Graduates 2009: Jack Featherstone

Date
1 June 2009

It’s the first of June which means our Graduates 2009 feature is now live. Every day this month we’ll be posting an exciting young creative talent for you to feast your eyes on. First up is Jack Featherstone who’s been on our radar for a little while now and for good reason. He’s always managed to catch the eye and we took a little bit of time out to have a chat to him about his background and what he hopes to do now he’s graduated.

Throughout school Jack always loved drawing, but it wasn’t until he started skateboarding that he really began to learn what graphic design was. After leaving school he took a gap year to snowboard for 6 months in Canada. He quickly realised the snow bum lifestyle wasn’t really for him and enrolled on a foundation course at Falmouth College of Art. From there he studied graphic design at Chelsea and since then his passion for all things creative has grown into an obsession, helping him to focus his work and gain some exposure.

He was showcased in the current edition of the YCN book and commissioned to create a series of Russian dolls for the ‘World of YCN.’ For the past 6 months he’s also been helping Aries Moross with various projects including work for Simian Mobile Disco and Playstation. He’s currently working on his final major project which involves creating visuals, a viral/music video and graphic identity for the The Count And Sinden on Domino Records. He has also just been nominated for a student D&AD award.

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

Looking back there were a lot of things that I aspired to be; an Olympic sprinter, SAS super soldier, pro snowboarder, war photographer… not too sure how I ended up with design, but I guess it’ll do!

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

Of course when going over my work from the first year I cringe when certain projects pop up. But there is also some work that I’m quite proud of. Projects that allowed me to experiment and take risks. I like looking back over my work because it allows me to see my progression and understand the evolution of my creative process. But yes, I would like to think that it has improved.

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

Difficult question. I guess I would like to show some of my moving image work to guys like Hans Richter, Viking Eggeling and Jules Engel. As true pioneers of abstract filming making, a lot of their work was concerned with trying to find a visual music. Most of my moving image work is carried out in a similar vein, exploring the relationship between sound, harmony, colour and form. Either them or somebody like United Visual Artists, whom I respect a great deal. Hard to choose!

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

Maybe Larry David, just to keep me entertained. But not quite sure what kind of business him and I could run together.

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

I would like to say equipment, but in reality its going to go on festival tickets this summer I think.

Where will we find you in 12 months?

Hopefully working on projects that I’m passionate about and believe in. Maybe in my own studio, who knows!

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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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