Lily Hodgson’s communicative portfolio represents a clear design message

Date
16 May 2017

We aren’t particularly knowledgeable in the subject of rocks and minerals at It’s Nice That, but when the subject is communicated by Australian designer Lily Hodgson we only want to know more.

Lily is a Sydney-based graphic designer who recently graduated from the University of Technology Sydney studying visual communication, however this isn’t the subject she initially enrolled in. “I have a brief background in industrial design, but having realised my ineptitude in 3D modelling, I became really interested in graphic design and transferred.” Her instinct and subsequent switch in creative discipline was certainly the right choice considering the established portfolio Lily created in her final year. Working with fellow student Owen Cramp the pair initially collaborated on gig posters for friends and have since set up their own studio, OCLH.

A Field Guide to Rocks, Gemstones and Minerals is a self-initiated project from Lily and Owen. “We really love book design and wanted to reframe seemingly banal research in a more engaging way,” Lily tells It’s Nice That. “The process of how different types of rocks are formed is really quite beautiful.” Studio OCLH interest in book design has resulted in Lily and Owen teaching a short intensive book design course for students on the interior spatial masters at the University of Technology. “It’s really interesting learning from and interacting with people from other design fields, especially since our work tends to focus on arts, culture, music and design.”

As a studio Lily and Owen have begun working closely with the University of Sydney’s school of architecture and NOMI furniture. “An exciting project we completed was the end of year architecture festival 16/16 held at Ambush Gallery.” The pair “created a visual identity for the three-day event and carried it across a variety of print and digital collateral as well as way-finding signage”.

Throughout Lily’s design work there is always a considered communicative and clear message, an exciting aptitude for a designer to have at just the beginning of her career. 

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: A Field Guide to Rocks, Gemstones and Minerals

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: A Field Guide to Rocks, Gemstones and Minerals

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: A Field Guide to Rocks, Gemstones and Minerals

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: A Field Guide to Rocks, Gemstones and Minerals

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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Lily Hodgson & Owen Cramp: 16/16

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About the Author

Lucy Bourton

Lucy (she/her) is the senior editor at Insights, a research-driven department with It's Nice That. Get in contact with her for potential Insights collaborations or to discuss Insights' fortnightly column, POV. Lucy has been a part of the team at It's Nice That since 2016, first joining as a staff writer after graduating from Chelsea College of Art with a degree in Graphic Design Communication.

lb@itsnicethat.com

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