bronze at Creative Conscience 2019. "Studying at Preston has taught me how to think creatively in an ideas-led way. I am passionate about producing work that makes a difference."

Ambition: "I currently live in the Lake District but I am moving down to London in August to start my Graphic Design career. I’m excited to meet lots of like minded people and passionate about producing some amazing work."

Hopes for the industry: "I hope that in the future, design will be recognised by people as a way to make positive changes in the world. Everything in the world is designed by someone and I would like this to be acknowledged and valued more within the education system."

lucychild.co.uk

LinkedIn

03. Philip Gull

Graduate of the School of Communication Arts. D&AD New Blood Wood Pencil winner. "Growing up, dreamed of being a mathematician. Dropped out of school at 17 with Chronic Fatigue. Spent two years reading. Switched calculus for Chaucer. Just spent four fantastic years studying English at Cambridge and ideas at SCA."

Ambition: "To discover what kind of work I really want to make."

Hopes for the industry: "That it will give me the enormous privilege of making a living by thinking."

philipgull.com

LinkedIn

04. Michael Bailey

Graduate of Ravensbourne University. D&AD New Blood Yellow Pencil winner, UK ArtScience Prize winner, recipient of the Ravensbourne Department Of Design Practice Award. "I am a creative storyteller based in London who has just picked up a Yellow Pencil at D&AD New Blood. I thrive on helping brands tell their story, helping them craft narratives through film, design and motion."

Ambition: "I want to challenge and elevate brands and tell the stories that nobody else is telling. I'm hungry to craft, create and get stuck in – in an agency that has storytelling and design at its heart."

Hopes for the industry: "I know it's a little cliche, but I want to create meaningful work. I think we're at an interesting time where brands are starting to realise that with story and design at their core, they can do amazing things - I want to explore that world."

michaelbailey.london

LinkedIn

Read Part 2 — Here

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