I have been thinking about where I want to be and what I want to do after uni, and I feel like I will eventually end up living/working in Manchester.
Although I have been adamant about staying in Leeds, there are a few studios in Manchester that I really like the look of, and think they are better than ones I have seen in Leeds. I have been to Manchester a couple of times in the past week, to a UX talk and to Manchester Digital, so I've been getting to see more what it is like. It does seem like a great city, with the amenities it has and so much to offer.
Even if I don't move to Manchester immediately, I can see myself working and living there at some point. Although I don't know anybody who lives there, I would meet people there and it is only 50 minutes on the train to Leeds so I could see my friends weekly.
I also thought about living in Leeds, and commuting to Manchester. This is because I have someone to live with here and I need to sort living arrangements with them promptly.
Due to this, I spoke to Eve Warren from last year as I know that she does this commute.
She gave me a lot of advice, and it does seem like hard work. It takes up 2hrs+ each day to get to and from work, and it is £280 a MONTH for a railcard. I didn't realise how expensive that it would be! However, that would still be cheaper living here with someone than living in Manchester on my own (if I found somewhere cheap here). So although hard work, if I found a place in Leeds and a job in Manchester down the line, I know that it is doable.
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thoughts. Show all posts
Friday, 13 February 2015
Monday, 26 January 2015
OUGD602: There is More to Life Than Graphic Design
Recently I was doing a project, and this came to me - there is more to life than graphic design.
It is something that has been said on the course from early on and I did not believe it, I could not believe it, I was so engrossed in doing work, looking at work, thinking about work. But now I'm in my 3rd year and spent the Summer working in an agency, I have a completely different attitude towards it now.
I still go to many events, I still enjoy designing - even more really, it's definitely on the brain a lot and I continue to work hard and learn more all the time. So what's changed?
The past two years on the course I was obsessed with doing work all the time, everyday. However, this was so unproductive because I would procrastinate a lot as I allowed myself to have 24 hours to do work. When working 9-5:30, I realised that I achieved so much more work in that time, as well as having a proper dinner break, because I knew I had to create x amount of work within that time frame. Having that deadline every day made me more motivated to work towards it. I would make sure I had a proper breakfast in the morning because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat until dinner again, which would give me more energy, and I was able to enjoy myself in the evening because I knew I couldn't do any more work. I was SO HAPPY! I loved it, I loved doing work, I loved working fast, I loved that I had time to myself! I could have other hobbies, cook proper meals, go out with my friends again and achieve more than I had ever been doing beforehand.
It seems obvious now, but I was putting so much pressure on myself to be the perfect student I forgot that is more to life than doing graphic design. And, when I look around me I think of more projects to do, or illustrations to draw or problems to solve, because I am taking in my surroundings and doing more with my life. This is much better than previously when I would scroll through Behance and Pinterest and Dribbble and Typeverything and Designspiration and become down looking at all of the other great work people were doing. I think it is great to look at what other people are achieving, but not to the point when you are constantly looking at it. At the end of the day, design is about solving problems for people, and I'm not going to do that staring at a screen all day - it is important to experience what everyone else is experiencing to create better responses to projects and know what people want.
I feel now my lifestyle is much healthier, I go to the gym daily, cook regular, proper meals a day and have a more regulated timeframe when I do my work. I have been constantly tired the past two years and I didn't realise how much my diet was affecting my energy levels and productivity, and now I feel fresh everyday and I'm able to do work everyday without feeling tired. I feel I am getting a lot closer to having that work/life balance and I feel the benefits of doing this. I couldn't have imagined not doing work all the time before, but I see how destructive that was now.
It is something that has been said on the course from early on and I did not believe it, I could not believe it, I was so engrossed in doing work, looking at work, thinking about work. But now I'm in my 3rd year and spent the Summer working in an agency, I have a completely different attitude towards it now.
I still go to many events, I still enjoy designing - even more really, it's definitely on the brain a lot and I continue to work hard and learn more all the time. So what's changed?
The past two years on the course I was obsessed with doing work all the time, everyday. However, this was so unproductive because I would procrastinate a lot as I allowed myself to have 24 hours to do work. When working 9-5:30, I realised that I achieved so much more work in that time, as well as having a proper dinner break, because I knew I had to create x amount of work within that time frame. Having that deadline every day made me more motivated to work towards it. I would make sure I had a proper breakfast in the morning because I knew I wouldn't be able to eat until dinner again, which would give me more energy, and I was able to enjoy myself in the evening because I knew I couldn't do any more work. I was SO HAPPY! I loved it, I loved doing work, I loved working fast, I loved that I had time to myself! I could have other hobbies, cook proper meals, go out with my friends again and achieve more than I had ever been doing beforehand.
