FREE Mini Course #RockYourDegree

It's almost a year since I left my role as Senior Lecturer back in the UK to move to Iceland. In that time I've achieved so many goals that were on my To-Do list but there was a 'Student Advice'. I wanted to form an output, a way of offering my answers to all those questions previously asked to me and pass on the same advice to other students. So I got typing and created my first email course. 

It simple. You sign up for the FREE emails and you will immediately be sent Day 1 of the 5 Day email course. The course runs over 5 days so you'll get an email each day. Each email focuses on a different topic and they're packed with information and useful links. I hope you get loads out of this email course so let's get started and #RockYourDegree

DAY 1 - Clear Your Space, Clear Your Mind

• How to be organized and focussed

• How to best storage equipment and materials

• How to store stock for online shops, i.e. Etsy

• The importance of storing and keeping all student project work

• What to do with physical models, saving and backing up digital work

• Online Portfolio

DAY 2 - Inspiration + Motivation

• How to stay focussed, inspired, and motivated

• How to create moods boards and sketchbooks

• The importance of evidencing your design process within the sketchbook

• How to get in the habit of using the Library

• Sorting your Instagram feed to reflect you as a designer

• Pinterest

• The benefits of teamwork and a study group

• How to look after number 1

DAY 3 - Plan + Prepare + Present

• How to be organized so stress doesn't get the better of you

• Staying onto of dates and deadlines

• The Library

• Apps to help you stay organized in project management

• How to prep your mind, space, supplies, and food ready for any project or challenge

• Presentation tips for before, during, and after your presentation

• What is professionalism

• What to do if you fail

DAY 4 - Communication, Connections, Collaborations

• Communication and note-taking

• How to contact faculty (your lecturers)

• Writing academic work

• LinkedIn

• Your online presence

• Networking

• How to get the most out of Uni social events

• How to approach an office for help, internship, or employment

DAY 5 - Let’s Get Real

• The course finishes with a bit of perspective on studying and graduating

• And...ideas on how to show off your skills and stand out from the crowd

Architecture Student's Booklist

Whether you're heading to an Open Day, had your interview, got your place, or already started on a course, you will need to start thinking about the dreaded book list, and if you will actually spend any of your hard-earned cash purchasing any of them. My advice is if you have some pennies to spare, take advantage of this time and money to invest in the basic book list. I suggest the following books mainly for Interior Design/Architecture courses but you can adapt if you're studying another art and design course.

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watch the video

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Library

Universities and Colleges have fantastic Libraries, with Librarians who are not only friendly but can and will, assist you in finding out what it is you are after. There are loads of books, e-books, magazines and journals, online links, and tutorials, plus they often have a large selection of DVDs and videos from educational documentaries to inspirational movies. And, do not forget your local library too, they are perfect for local historical information, maps, old photos, etc. 

Books

If you are planning to study the interior, be it Interior Design or Interior Architecture and Design, I have listed some great books to help get you started and feed into your studies. The start of term is when students tend to have a little bit of money and therefore there is far more chance they will spend it on course supplies than any other student spending. With this in mind, I recommended the following four books:

1. Ching, F D K. Architectural Graphics, Van Nostrand & Reinhold

2. Littlefield, D. (2012) Metric Handbook: Planning & Design Data, London: Routledge

3. Ross, A., Hatreed, J. & Baden-Powell, C. (2011) Architects Pocket Book, London: Architectural Press

4. Architecture For Humanity. (2006) Design Like You Give A Damn, Thames & Hudson

5. Pile, J. (2013) A History of Interior Design, London: Laurence King

6. Plunkett, D. (2010) Construction and Detailing for Interior Design, Laurence King

7. Brown, R. (2012) Materials and Interior Design, Laurence King

8. McLeod V. (2012)Detail in Contemporary Residential Architecture, Laurence King [with CD of drawings] full series also available

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PDF downloads:

Metric Handbook | Architect's Pocket Book 

Most of the books listed above will be used by both Interior Design and Architecture students alike, and are often a good investment as they will stay with you from student life to the working world. 

29 Ways To Stay Creative

It is so true, we creatives love our lists and we tend to love things like coffee, singing in the shower, breaking rules, taking risks, and going somewhere now. We also love working with others, discussing our ideas with like-minded people, and collaborating. All too often my students feel their ideas are too precious to share or get feedback on, they don't want to present them too early in a project for fear of someone copying and they are hesitant to approach others and collaborate.

