Graduates 2010: Miles Gould

Today’s graduate is Miles Gould who has spent the last three years studying graphic design at The University of Brighton. Growing up in Somerset he has a real passion for the great outdoors, travelling and experiencing new situations and cultures. Later this summer he plans to travel to Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

As a designer Miles loves to explore and investigate all areas of design and with a strong attention to detail, his work is well considered and researched, environmentally conscious, striking and accessible.

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

When I was growing up I always wanted to become a professional footballer. I spent most of my youth on the football pitch in the sun, rain and sleet, playing for my local teams Faulkland Rovers and then later transferring to Frome Town Boys. I always dreamed of playing right wing for Coventry City. Drumming has also always been a huge part of my life and was going to attend Drum Academy to become a session musician before I was offered a place doing Graphic Design at Brighton University.  

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

First year was certainly a huge learning curve, full of experimentation and reading books on design. Apart from an edible poster I designed I don’t particularly like my work from first year, which always seemed cluttered and trying to say too much rather than being concise and memorable.

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 would choose my exam project. A series of posters inspired by a quote from Umberto Eco, illustrating and deconstructing the etymology of the words cretin, imbecile, stupid and mad. It was the project I most enjoyed designing and researching in the final year. I would show the prints to Umberto Eco.

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

There have always been plans for the future to share a studio with fellow Graphic Design graduates Pete Dungey and Joe Luxton from Brighton University who I have worked with over the last few years. I would also love to share a space with a diverse mix of artists all working in different fields of art and design. The idea of a multidisciplinary studio really excites me and feel it would be a great way to continue learning and developing my own practice.

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

The last part of my student loan will be going towards a months adventure backpacking through Thailand early this summer, which will be a nice break and also a great opportunity to experience a different culture. I have just started reading The Beach by Alex Garland to get inspired to find myself a legendary, idyllic beach untouched by tourism. (Let’s hope it won’t end the same way as the book.)

Where will we find you in 12 months?

I hope to be working in London and gaining as much experience as possible and meeting as many people as I possibly can.