It seems obvious now, but I was putting so much pressure on myself to be the perfect student I forgot that is more to life than doing graphic design. And, when I look around me I think of more projects to do, or illustrations to draw or problems to solve, because I am taking in my surroundings and doing more with my life. This is much better than previously when I would scroll through Behance and Pinterest and Dribbble and Typeverything and Designspiration and become down looking at all of the other great work people were doing. I think it is great to look at what other people are achieving, but not to the point when you are constantly looking at it. At the end of the day, design is about solving problems for people, and I'm not going to do that staring at a screen all day - it is important to experience what everyone else is experiencing to create better responses to projects and know what people want.
I feel now my lifestyle is much healthier, I go to the gym daily, cook regular, proper meals a day and have a more regulated timeframe when I do my work. I have been constantly tired the past two years and I didn't realise how much my diet was affecting my energy levels and productivity, and now I feel fresh everyday and I'm able to do work everyday without feeling tired. I feel I am getting a lot closer to having that work/life balance and I feel the benefits of doing this. I couldn't have imagined not doing work all the time before, but I see how destructive that was now.
Thursday, 8 January 2015
OUGD602 - Why I Want to Stay in Leeds
I have been looking for studios that I want to work for after I graduate, and location has been an important factor in that. I want to stay in Leeds. I have found some great studios, in London, Copenhagen, Sweden.. but right now I don't consider them an option due to where they are. In the future I would love to move to Copenhagen - it is a great place and has some of my favourite studios. But I don't feel ready to move abroad right now, and that is something I would consider in the future.
Grimsby
I'm originally from Grimsby, and that isn't far from Leeds. Although I don't go home often, I like that my family are only a short train ride away. It's easy and cheap to get to from Leeds, and I wouldn't like the idea of a long and expensive journey home.
Routine
I have a routine that I like here in Leeds. Everything is easy to get to and I usually walk everywhere which I like because I don't have a car, and if I had a job here I wouldn't have a long commute (something I really don't want). There isn't anything I would change about Leeds, there is a good choice of cinemas, a great gym that I love, stores that sell whole foods and different niche products that I wouldn't be able to get in Grimsby and took me a while to find here. I know they would be sold in other places, but I just like everything here - I don't really like change. There is a great selection of bars and so many things to do, I just think the city has everything. Leeds feels like home now I have been here a while and I don't feel ready to leave. I wouldn't like to live in Leeds and commute somewhere else either as I hate commuting - it takes up too much time out of my day when I could be doing more constructive things.
Creative Community
There is so much going on in Leeds, and the creative scene is thriving. No matter what you are interested in, there is something to suit everyone. Workshops, talks, events, exhibitions - there is always something happening. The creative industry here is growing and there are many talented people here, so why would I want to leave that? I really enjoy going to events like Hey! and Digitaleeds and have made some really good friends and contacts from going to these. It feels familiar and I like being able to go to events on my own and seeing people I know there that I can talk to. People are always so happy to help and I love the atmosphere that exists. Alongside digital events, there is also a new illustration event that has just started, Leeds Print Festival, as well as many different shops that sell prints and magazines.
Grimsby
I'm originally from Grimsby, and that isn't far from Leeds. Although I don't go home often, I like that my family are only a short train ride away. It's easy and cheap to get to from Leeds, and I wouldn't like the idea of a long and expensive journey home.
Routine
I have a routine that I like here in Leeds. Everything is easy to get to and I usually walk everywhere which I like because I don't have a car, and if I had a job here I wouldn't have a long commute (something I really don't want). There isn't anything I would change about Leeds, there is a good choice of cinemas, a great gym that I love, stores that sell whole foods and different niche products that I wouldn't be able to get in Grimsby and took me a while to find here. I know they would be sold in other places, but I just like everything here - I don't really like change. There is a great selection of bars and so many things to do, I just think the city has everything. Leeds feels like home now I have been here a while and I don't feel ready to leave. I wouldn't like to live in Leeds and commute somewhere else either as I hate commuting - it takes up too much time out of my day when I could be doing more constructive things.
Creative Community
There is so much going on in Leeds, and the creative scene is thriving. No matter what you are interested in, there is something to suit everyone. Workshops, talks, events, exhibitions - there is always something happening. The creative industry here is growing and there are many talented people here, so why would I want to leave that? I really enjoy going to events like Hey! and Digitaleeds and have made some really good friends and contacts from going to these. It feels familiar and I like being able to go to events on my own and seeing people I know there that I can talk to. People are always so happy to help and I love the atmosphere that exists. Alongside digital events, there is also a new illustration event that has just started, Leeds Print Festival, as well as many different shops that sell prints and magazines.
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