Oceans and opportunities
Gemma Stables is a student of the British Academy of Graphic Design but her road to the academy was not a direct route. Gemma has always been a creatively minded person with a passion for photography and art & design, but it was aesthetics and skincare that first caught her eye. Before enrolling in the academy, Gemma worked as a beauty therapist in a spa resort, which she then took to the high-seas travelling and working on a cruise liner. Sometimes the path you take can make an unexpected turn and with that, brand new horizons emerge. Gemma has a disability that has prevented her from returning to her previous line of work, but this was also an opportunity for her to return to her first true love, design.
“I have always had a creative/artistic urge ever since I was at school. I would love fine art classes and did this for GCSE. I then went on to to do art and design at college but decided to switch to beauty therapy when I decided to refocus my energy on another passion of mine. I always knew I would come back to art and design at some point, in some shape or form.”
As we meander through life, everything we do and everything we encounter is going to leave a mark, an echo of past experiences that will often re-emerge in unexpected ways. As Gemma began thinking about where to refocus her creative energies, she called upon her own abundant well of resources, her memories.
“I decided to focus on design where I could utilise my creative mind and now, I love how my past travels provide inspiration for my work. I love the visual storytelling aspect of travel; capturing the perfect photograph and finding hidden, aesthetic gems.”
The full and varied world of Graphic Design
For those ill-versed in the world of graphic design, you could be forgiven for thinking it is quite a specific medium of creativity. After all, the name suggests it is design that is expressed through graphics. But nothing could be further from the truth. Graphic design covers a myriad of disciplines including branding, poster design, typography, logos, motion graphics, signage, colour, UI and UX design, patterns, marketing materials, website layouts etc. etc. etc. The list goes on. And Gemma is also a multi-faceted creative, which means graphic design was a perfect choice.
“I chose the academy after deciding graphic design would be really fun to explore and study and looking at different courses and schools online. The British Academy of Graphic Design sounded great, thorough in what they teach, and staff who work in the design world themselves. The whole thing just sounded really inspiring to me and I also really liked how it is a BTEC-approved school; this really showed me the quality of the qualifications and teaching. I knew it would be worthwhile.”
And while fun and creativity are important, the standard of teaching, with professional practitioners at the helm, and a BTEC qualification is key. The fact that the Academy offers such a high level of learning also means that students are expected to work hard and to dedicate their time to improving their skills. After all, if it was easy, everyone would do it!
“The most challenging aspect I have found on the course is when I must learn something completely new digitally. It can sometimes take a lot of practise. But the thing I have learnt is, when you put the practise in, the skills do come! Design is much deeper than just the visual, 'surface-level' elements. I feel like I have only just scratched the surface of design, there is so much more to learn and explore in the creative world. Which is exciting.”
Nothing worth doing comes easy
And again, hard work pays dividends. There is nothing more satisfying than not only seeing the results of your efforts, but to also feel you have absorbed something new and are beginning to think like a designer.
“The most rewarding thing about my course is seeing the progression in my work. It is such a good feeling and so motivating to see my hard work paying off.”
Gemma is progressing well through her course and as she builds on a portfolio of design work, her mind will most likely shift to real-world application. When graduates turn to career options and freelance work, they leave equipped with knowledge of the business of design and can also further their learning with the Academy.
“It was surprising to learn that graphic design is much more about solving a client’s business problem than is about a designer’s artistic taste. It is about communicating a message effectively to a specific audience.”
But for now, Gemma is happily entrenched in expanding her artistic horizons and seeing where graphic design can take her. She says she is “just going to enjoy the process and see what opportunities come my way, big or small. I really love mixing photography with illustration and typography and would love to learn more about motion graphics”.
And what a wonderful approach. Design expands the mind and opens the eyes and with a head full of new knowledge and a toolbox full of new skills, who knows where the road will take you.
Are you ready to explore your own Creative Future?
Whether you’re looking to change careers, develop your creative skills, or turn a passion for design into something more, the Academy’s Graphic Design courses are designed to help you build practical, industry-ready skills from home with personalised tutor feedback and flexible online learning.
Explore now and discover where your creativity could take you.
