Selina Gerber is a graphic designer working at Hella Studio, a new creative agency based in Burgdorf, Switzerland. She loves to illustrate and to come up with conceptional ideas and is also the co-founder of Arttwerk. Selina shares a hilarious childhood story about how she used to send her pet hamster postcards, she explains what her passion project— 'Arttwerk' —is all about, and she gives some great advice for those graduating this year.
Any hilarious stories about you as a kid being creative?
As a little kid, I loved to accompany my mother to the post office, from where I would send my hamster postcards that I had created especially for him. I noticed very early on that art and creative presents bring pleasure to people - and to animals, for that matter. I always loved to do projects and kept giving my mother beautiful artwork made out of toilet paper rolls. I’m sure she was thrilled...
Where did you study and what were some of your first jobs?
In Switzerland, there are several ways to learn a job – one of the best ways are company-based apprenticeships. I wanted to do that after the preparatory design course, but I was having trouble to find a position. So I sold candy at a store for a while. And for my mother’s sake, I even started a business training, which really depressed me and in the end encouraged me even more to get a creative job. I finally found an apprenticeship at In flagranti communication, a communication agency. This took four years, and after that, I found it very hard to find an inspiring new job, so I sent a blind application to Hella Studio, as I really loved their fresh voice. I am very happy this worked out.
Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.
I am a graphic designer working at Hella Studio, a new creative agency based in Burgdorf, Switzerland. I am involved in the whole process of creating ad campaigns – but at the moment I especially love to illustrate and to come up with conceptional ideas. And I am the co-founder of Arttwerk.
What are your three must-read design books, blogs or podcasts and why?
I must admit that I am trying to avoid these types of industry-specific publications at the moment. This is a consequence of the feeling that publications were limiting and overwhelming me at the same time somehow. I find most of my inspiration in my everyday life. I can go to a thrift store and find an interesting object that inspires me to a new project. I used to love to look at design blogs and I still follow some of them, but sometimes, I find it rather paralyzing.
Don’t get stuck in fear and convenience, but open up and look for a new opportunity. It always pays out in the long run.
*Any passion projects/collabs you would like to share? *
I would love to! Arttwerk is my collaboration with Janika, a graphic designer and former coworker of mine. We started with tiny art projects in our lunch break, like drawing tattoos on each others body's or organizing a small exhibition at our company. Nowadays it is foremost our creative playground, an outlet for us as graphic designers, an Instagram project where we address different issues like feminism, body positivity or even plastic surgery with a sense of humour. We want to have fun creating, and this project always helps us to get back to this main goal.
What advice would you give students graduating in 2019
If you are feeling unhappy at your job – it’s maybe not you, but the position. Dare to find a place that better suits you. Don’t get stuck in fear and convenience, but open up and look for a new opportunity. It always pays out in the long run.
Where to find Hella Studio online.
Website: selinagerber.ch
Instagram: @blaueflamingos
