Graduates: First look back at the class of 2012 with Ellie, Jack and Nick

Date
5 June 2013

With the submissions for this year’s Represent-sponsored Graduates already flying in, it’s that time we pause for breath and take a look back at the class of 2012. So read on as we catch up with Ellie Andrews, Jack Haslehurst and Nick Blakeman to hear about what they’ve been up to for the past year and how post-university life is treating them. They’re all actually doing really, really well, which isn’t surprising. Off we go…

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The Graduates 2013: Catch-Up – Ellie Andrews

My graduation from Camberwell coincided with The Flyknit Collective workshops at Nike’s 1948 space, the focus of the week was to redesign a Nike sports jersey in keeping with our personal style. Making garments was a healthy break from drawing and the headache of digital editing that came with the closing weeks of finishing my degree. This was an opportunity to create and discuss ideas with innovative creators of sportswear apparel. I’ve since been working for a while on various T-shirt designs with a clothing brand, seeing my designs applied to a range of surfaces is something I aspired to do while at Camberwell.

I’ve worked with Bloomberg a few times now. I did a five day series earlier in the year and I was working around the clock because of the time difference. I was sending off roughs in the morning, then I’d come home and have three hours to get it all done in the evening. It was good to not have time to ponder over an idea too much and just go on instinct and create something, and they’re great people to work with.

Right now I’m working on an article about the world famous stuntman Jim Dowdall. This guy has had an insane career with some amazing stories, as you would expect!

www.ellie-andrews.tumblr.com

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The Graduates 2013: Catch-Up – Nick Blakeman

The last 12 months have gone by very fast. I’ve been interning at various design studios in London and Manchester and I’ve met some really great people. It’s been really eye-opening and I’ve learnt stuff that I wouldn’t ever have encountered while at university – it’s been such a valuable experience. Fun as well. Right now I’m at Magpie in Shoreditch and I’m really enjoying it.

An exciting project I’m working on at the moment is an exhibition called Glory Glory, with fellow Kingston graduate Alex Brown and music designer Craig Oldham. We’ve asked designers to create typographic posters based on football chants which we are going to exhibit and sell in aid of a blind sport charity. We’ve got some really cool designers and studios involved so far and people seem to have responded well to it (I think football is a really good door opener). The exhibition is due to take place in London this September.

I took this photo in Pittsburg last October. I was there because I was one of five people chosen to represent D&AD and Arjo Wiggins at an international sustainability conference. The photo itself doesn’t bear any metaphor to my year since graduating, it’s just a nice reminder and I like it.

www.nickblakeman.co.uk

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The Graduates 2013: Catch-Up – Jack Haslehurst

I was lucky to start my year as a graduate interning at It’s Nice That’s sister agency, INT Works. In three months I worked across a huge variety of projects with clients including, Nike, MTV and Urban Outfitters. I also got the chance to jump on some interactive trampolines and take part in the inaugural It’s Nice That versus INT Works Sports Day. A big deal.

On finishing at INT Works I joined IDEO as a Communication Design intern and took up a full time role in January this year. One of the best things about what I do now is variety. Some weeks I’m making films, others I’m designing apps that will target millions of people. There’s also a great culture for creativity and always something super interesting being designed, built or prototyped in the studio. I’ve found it difficult but useful to have a variation of commercial and personal projects, so for the year ahead I’m going to focus on finding the right balance. I chose a picture of our prized table tennis table purely because it’s the best way to take a break at work – and I’ve started to take “friendly” matches very seriously.

www.jackhaslehurst.com

So that’s them – now it’s your turn! Apply to be an It’s Nice That Graduate 2013 via the link below.

Represent

We are very pleased that The It’s Nice That Graduates 2013 will once again be supported by Represent Recruitment who are themselves celebrating being ten years old this summer. The graphic design recruitment specialists have developed a peerless reputation working with designers of all levels and matching them up with the right positions in some of the top agencies around. Represent’s support has helped us grow the Graudate scheme over recent years and we are thrilled they have partnered with us again in 2013.
www.represent.uk.com

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About the Author

Liv Siddall

Liv joined It’s Nice That as an intern in 2011 and worked across online, print and events, and was latterly Features Editor before leaving in May 2015.

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