A big congrats to Eva Cremers (@evacremers), one of our 30 TDK Awards winners' for 2019. A Minerva Art Academy graduate from Groningen, their work was chosen by Leta Sobierajski (@letasobierajski) & Wade Jeffree (@wadejeffree) in NYC: "A strong example of simple, playful ideas created in varied styles with care and clarity of execution." We asked Eva to answer a few questions for next years TDK Awards hopefuls.
What do you wish you’d known now when you started your design course?
Don't be scared to throw your work on the world wide web! I always thought my work wasn't professional or good enough, a quite common thought at Art Uni, I think. In the end, you shouldn't overthink doing this; just get your work out there and it might open some interesting doors!
What originally lead you in to design, and how has that changed - what do you want to do/are doing now?
I studied International Business before going to the Art Academy. After two years I was done with all the economics and I knew I wanted to do 'something creative', but had absolutely no clue about what the field of graphic design entailed! It took me two years before I started to understand what I was doing and what the possibilities were. Graphic design sometimes is still seen in a very traditional way, as if it's all about creating logos and business cards. I think there are so many paths within graphic design that can and have to be explored! Currently, I'm definitely not focusing on one thing: I'm doing branding projects, a lot of 3D illustrations and animations and still like to work more in fun set design/art direction too!
Any hot tips for getting ahead at uni?
A while ago I read this amazing quote by Debbie Millman and I couldn't agree more. "You don't need the confidence, you just need the courage! You can either feel safe and bored or challenged and scared, but you can't be safe and challenged." I try to implement this way of thinking in everything I do. Be brave, fearless, a risk-taker, always positive and eager! It will be terrifying at times but it will give you opportunities for a lifetime.
What do you love about the design scene in your city and what companies are on your dream list to work or collaborate with?
I live in Groningen, which is in the north of the Netherlands. It isn't exactly the heart of the design world, but it does have many creative events going on! I recently lived in London for just three months and it comes as no surprise that the number of design events were endless, amazing!
When it comes to who I'd like to work for, I'd rather have dream briefs than dream companies! Obviously I'd like to work together with companies like Nike, or create pieces for the New Yorker for example, but in the end it's more about what kind of work you'll be able to do than who it’s for!
Be brave, fearless, a risk-taker, always positive and eager! It will be terrifying at times but it will give you opportunities for a lifetime.
Where do you see your career in 5 years?
I would love to have my own design studio, working for a diverse range of companies and a variety of work as well. I don't want to settle down for just one discipline. There are so many fields that I love and I can't imagine myself working in just one of them, because I'm always either crazy focused or easily distracted and bored. Challenging myself and working in different types of disciplines and projects keeps me going, happy and enthusiastic!
2019 for you in a sentence
2019 already blows my mind: I've been to New Zealand, lived in London, went to Mexico and I’ll visit New York City soon and on career level it has already opened so many massive doors for me, including working with Snask, Man VS Machine, Intern Magazine and The New York Times, let's hope (and believe!) that this is just the beginning of a fruitful year! Wow, that's a long sentence!
Where to find Eva Cremers online.
Website: evacremers.com
Instagram: @evacremers
