Graduates: A catch-up with three of last year's fab grads, Isabel, Lorna and Jake

As the last entries to The Graduates 2013 trickle through, it’s time for some more catch-ups with the brilliant It’s Nice That grads from last year. Here we have the wonderful Isabel Gibson (now one half of Isabel&Helen), illustrator Lorna Scobie and designer Jake Evans here to wow you with the truly fantastic things they have been up to this past year. Take it away brains…

A year on and I discover the “real” world’s an interesting, disappointing but mostly exciting place. I’ve been freelancing from home for a year and have worked on some great projects and collaborations during that time ranging from music videos to textile design to branding and even a brief art residency. Some successful, some not so much. I was also fortunate enough to work with the awesome Burton Snowboards this year but unfortunately I can’t showcase any of that for quite some time! The exposure via the It’s Nice That grad showcase was invaluable and people responded well to my Flora Sway project which that led to some great opportunities. 

So now I find myself a year later, with a few more projects in the pipeline and in dire need of a self-branding and website update. The main aim at the moment is to make movements towards London and acquire some sort of designer/creative position in the process. So if you like what you see and you’re hiring…
www.javaknees.com
javaknees.tumblr.com

Since leaving uni I have been able to relax a little without the deadlines and structure to really pursue projects that I’m passionate about at my own pace. This has made it a lot more fun but also very hectic and scary at times too. After a year of interning at various places, I was lucky enough to be offered a junior designer position at Hotel Creative through Represent, which specialises in 3D design, window displays and installation for the likes of Nike. With their variety of exciting work it has been a fantastic opportunity where I am learning fast and being a part of some incredible projects.

Alongside this I have partnered up with a friend from uni and have been working as a collective on a couple of projects, from designing the set for a Charlie and The Chocolate Factory themed New Year’s Eve at an old tram shed, to Netil House roof top furniture, and now we have been commissioned to design and build an installation for the latest V&A Friday Late.

In the coming year I want to make more, travel more and hopefully soon be the proud owner of a tortoise!
www.isabelandhelen.com

My first year out of the university womb got off to a great start as I was commissioned by Stella McCartney Kids to design animal masks and facepaints for their SS13 campaign. This was probably my dream job and so I was fully prepared for the rest of my life may to be a steady downwards slope from then on.

However it hasn’t been too bad! I’ve been working on a range of different illustration commissions at the same time as producing my own personal work. Printmaking has always been a slight obsession of mine and I was thrilled to receive one of londonprintstudio’s New Graduate awards earlier this year. I’ve been working at the studio on a regular basis, experimenting with techniques and trying out stone lithography! It’s been great to have the opportunity to do work for myself, and really get to grips with how I like to illustrate. Something I’ve really appreciated this year is the exhibitions I’ve been invited to participate in. I’ve worked alongside some truly fabulous illustrators, artists and designers in a number of shows and all have been great experiences.

I’m loving being based in London at the moment but I’ve got my sights set on New York – hopefully there’s room for one more on the island?!
www.lornascobie.com

Represent

We are very pleased that The It’s Nice That Graduates 2013 will once again be supported by Represent Recruitment who are themselves celebrating being ten years old this summer. The graphic design recruitment specialists have developed a peerless reputation working with designers of all levels and matching them up with the right positions in some of the top agencies around. Represent’s support has helped us grow the Graudate scheme over recent years and we are thrilled they have partnered with us again in 2013.
www.represent.uk.com