Gradwatch 2020: Designer Shona Speres, Falmouth College
Although Shona Speres has just graduated from Falmouth University with a degree in graphic design, she has already proven herself to be multihyphenated. Her visual storytelling takes a variety of forms, whether it be using sculptures to inform brand visualizations, bringing her personal photography and graphics to life through editorial design, or making short films to enhance their projects.
Much of Speres' work is tender, as evidenced by her letter publication Hi Babe Hi Babe, which introduces letters between her parents and her zine Virgin examining how 25 people discover their virginity through essays and abstract photographs have lost. Her short film of the same name follows an egg that drips over a piece of silk and serves as a "visual metaphor for the exploring, sensual and fragile nature of the loss of your virginity".
A mental space, a series of photos and a zine that explore fear
"I've always been encouraged to play in my design," she says, adding that the freedom to explore different media helps her express concepts fully. "The openness of the direction allows me to connect with different topics that in my opinion enable a deeper understanding of a project and a more comprehensive exploration of a concept."
Speres' wide-ranging creative practice enables her to take ideas in unexpected directions, and she sees each project as an opportunity to learn and grow. "I think it's important to be diverse and multidisciplinary and to work with someone like that would be refreshing," she explains. "I always strive to work on projects that surprise the audience."
The words that most inspire and shape her work come from the book by artist and Gucci collaborator Coco Capitán: When you've seen it all, close your eyes. “The title of this book has always stuck in my memory and speaks to me in the truest sense of the word, not following trends and examining topics independently,” says Speres.
In addition to her studies, Speres was shortlisted for the Palm Photo Prize 2020 and has worked for agencies such as Pentagram and the creative studio Foxall. During her time at Pentagram, she had the opportunity to work with Marina Willer's team on the editorial and spatial design of the Sound of Mind exhibition by sound designer and Pentagram partner Yuri Suzuki in the Design Museum. “That experience gave me a real understanding of the process of implementing a design project in a showroom, as well as experience working with a client,” she says.
Hi Babe Hi Babe, a publication that captures an unedited written dialogue between Speres' parents
While she was enjoying her course – "it was a great platform for me to meet like-minded people and develop my basic skills as a designer," she says – the coronavirus pandemic brought her studies to an anti-climactic end.
“All of the graduates in recent years had to cancel their show last year, which hit me very much because I felt that the graduation exhibition would be more of a celebration of the end of three years of hard work. So it seems like there isn't a single concise ending, ”she says. "However, spending time outside of university allowed me to develop more skills in my practice and experiment more with different media while creating projects that were more personal to myself and my own experiences."
Concept for acne studios inspired by sculpture and gender fluidity
Beyond their graduation show, the pandemic has disrupted next steps for graduates around the world. Speres says one of her biggest challenges is finding employment amid a global pandemic and "researching design and learning from people without personal contact". She is currently working on an editorial project dealing with "Expression and Madness in Reality".
Looking ahead, she plans to continue learning and producing work she is passionate about and hopes to one day become an art director or run her own studio.
Hi Babe Hi Babe Installation
Hi Babe Hi Babe Publication
Virgin Zine
Go here to see all of our Gradwatch picks. shonasperes.com; @ Shonasperes