Graphic Design graduate Gareth Dunt has studied art and design for most of his academic life. Three years ago he moved to Wales to study an honours degree in Graphic Communication at the Cardiff School of Art and Design. Gareth is also the founder of design blog Black Maths and since graduating this summer has moved to London to work for design consultancy Elmwood. As part of our Graduate Season, Notes on Design spoke to Gareth this month to uncover more about his academic experience and plans for his future career.
Notes on Design: When did you first realise you wanted to be a part of the creative industry?
Gareth: I think it was when I realised that you can make an equally respectable career from art and design, as you can with anything else they teach you at school. Until this point I was under the misguided impression that art and design was something you do in your spare time, a release from the day job if you will. How wrong I was.
Notes on Design: What is it about design that motivates and excites you?
Gareth: It’s how good design can make people feel. How they interact with it, and how it interacts with them. It’s relationships I’m fascinated with. Whether it be a book, chair, brand identity or installation we can’t help but be affected by the messages it gives out. I suppose it boils down to the notion that good design makes people feel good, bad design makes people feel stupid. I am excited and motivated by the first notion.
Notes on Design: What was life at university like for you?
Gareth: University was a great experience. From start to finish I constantly developed both academically and socially. University teaches you things that you can’t be taught. The mere fact of living away from home is a massive learning curve that I personally enjoyed, however I know some people don’t. As for the design side of things, university heightened my sensitivity toward creative communication and further developed my passion for graphic design.
Notes on Design: What will you always remember about university?
Gareth: Well it has to be the first couple of weeks. Things seemed so different to what I’d become used to at home. Now I was living in a flat with people I luckily got along with, but had never seen before. It was the feeling of nerves, excitement, confusion and cheap cider that I think has ingrained that period of time in my memory.
Notes on Design: Are you optimistic about your future as a 2010 graduate?
Gareth: Yes I am. I can see evidence of studios hiring again and the creative industry climate regulating. It is extremely easy to look for excuses about the recession and graduating now, but I feel it’s a matter of time, not luck, that will get myself and my peers a job in the design industry.
Notes on Design: So, what’s next for you?
Gareth: Well I’ve recently moved down to London to start work so I’d like to think I will stay down here for the next few years. London is largely uncharted territory for me so the thought of living, working and exploring really appeals to me at the minute.
Notes on Design: What sets you apart from every other graduate?
Gareth: Now that’s an awkward question. I guess it is my obsession with looking over the horizon. Seeing things before they happen and ensuring I get a head start on my competitors. In this economic climate, anything you can do to ensure you make contacts with professionals, get interviews, and get your work into the public domain you should really think about doing. I guess I’ve never had trouble with that.
Notes on Design: Based on your experiences do you have any advice for next years graduates?
Gareth: My main points of advice are largely concerned with seeing what you study at university as a way of life, not a chore. There is an old saying that reads “If you like what you do, you will never work a day”, I think that says it all. The creative industries is one of the most dynamic, fun and inspiring professional spheres to be a part of, so welcome it and never see work as work. I’d also strongly recommend blogging. I soon discovered the promotional power of blogging during my second year at university. It is the fastest, cheapest and most direct way of making your mark in the creative industries.
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See more of Gareth’s work at www.garethdunt.com, read his blog at www.blackmaths.com and follow him on twitter @blackmaths.
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