Lucy Feagins is my "go-to" girl in Melbourne. Mainly for when I'm working on features for real living. For example, I was trying to track down a photography studio for a food story a little while ago and I contacted Lucy as she seems to have her eyes everywhere. Most of you probably already know that Lucy has a highly tuned tracking ability thanks to her blog The Design Files. I'm so glad I got Lucy to answer the questions below because, as always, she's included some fascinating gems. Above is her work as a set designer.
Which five words best describe you? Creative, thoughtful, sensitive, organised, passionate.
What’s your proudest achievement? On a personal level, my proudest achievement was buying my own home just over a year and a half ago. It makes me feel like a grown-up.
I’m also very proud of my blog - it seems to have taken on a life of its own - I never expected it to grow as it has, and sometimes I feel I’m struggling to keep up. The Design Files has put me in touch with some of the most incredible people, and has given me lots of opportunities I never expected. Since starting the site in January this year, I have been asked to write articles for magazines including Design Quarterly and Artichoke – and I was pretty excited when Belle magazine recently asked to use some of my photos for their next issue.
Who inspires you? My partner Gordon – he’s a tireless "do-er". He has taught me to take the plunge, to act on my plans and ideas rather than just dream about them; to never waste a moment. Marije Vogelzang – a unique Dutch food designer with the most fabulous ideas when it comes to shared cooking/dining/eating experience. I am addicted to her blog and company website. A truly unique creative mind. I have also written a little background about Marije on my blog here.
What are you passionate about? Good design in all its forms. Melbourne – its eclecticism, its colourful and vibrant sense of community, its support of local artists, designers and independent creative business. Blogs – self-publishing is an amazing, empowering thing.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Just start. I have a tendency to over-calculate my decisions, and to be so concerned with getting something perfect, that I sometimes never even begin! I’ve learnt that the best thing you can do is "lean in to it" – just start, somewhere, and the rest will follow.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Stefan Sagmeister – on top of being an extremely talented and internationally recognised designer, he also appears to be the most truly lovely guy. He’s modest and thoughtful, and he has the most beautiful, engaging accent. Have you seen this film. It is fantastic - please watch it.
What’s next? Improvements to my blog – perhaps a bit of a redesign, more features, and collaborations with other like-minded bloggers and creative people. I would love The Design Files to have more of a sense of community rather than just being my voice all the time. Work-wise, I’d love to sink my teeth into a great Australian feature film. In the last couple of years I’ve been working on a lot of comedy and children’s TV series and commercials, and I’m ready for a new challenge.
What are you reading? House of Concepts, which is a book about the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. I really love Dutch design, and many of the designers I admire most studied at this prestigious school, including Marije Vogelzang, mentioned above. This book looks at many of the Design Academy’s most high-profile and successful graduates.
What’s your proudest achievement? On a personal level, my proudest achievement was buying my own home just over a year and a half ago. It makes me feel like a grown-up.
I’m also very proud of my blog - it seems to have taken on a life of its own - I never expected it to grow as it has, and sometimes I feel I’m struggling to keep up. The Design Files has put me in touch with some of the most incredible people, and has given me lots of opportunities I never expected. Since starting the site in January this year, I have been asked to write articles for magazines including Design Quarterly and Artichoke – and I was pretty excited when Belle magazine recently asked to use some of my photos for their next issue.
Who inspires you? My partner Gordon – he’s a tireless "do-er". He has taught me to take the plunge, to act on my plans and ideas rather than just dream about them; to never waste a moment. Marije Vogelzang – a unique Dutch food designer with the most fabulous ideas when it comes to shared cooking/dining/eating experience. I am addicted to her blog and company website. A truly unique creative mind. I have also written a little background about Marije on my blog here.
What are you passionate about? Good design in all its forms. Melbourne – its eclecticism, its colourful and vibrant sense of community, its support of local artists, designers and independent creative business. Blogs – self-publishing is an amazing, empowering thing.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt? Just start. I have a tendency to over-calculate my decisions, and to be so concerned with getting something perfect, that I sometimes never even begin! I’ve learnt that the best thing you can do is "lean in to it" – just start, somewhere, and the rest will follow.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Stefan Sagmeister – on top of being an extremely talented and internationally recognised designer, he also appears to be the most truly lovely guy. He’s modest and thoughtful, and he has the most beautiful, engaging accent. Have you seen this film. It is fantastic - please watch it.
What’s next? Improvements to my blog – perhaps a bit of a redesign, more features, and collaborations with other like-minded bloggers and creative people. I would love The Design Files to have more of a sense of community rather than just being my voice all the time. Work-wise, I’d love to sink my teeth into a great Australian feature film. In the last couple of years I’ve been working on a lot of comedy and children’s TV series and commercials, and I’m ready for a new challenge.
What are you reading? House of Concepts, which is a book about the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. I really love Dutch design, and many of the designers I admire most studied at this prestigious school, including Marije Vogelzang, mentioned above. This book looks at many of the Design Academy’s most high-profile and successful graduates.
images courtesy of lucy feagins
9 comments:
I love that comment about "leaning into it". Speaking of which, I am wondering whether you could ask the amazing people you meet what their education was - be it on the job, a qualification or the like. I always feel like I want to know where they started. I love those stories about how they started doing graphic design, but ended up being a florist because a designer walked into their studio and was blown away by the arrangements ... you know. We have a lot of work experience students come through my workplace and I run the program and make sure other staff here tell them how they started, or what their big break was, because it's often very different to what people imagine it will be.
Yes, Miss Crackernuts. That was my favourite comment too. And that's a great idea with the question. There is a column in the paper which asks people what their first job was - and you're right, it's fascinating to learn about the road people have taken. For example, my first "real" job was as a finance reporter!!!
awww shucks thanks so much Natalie! I am blushing. :) You are too kind!
Yes that 'lean in to it' is my mantra when I'm feeling overwhelmed by a big project... (although I must admit I think it did originally it did come from one of those cheesy American motivational books...)
Thanks again! enjoy your time away!
I think it's a great expression, Lucy. Sometimes those cheesey books can hit the nail on the head!
Hi Natalie,
Love your blog and the book mini-reviews are wonderful. I'm totally going off-topic in the hopes you can point me in the right direction.
I have fallen for RL magazine and am trying to track down a copy of the March 2008 issue. I tried Magshop but to no avail. Any ideas where to go from here? Thanks for letting me chime in here and help you can provide would be very much appreciated. Keep up the beautiful work!
Lucy is my "go to" girl as well!! The Design Files is such a credit to her!! Awesome to see a picture of you Lucy...now I have a face to put to your emails. :) Ju
Thanks, Kelly. As for RL - you can sometimes get them on eBay. Otherwise contact Emily - efitzpatrick@acpmagazines.com.au - and she might be able to track one down for you. Good luck!
Ju - sounds like Lucy is not only a "go-to" girl but an incredibly generous one, too!
It is extremely interesting for me to read that blog. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.
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