This is a reminder for them, for young designers, and creative entrepreneurs alike - stay as creative as you possibly can and have fun with it!! 

29 ways to stay creative

1. Make lists

2. Carry a notebook everywhere

3. Try 'free writing'

4. Get away from the computer

5. Stop beating yourself up

6. Take breaks

7. Sing in the shower

8. Drink coffee

9. Listen to new music

10. Be open

11. Surround yourself with creative people

12. Get feedback

13. Collaborate

14. Don't give up...

15. Practice, practice, practice

16. Allow yourself to make mistakes

17. Go somewhere new

18. Count your blessings

19. Get lots of rest

20. Take risks

21. Break the rules

22. Don't force it

23. Read a page of the dictionary

24. Create a framework

25. Stop trying to be someone else's 'perfect'

26. Write ideas down

27. Clean your workspace

28. Have fun

29. Finish something!!

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What ways do you like to stay creative?

The General Design & Inspiration Booklist

This is my 'coffee table' selection of books that I love to sit down and have a flick through with a hot cup of coffee under a cozy blanket on the sofa. When I have a new project or are looking for inspiration, I love to sit and flick through books, get ideas and it always helps me feel re-motivated. Some of the lists below are books from my university days and others more recent, some you might have read or heard of, and others are well worth looking up.

1. Kate Spade. (2013) Things We Love: Twenty Years of Inspiration, Intriguing Bits and Other Curiosities, Kate Spade New York

2. Amoruso, S. (2014) #GIRLBOSS, Portfolio Penguin

3. Becker, H. (2011) Decorate: 1000 professional design ideas for every room in the house, Jacqui Small LLP

4. Bowkett, S. (2013) Archi-Doodle: An Architects Activity Book, Laurence King

5. Frederick, M. (2007) 101 Things I Learnt in Architecture School, MIT Press

6. Schumacher E F. (1988) Small Is Beautiful, Abacus

7. Banham, O. (1980) Theory And Design In The First Machine Age, MIT Press

8. Wilson, R. (2010) Soulpancakes: Chew on Life's Big Questions, Hyperion Books

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What are some books you’d recommend?

5 Tips To Create Your Perfect Studio/Office

Welcome to my studio, aka home-office but I'm guessing that's what many people are rocking. Today I'm taking you through my studio setup and offering up my 5 top tips to help you in creating yours. Art, design, and crafting can [and does] take over our homes, and whilst this can be amazing, it can also drive others insane. My Dad used to threaten to 'clean' with a black plastic bag. 

But that doesn't stop us. 

In my apartment, of course, I have a studio. It’s in the corner of our living room and separated by an open bookshelf for privacy. I have amazing daylight from our south-facing windows out to the balcony and a wall with my certificates and some artwork on it.

My desk has everything I need on it, or by it, and it can get pretty cluttered...it's organized chaos.

1. Pick a location with lots of natural light

   but also power sockets for artificial light. I sit near the window so I get natural light, and a view of the neighbours but I am not too distracted by what is going on outside.

2. Surround yourself with inspiration

   This will be different for everyone but for me, it’s pictures of family and friends, inspirational quotes, images and art, stationery, and so on. I have some of my work framed to remind me of my recent works and I use objects I use regularly as display pieces too.

3. Set the atmosphere

   I do this with music. I have a Sonos speaker and I use the Apple Music app or the Calm app. I love a bit of background noise to distract my mind and all those random thoughts, or an audiobook on audible - I'm currently listening to The Happiness Project. I also love scented candles and often have one or two burning as I work.

4. Stay organized

   we all love stationery and washi tapes and paper and so on but clutter will only distract and put you off. Make your desk welcoming and easy to work at. Use cups, glasses, empty candleholders, or whatever you can to help store all those pens and pencils you have.

5. Workspace and surface

   keep this relatively empty so you always have a space to start a new project and remember to protect the surface you're working on. I use a large cutting mat to protect the tabletop and often put down a large sheet of white paper as a background for photos. The more you have lying around, the more your mind will wander to it. Even if that pile of to-do papers aren’t a priority, the fact they are sitting on your desk means your mind is thinking about them, even when you think it’s not.