HUNGRY & UNDERVALUED HIGHLIGHT THE VALUE BEYOND MUSIC’S MAINSTREAM
Hungry and Undervalued is a music zine highlighting more specifically non-white musicians within Europe aiming make their own music or carving out their own space within the industry who possibly haven’t had press around their projects or are creating interesting work which doesn’t necessarily fit into mainstream publications.
Charlotte Joseph has been much in demand since graduating from the Design School at LCC. As a designer and music journalist, her Hungry + Undevalued zine, created during her DPS year, uniquely positioned Charlotte for further experience at Adidas Originals and Dazed, whilst making her the obvious choice as a researcher at the Mill. We catch up with Charlotte to learn a few lessons un hunger and adding value.
Which course did you study at LCC?
I studied BA Graphic and Media Design and then the optional DPS.
Tell us about your current role and what you're currently working on?
My current role is Creative Researcher and Pitch Designer, and I can't say what exactly I work on currently as a lot of it is secret and hasn't been released yet but I design treatments and work with directors who film ads and short films.
What made you choose the Diploma in Professional Studies (DPS) opportunity?
I wanted to be able to do some personal projects and explore more career paths for post-graduation life whilst still under the safety net of the university. I also wanted to get some work experience and meet different people from different cultures.
Where did you go for your DPS year? Tell us a little bit about your experience
During my DPS year, I worked at several places such as Dazed in London and Adidas in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Working at Dazed was difficult and I wasn't paid, and only received a stipend which was difficult. It made me realise where and what kind of working environments I wanted to work in after graduating and how to treat interns. Working at Adidas was a once in a lifetime experience and I'll never forget it. I worked as a Graphic Design Intern for Adidas Originals which meant I worked on graphics for apparel for the seasonal lines (men, women and kids), special projects such as collaborations with Pharrell [Williams] and for quick design responses (i.e. t-shirts) to brands like Footlocker and JD Sports.
It gave me experience in illustration and experimenting in learning how to use different tools like embroidery machines, sewing machines and hot glue guns in their workshop zone which always had different workshops on to learn new skills. Working at a company like that was fun, as there was not really a limit to what you wanted to explore - there were always talks, most people were friendly and open to learning and talking to you because it was quite an isolated headquarters location. I also think that experience of living in a city like Nuremberg taught me how to be independent and how to navigate a completely different culture and a non-capital city with less to do.
What's the most important thing you learned from doing the DPS year?
Being able to communicate and speak has gotten me into so many good situations and given me great opportunities and I think Hungry and Undervalued which I did during the year gave me the confidence to explain my work, explain myself which sometimes graphic designers shy away from. But I think it's an extremely valuable skill, even if you're not a socialite. Also if you don't enjoy something, it's time to look for something else.
How did DPS alter your future ambitions?
If I didn't do the zine and follow my passion for music and photography, I wouldn't be working at The Mill right now. I wouldn't have been able to have examples of my ability to research and understand youth culture especially whilst working at Dazed. I also think DPS gave me the confidence not to stress so much about my final year. By the time I came back for it, I was less worried about getting the best grade and more just trying to experiment and do weird work that I could enjoy during the moment as I had just started to find my path.
Would you recommend a DPS year to other students and if so, why?
I would absolutely recommend it to other students because even if you end up staying in London, the classes which prepare you for the year out involve gaining skills that I use today. For example, writing a cover letter - I've used the one I wrote for applying for internships as a foundation for the ones I use to apply to jobs today.
What advice would you give to students applying for the DPS year?
Be brave, don't be afraid to do something different, not everyone is a graphic designer or illustrator, a lot of people would die for the time to do a nice personal project for their portfolio post-grad so please use the time wisely!
What was the best thing about your time at LCC and why – what did you learn?
The last year of the degree was fun - I think having a space for your year is helpful, you get to meet new people which was great for DPS people who had come back to LCC when their friends had graduated. It was fun to look at the walls and feel inspired or just talk to some of the tutors who had interesting things to say. The DPS classes were also great too just cause we got to be creative about things we cared about and have great speakers in and you could think about graphic design or creativity at different angles.
Is there a particular person who shaped your university experience or creative outlook?
My friend Anna Hurpy, who I met on the first day of university! She now runs Nata Concept Store and we're constantly challenging each other in ways that aren't graphic design even though we both studied it at LCC.
Where do you go for inspiration?
I watch a lot of television as a part of my new role and scour social media for new things to watch. I talk to my friends in different countries who always have different perspectives or artists to tell me about. I'm a huge fan of NTS Radio which has gotten me through lockdown and I've learned a lot about new genres of music that I probably would have never heard before. I pre-lockdown went to the cinema every week just to watch different films - even if I ended up hating them, I could still learn something about the craft of the director. During lockdown, I've been watching live performances from my favourite artists and just looking at who they worked with to create a chain of people to research.
What does your workspace look like? Do you have a studio?
My workspace has always been my bedroom, I recently moved into a bigger bedroom so it gives me enough space to have more chairs than 1. I have a desk where I work with my laptop on pretty much everything.
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Charlotte Joseph: charlottecjoseph.com