Carolyne Hill: “The Biggest Challenge for Me Was Just Getting That First Job”

Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding for Carolyne Hill.

Carolyne Hill. Graphic designer/branding specialist

What’s your background?

I’ve always seen myself as an ‘Original Londoner’ born and bred, but equally proud of both my British and Jamaican heritage. My father is English and my mother is Jamaican. My grandmother on my father’s side was very creative and was always painting; this was a big inspiration from an early age. I would say ‘when I grow up I’m going to be an artist!’

How did you get started in your field of expertise?

I have worked for a range of design consultancies in London for various clients over the last 15 years. I studied retail interior design and business management at the London College of Printing. Having graduated and finding it hard to get a job in interior design, I managed to get a graphic design job from Design Week listings. From then on I was a graphic designer doing something I’d always loved and been passionate about.

What challenges did you face in getting into the industry and achieving your ambitions?

I still think the biggest challenge for me was just getting that first job. Upon graduating you come into the industry with all these hopes and dreams and then you can’t even get an interview! I worked at The Conran Shop weekends and was an office intern doing filing work during the week. It took more than a year until I got my first design internship at Elemental Studio in Loughbrough Junction, which then led to me getting my first actual full-time paid design job at Astound, working for clients such as Tesco, B&Q and 3M. Once ‘in’ I’ve worked hard at achieving my goals at every stage and those first contacts I made working at Astound have stayed with me throughout my career and have helped in finding the right kind of work with the right people.

Who or what are your greatest inspirations?

At school I was fascinated by the Pop Art era. I was a big Andy Warhol fan as a teenager and when studying GCSEs I discovered Bridget Riley, who as well as sharing my birthday, was a great inspiration as a fellow south Londoner from Norwood where I was at school doing my best at creating my own ‘Pop Art masterpieces’ for my coursework! I was impressed with her artwork and career as a strong female artist – I loved her bright colours, geometric forms and stripes. My parents were also a big influence as they always instilled in me that I could achieve anything and supported me along the way in my decisions to study and work in design. Today I find my biggest inspirations come from those around me such as my friends and my peers. I enjoy seeing people being successful with whatever they are doing and this spurs me on to find the next challenge.

What is your best piece of work or the project you are most proud of?

At the moment I’m most proud of the Lola’s Casino identity work for The Hippodrome Casino at Harrison:Fraser, where I am associate director. Last year I took a typography course at Central Saint Martins, and to see a direct link from new learnings to a finished logo up in Leicester Square makes me very proud. I like to think that I’m proud of whatever I work on and I hope my ‘best piece’ is still to come.

What would be your dream project?

My dream project right now would be to design and build a pop-up restaurant – mainly because I’m a foodie and really enjoy going to these ‘blink and you miss it’ installations! In 2009, I was made redundant and decided to set up my own company, sharing a design studio with Arthur Irving and his company Skylark, which was an exciting and fun experience, hard work but very rewarding. Financial pressures and great job offers have led to me moving on from my own company, but I like to think that in the future I might work for myself again! I also have the dream to be ‘more of an artist’ – still working on that one!

Who in your field do you believe deserves credit and recognition?

There are so many people who could deserve some recognition. But in my daily design job, the printers and shopfitters who produce amazing results, often with the shortest turnaround times and last-minute changes, to bring our work to life – they are amazing and deserve credit.

What’s your best piece of advice for those wanting to follow in your footsteps?

Love what you do, work hard and don’t give up! Alongside anything I’ve ever worked at, I’ve always had a side gig. Whether it be designing flyers for friends’ club nights, creating events or taking pictures, these things add to your personal portfolio and whether starting up or working in the corporate design world you need this output to keep your creative spark alive.

What’s next for you?

As associate director at Harrison:Fraser I’ve got big challenges everyday and enjoy being part of a team in which is fast paced. Personally I’m enjoying learning how to use my new camera and building upon the personal design work I’m doing with Kaleidoscope Cinema and Street Style.

Source: deisgnweek.co.uk