TGDS Graduate Ashley

With an eye for design and a love for all things energetic, Ashley hit the Queensland design scene with a bang after graduating.

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Hey Ashley! Tell us a bit about you.

Well, where do I begin! I’m 24 years old; I’m a New Zealander having been living in sunny Queensland for five years now.

A few of my favourite things include, first and foremost, my wonderful little Cavoodle Ted, surfing up a storm, banana smoothies, a good cheesy romance novel, snowboarding (when I get the chance to escape Queensland!), Star Wars, baking, mountain biking, board games (who doesn’t love a good game of UNO), and of course, all things design!

Ashley Ahh - Ashley’s Personal Identity Design

What or who inspired you to be a designer?

When I was younger I use to spend a lot of my time collecting magazines. I would spend hours going through each one, cutting out everything that caught my eye, whether it was an article, an image or an illustration. I would then take all of my cutouts and glue them into an old art book, practically recreating the magazine but the way I wanted it! Carefully considering the placement of each cut out, and watching the layout all come other, I really enjoyed it!

Java Love - Corporate Identity Design

What are you up to in the design world at the moment?

When I was getting towards the end of the course, I decided to leave my job at the time to focus on smashing out the last few modules, and that’s exactly what I did! Now that I am all finished, I am on the hunt for a job! In addition to this I am doing a few bits and pieces of freelance work on the side as well as completing a work experience course with a well-known Brisbane based Graphic Designer.

Java Love - Packaging

What is your favourite part of the design process?

My favourite part of the design process would have to be when you have completed a design; you’ve taken a break, gotten some fresh air and you have returned to have a final look. In that moment I believe you can really feel whether or not you have achieved your objective. And when you have, the sense of accomplishment that you feel is very rewarding!

Snowboarding is not Dead - Feature Article Design

You were really into all sorts of design disciplines at TGDS, branding, campaigning and even packaging.
Have you a fav?

I really enjoyed them all, but if I have to pick a favourite, it would be a tie between the photography, the magazine layout and the campaign. It is definitely the layout aspect of each concept that I enjoyed producing.

VAIDA - Corporate Identity Design

Tell us anything you would like to about your featured works.

I am SO happy with my corporate identity and my portfolio as a whole! When designing something for myself personally, I always struggle. I am a perfectionist and I overthink things, always finding new ways to try and better a design. I find that I have so many ideas floating around in my head; it’s often hard to put them down on paper. I really wanted my corporate identity to be a reflection of me and I think I really nailed it. To then incorporate that into my portfolio and see it all come together was so rewarding!

What did you love most about studying design?

The thing I loved most about studying design was everything that I learnt along the way, and watching it all come together. Piecing together my final portfolio was a wonderful experience. It was rewarding to know that all of the hard work had really paid off.

What’s your dream design job?
Don’t hold back!

My dream job would 100% be in Publication design as a Magazine Art Director, particularly for a fashion and lifestyle magazine or perhaps a multi-platform publication. Other than that, I have discovered that I really enjoy branding and logo design. So who knows where the future will lead!

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