There is magic in finding balance – By @hollygordonn

By Holly Gordon

There is magic in finding balance

At SCA, we’ve been advised to do a lot of things that are to help us with creativity and life inside and outside the school, but I only want to focus on three specific things we have learnt.Early on into the first term of SCA, I got told, rather bluntly, that I needed to unlearn everything I knew regarding Graphic Design. I have a degree in Graphic Communications (I tell everyone its Graphic Design because it prevents me from having to answer the question ‘what is the difference?’ – I believe there is one but I won’t go into that just now) and after working in industry for two years, after my degree; this was a lot to swallow. Design has been, and still is something I love so I didn’t know how to react to hearing this. Arguably, it is more of a statement from a formed opinion because since starting at SCA, I have never been so thankful that I have knowledge in design and an understanding of how it works. However, what I have come to learn is that my way of thinking needs to change, and this has been the hardest thing for me to unlearn.I can’t remember if this piece of advice was said out loud or through osmosis I have a fully formed image of someone saying this to us during a masterclass. That’s how science works right? Anyway. We have to love what we do, which is pretty obvious because I don’t think I would be here if I didn’t care, but you’ve also got to tap into that obsessive part of you’re brain occasionally and I am really good at that.Thirdly, we have to create balance in our lives. We got told this right at the start of the term and I have worked pretty hard to give myself breaks when I need, see friends on the weekends and spend time with family. However, whilst doing this, I ended up with a job. Its been dubbed as ‘the perfect job’ by my friends and family but this is because they know me so well. I can’t really argue with them, my job is pretty magical (pun intended).I work at a gallery dedicated to the graphic design for the Harry Potter film franchise. Its full of nerdy shit and I love it. For designers, who don’t have their heads stuck up their asses, its wonderful examples of print, publishing and set design. And for Harry Potter fans, its pure gold.I have a lot of passions outside of advertising and my job combines two of them. I used to be embarrassed about being passionate about things because a lot of my friends were so uninterested, but now I’m writing a SCAB on how cool I find my Saturday job. Weird.Not sure how to end this, so here is some advice from a fellow student.Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.At SCA, we’ve been advised to do a lot of things that are to help us with creativity and life inside and outside the school, but I only want to focus on three specific things we have learnt.Early on into the first term of SCA, I got told, rather bluntly, that I needed to unlearn everything I knew regarding Graphic Design. I have a degree in Graphic Communications (I tell everyone its Graphic Design because it prevents me from having to answer the question ‘what is the difference?’ – I believe there is one but I won’t go into that just now) and after working in industry for two years, after my degree; this was a lot to swallow. Design has been, and still is something I love so I didn’t know how to react to hearing this. Arguably, it is more of a statement from a formed opinion because since starting at SCA, I have never been so thankful that I have knowledge in design and an understanding of how it works. However, what I have come to learn is that my way of thinking needs to change, and this has been the hardest thing for me to unlearn.I can’t remember if this piece of advice was said out loud or through osmosis I have a fully formed image of someone saying this to us during a masterclass. That’s how science works right? Anyway. We have to love what we do, which is pretty obvious because I don’t think I would be here if I didn’t care, but you’ve also got to tap into that obsessive part of you’re brain occasionally and I am really good at that.Thirdly, we have to create balance in our lives. We got told this right at the start of the term and I have worked pretty hard to give myself breaks when I need, see friends on the weekends and spend time with family. However, whilst doing this, I ended up with a job. Its been dubbed as ‘the perfect job’ by my friends and family but this is because they know me so well. I can’t really argue with them, my job is pretty magical (pun intended).I work at a gallery dedicated to the graphic design for the Harry Potter film franchise. Its full of nerdy shit and I love it. For designers, who don’t have their heads stuck up their asses, its wonderful examples of print, publishing and set design. And for Harry Potter fans, its pure gold.I have a lot of passions outside of advertising and my job combines two of them. I used to be embarrassed about being passionate about things because a lot of my friends were so uninterested, but now I’m writing a SCAB on how cool I find my Saturday job. Weird.Not sure how to end this, so here is some advice from a fellow student.Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus.