Graduates 2010: William Cottam

William Cottam recently graduated from Nottingham Trent University after studying at Camberwell College of the Arts on the FdA Design Practice. On completing the FdA he decided it was time to move away from London to experience something new. While studying in Nottingham he developed his design work with a keen interest in typography, publications and branding.

Aside from graphic design Will enjoys playing hockey – for the past three years he’s been playing on an international level for Italy!

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

For some reason I have this memory of wanting to be an LAPD cop, although I probably would of had to settle on being your typical London policeman, which suddenly doesn’t sound as exciting. I have a feeling this all started out when I was about seven or eight and I used to watch Keanu Reeves achieve the impossible in Speed. When the not-so-great Speed 2 came along a few years later, the dream was ruined.

In reflection, how bad was your work in first year?

My first year was slightly different, in that it was an intensive FdA course and not as laid back and experimental as I had imagined. Coming straight from A levels it felt a bit like I had been thrown in at the deep end, but on the upside it meant I learnt about design a lot quicker than I would have. Overall I’d say there are one or two projects that I’m pretty happy with but the rest will remain gathering dust under my bed.

If you could show a piece of your folio to one person, what piece would you choose, and who would you show it to?

I’d show Jeff Koons my Bonington Gallery Identity and Promotion and see if he approved, seeing as the majority of the content is based on him.

If you had your own studio/business, who would you employ/share it with and why?

I would share a studio with the guys I met at Nottingham Trent over the past two years. We all have our separate talents be it in print, animation, branding or advertising so it would make up an intriguing multi disciplinary studio. Our collaborations over the years haven’t turned out too bad either.

If you’ve got any left, what will you spend the last of your student loan on?

My mum ended up being my student loan, and although she was generous, that money has almost all dried up. I probably have just about enough to buy a few bottles of Magners, a disposable barbeque and some sausages. What better way to enjoy the good weather.

Where will we find you in 12 months?

That sounds like a long way away but hopefully by then I would have settled down in a design studio somewhere in London. Although I would consider working abroad if the opportunity came about.