We chat to the student duo behind “FYI, I’m a graphic designer”

In response to a “critical graphic design” brief from their tutor at Central Saint Martins, graphic design students Ellen Mercer and Lucy Streule spliced together a tonne of clips and heartfelt scenes where movie characters let each other know, “FYI I’m a graphic designer.”

Their intention was to highlight how graphic designers are portrayed in cinema, Ellen says. “How this might be a reason why the profession and title are misunderstood. It came out of our everyday experience of trying to explain exactly what it is we do, and settling with “yeah, something with computers.”

Ellen and Lucy hope that FYI, I’m a graphic designer will open a dialogue on this problem of misrepresentation and how the thinking that graphic design is “logos, stationery and soap” may actually be quite damaging to the field.

“I’m creative, I make a living.”
“You’re a graphic designer man, you make pamphlets and DJ flyers. You’re a fucking sell-out.”