Graduates 2010: Matthew Peel

Today’s graduate is Matthew Peel who has just graduated from Central Saint Martins.Originally from Hertfordshire Matthew studied his foundation at Camberwell before moving across the city to Central Saint Martins. Aside from graphic design, he enjoy cycling, architecture and car boot sales.

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

I think I wanted to be an architect but then realised how much math was involved. That put me off quite a bit.

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

Well it was a lot less self conscious and there was more room for error back then! Over time I’ve learned to become far more sensitive and rational in defining what strong concepts and designs are. It just takes time to build a self awareness of your work. I remember making my first zine on foundation and being really excited by it, looking back I totally missed the point.

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

Maybe my final project which revolved around the idea of the modernist utopian vision – so Walter Gropius perhaps, I still find it amazing how they had so much foresight and vision. 

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

I’d love to set up my own studio in a couple of years, probably with friends I’ve met during my time in London. I think collaborative projects have taught me how indispensable other people’s opinions and advice can be. Recently I’ve been thinking how great it would be to run a design cafe/bar/space so maybe I’ll look into that a bit more. 

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

Unfortunately that disappeared a long time ago, when I get my hands on some cash ideally I’d spend it on plane ticket to somewhere exotic. If not a plane ticket then some expensive equipment to start a studio. 

Where will we find you in 12 months?

Either getting ready to go to the RCA, working for a London design studio or hopefully realising my master plan of emigrating to the big apple.