My Brand

Starting the last few months of my MArch gets me thinking about what I'm going to do after. Get a job is the simple answer! However in the last few months we have had somewhat demoralising lectures about the state of the architectural profession which has confirmed to me that I'm not going to go for a traditional post-degree route. Yet speakers who've come in have highlighted that we have a great skill set and so I'm not worried, more excited as to what the future will hold.

A key thing is to have a brand, I think, and to define myself as a designer. Above these pictures have given me some great ideas - a stamped cv! Not only is this how I will present my work at exhibition but also developing my online presence. This blog allows me to capture all my personal interests but I want to have a more professional portfolio as well as continuing maud... and then actually making stuff when not attached to my laptop! It's going to be a busy time, but an exciting one.

Images by Emmadime

The Beginning

I'm home. For good, well until I go back to Kent for graduation! So I can begin the task of sorting my life out, reading through all the magazines that have been collected up for me. In today's Stella magazine I spotted Holly's Houses, these sweet illustrations which come as stamps. You can have one made for your house!

Being architecturally linked they remind me of the last 3 years that I have spent, beginning my career journey to being an architect. This past few weeks have been a blur, a hive of activity which has come to an abrupt stop. On Friday I found out my results - I got a First! - and then our end of year exhibition opened. It looks great and I'll be posting photos soon. I keep thinking how much I and all my friends have leanred since turning up on the first day. We were standing in Studio One, over a hundred of us in a big circle with a character for a tutor talking to us, starting us on ou way. Whatever he said then, I have forgotten but nothing could have prepared us for the hard work, toil, sweat and tears but also the knowledge and strong friendships that have been forged. Though we complained and cursed, said we would give up and not carry on, we've all survived, except perhaps a few. And all along my housemates, my non-architecture girls, have been there, telling me to take a break and laughing at me when I'd do my characteristic grabbing my head in despair.

Although it's "over", I know it's not. We'll stay in contact and see each other if we want to. The world's a small place. So now onto a job, I'm scared but excited! This is the first time I really haven't had my future planned... so we'll see what happens!

I'm Free

A big crit and exam out of the way, my degree was done and dusted on Friday! Although the end never seemed to appear, suddenly all the weight was off our shoulders and so over the bank holiday weekend, I've been sleeping in and going out in the evening with friends. Soon we'll be geting our marks back. I got a fantastic response to my chair - which some of my peers said was like me in furniture form! A compliment I think!
Yesterday we went into Canterbury to continue shopping for a summer ball dress. We came across the Courtyard Bazaar in a little courtyard hidden behind a usually closed gate on the high street. Also on campus a local artist Denise Hickey had her work on display, birds made from old bed sheet and mattress filling - creative recycling, just how I like it!