In this interview graphic designer Brianna Hammond sheds some light on what the AGIdeas New Star award is all about and why you should be attending AGIdeas (as of publishing, tickets to AGIdeas are almost all sold out, get in really really quick if you want to attend this years event).
1. Brianna, Welcome to Design Droplets. Thanks for taking the time to chat. Can you give a quick run down on yourself?
Well, I’m 21, I live in Adelaide but I grew up in a small country town called Tumby Bay in South Australia. I’m currently in my Honours year of studying graphic design (Visual Communication) at UniSA. I love graphic design (obviously), photography, and playing Tetris. In January this year I traveled to Italy to complete a two week trial at Fabrica – the Benetton Group Communications Research Centre in Treviso. I was given this opportunity by winning the NewStar award at AGIdeas back in 2009.
2. In 2009 you were one of the Winners of agIdeas newstar award, since we are here to chat about NewStar – can you tell us about what the NewStar competition is?
NewStar is a great competition run by AGIdeas every year. It offers the chance for students and new graduates to have a trial at Fabrica in Italy, or two weeks work experience in a choice of leading international design studios. To enter the competition, you send in the three best pieces of your work, whether it be 2D, 3D or multimedia.
Decembeard Poster - A poster advertising the need for constant prostate cancer support.
3. What opportunities has winning the NewStar competition opened up to you?
Winning the NewStar competition paid for my return flights to Italy and enabled me to complete a two week trial at Fabrica in Treviso. I met amazing, talented people from all around the world.
4. Can you tell us a bit about your 2 week experience at Fabrica – the Benetton Group Communications Research Centre in Treviso, Italy?
My experience at Fabrica was amazing. Everything from the architecture of the building (by Tadao Ando) to the daily Italian Mensa (cafeteria style lunch), was exciting and new to me. I was briefed to do four projects during my two week trial, which was a lot of hard work, but I also had the chance to socialise with others and talk to them about the inspiring projects they were undertaking. It is a great creative environment in which I was constantly in awe of the talent around me.
Libraries SA annual report - A selection of pages from the Libraries Board of SA annual report.
5. Part of the NewStar award is an exhibition of entrants work, even if you hadn’t won the award, would entering have been worth is solely for the exhibition?
Of course! Being shortlisted was for me such a big achievement in itself. To have my work seen by international designers was an added bonus. Entering is worth it even if you aren’t shortlisted, it is a great chance to have someone else see your work and it is always good to collate your best work, just to see where you’re at.
6. What advice would you give to students who are considering entering this year or in future years?
Just go for it! It’s free to enter so why not?
I never in a million years thought I could possibly win it, so my winning the competition just proves that entering is worth it, even if you don’t think you stand a chance.
Looks Can Kill - Two posters from a campaign that I created after researching the issue of photo manipulation affecting body image.
7. What are your overall thought on agIdeas and why should people attend?
AGIdeas is great. You get to mingle with like-minded people, see professional’s work and hear them speak. I always leave Melbourne with an overwhelming amount of inspiration to do my own work, and even if you don’t recall the words of every speaker a few months later, it is worth it just for the motivation to be creative, not to mention the after-party!
8. Brianna, thank you for taking the time to talk. Before we wrap up do you have any final thoughts or advice?
To see more of my work you can go to www.brihammond.com
Wanted Creativity - This piece was created during my trial period at Fabrica. It is a call out for Fabrica applicants that is published in Colors magazine. This wanted creativity was made particularly for the Sea issue coming out later this year.
