Jill Senft

A big congrats to Jill Senft (@jill_senft), one of our 30 TDK Awards winners' for 2019. A Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin (@kunsthochschuleberlin) graduate from Berlin, their work was chosen by Toby Johnston from Shift Partners (@shiftpartners) in Singapore: "I just loved all of her images. Unique, Hilarious, thoughtful and beautiful." We asked Jill 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?

I have tried many techniques and workshops during my studies, but I was never aware of how great it is to have time to do that. I would, therefore, like to have enjoyed it more back than.

What originally lead you in to design, and how has that changed - what do you want to do/are doing now?

I originally just did not want a normal office job but didn’t know what to study. So I searched for something creative (as I was pretty into knitting, sewing, painting, building as a child) and thought about studying fashion design until I recognised when I did my first application that I wanted to basically just draw and paint. It took a while to realize that but then I started to apply for visual communication which illustration was part of. I got accepted, did a bachelor and now also finished my master degree. Now I’m a freelance illustrator or painter or whatever you want to name it.

Design work by Jill Senft The Design Kids interviews Jill Senft work-2

Any hot tips for getting ahead at uni?

Listen carefully to your professors, sometimes they are right but also trust your gut and do your own thing. In the end you have to like what you do, that’s why you do it.

What do you love about the design scene in your city and what companies are on your dream list to work or collaborate with?

The design scene in Berlin is certainly very big, in comparison to smaller cities. Nice about the scene, in general, is actually that there is always something to do/see, an exhibition, a performance, an open door to a studio.

Companies on my dream list to work for could be almost every company that is open for my ideas and would like to collaborate. I would rather not fix it exactly on a few names.

Design work by Jill Senft The Design Kids interviews Jill Senft work-4
Design work by Jill Senft The Design Kids interviews Jill Senft work-4

Where do you see your career in 5 years?

As I’m freelancing right now and enjoying it a lot, that hopefully doesn't change. So I see myself as a freelance illustrator /painter in a nice studio building sculptures, painting canvases and also illustrating for magazines and clients worldwide.

2019 for you in a sentence

I’m full of anticipation for 2019, as I’m going in summer for an artist residency 6 weeks to Tokyo to work from there!

Design work by Jill Senft The Design Kids interviews Jill Senft work-6
Design work by Jill Senft The Design Kids interviews Jill Senft work-6

Where to find Jill Senft online.

Website: jillsenft.com

Instagram: @jill_senft

Get involved

>