Graduates 2009: Jas Bhachu

Date
9 June 2009

Jas was born in York, North Yorkshire and after completing an Art Foundation course at York College, was lured to Liverpool John Moores University for the strength of the course and the desire to be in a big city.

He’s a budding typographer who’s looking to break down the boundaries between the user and the typeface itself – as shown so well in his Font Generator project. He primarily works in print but with an eye like his you could see him branching out in to any medium he so wishes.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

When I was growing up, I always had in interest in art. When I finished my GCSE’s I decided to do Graphic Product Design at York College, along with Art and 20th Century History. Doing a Graphics based course opened my eyes to design. During that time I was into making objects out of different materials. And not really into typical ‘Graphic Design’. I decided to do an Art Foundation course at York College, where I got to see all the different aspects of art and design. During that year I moved towards typography, experimenting with creating different typefaces and found I really enjoyed that. So then applied to Liverpool John Moores Uni to do the Graphic Arts course because the course had a good reputation and it was in a big city, which is what I wanted, growing up in a small city.

In reflection, how bad was your work in the first year?

Looking back on my work in first year, it was horrific! The only good piece of design I made was a typeface (Epistle) and poster, which was the last project I did at the end of the year. Even most of my second year I wasn’t very proud of my work. Not until I went for a placement and was basically laughed at, at how bad my portfolio was. It was at that point I decided to step my game up and really try.

If you could show a piece of your folio to one person, what piece would you choose, and who would you show it to?

I would choose to show off my Play typefaces. The brief was to create four typefaces that revolved around the word play. I decided it would be interesting if you could interact with the typefaces and ‘play’ with them. So I decided to create four typefaces that could be broken down into net designs, so you are able to make he letter yourself. The four typefaces are based around squares, circles, triangles and the four is an amalgamation of the three shapes.

I think that it’s a really strong piece of design and it intrigues all typography fans. I would show it to anyone who had an interest in typography. Maybe even those who thought typography was dull and boring would fine the typefaces interesting.

If you had your own business, who would you employ and why?

If I had my own business, I would employ designers who didn’t take themselves to seriously. I like working around and with people who are good at what they do but don’t go bragging about it to everyone. Those type of people I try and stay away from.

If you’ve got any left, what will you spend the last of your student loan on?

At the moment I am completely broke! But if had some money left I would buy an A3 vinyl cutter and a badge making machine.

Where will we find you in 12 months?

In 12 months I would like to find myself settled down in a design studio in Liverpool, and possibly have enough money to go to Japan for a few months. As I’ve always wanted to go there.

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About the Author

Alex Bec

Alex joined as director in 2008 and oversees the commercial side of The HudsonBec Group which includes It's Nice That, Anyways, Lecture in Progress and If You Could Jobs. Contact him to discuss working with us on sponsored content, commercial partnerships, media partnerships and commissioning work.

alex@thehudsonbecgroup.com

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