A big congrats to Daragh J. Anderson, one of our 30 TDK Awards’ winners for 2018. A Central Saint Martins student from London, their work was chosen by Dem from Ustwo: “I found myself drawn to Daragh’s work on both a visual and a conceptual level. Each project seems to explore interesting and important topics while achieving an impressive level of refinement, tied together in a very well presented entry. I’m particularly impressed by the elegant response to the D&AD brief, which communicates a powerful message through an engaging medium”. We asked Daragh to answer a few questions for next years TDK Awards’ hopefuls.
What are some of your earliest creative memories and what lead you into design?
I used to love drawing and making comic strips when I was really young, but I’m not sure if I was very good. Really, music was my first creative inspiration. I used to be in a ‘real band’ a few years back. (called Codes, we’re on Spotify, but don’t...) Through that, I indirectly got into design. Creating t-shirts, posters, merch for our band and later others whilst I was on tour. I taught myself the basics of coding, video editing and all the usual digital tools - mostly from the back of the tour van. This really opened my eyes and drew my attention to graphic design as a discipline and from then on I was hooked. When the band parted ways, I went to study design and it totally changed my whole outlook on creativity, and on the world.
What are your plans after graduating?
I want to work on projects that challenge me creatively and intellectually. I want to do personal work, which usually focuses on the role design has to play within science. I find it’s an area not enough designers have explored, so I’m compelled to continue in that vein. I want to start up a studio or ongoing collaboration with some of my favorite and wonderfully talented contemporaries from Central Saint Martins too. I love being busy and creative so graduating and entering the ‘real world’ is an exciting time!
What has been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt along the way?
- Work hard and be kind: People will remember it, and you'll be proud knowing you gave every task your all.
- Include others: The best work comes from bouncing ideas off fellow humans. Be inclusive and empathetic in everything you do and you'll always have humans to ask if you get stuck and to enjoy the whole experience with.
- Learn new things often: Do it today, find an excuse to investigate something you have no business in knowing. There's always time.
- Exercise, outside: Run, cycle, climb, dance, whatever; get some exercise, outside if you can, regularly. It keeps your mind agile and gives you a vital rest from creative overload.
- Have more fun: Creativity is meant to be fun. It can be challenging work but if you're working on meaningful stuff, with fun people, the journey is always worthwhile.
Where do you think design is heading in the next five years and how will you adapt?
The robots are coming! Automation is getting more and more prevalent in design and it's stifling creativity. (See; template websites, stock logos and prefab print layouts) I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking that we can use emerging forms of design automation as a tool for good instead of banality. Personally, I've been exploring generative design and machine learning processes in my own work to try to make fun things and skill myself up for the rapidly approaching future.
Where to find Daragh J. Anderson online.
Instagram: @daraghanderson
Twitter: @D_r_ghJ_nd_rs_n
Website: dadesignbase.com
Profile: The Dots Profile
