We recently made contact with Jann Choy (Class of 2016), who graduated with First Class Honours in BA- Graphic Communication Design (with Creative Computing) from the prestigious Central Saint Martins, University of The Arts London, as well as having been awarded the MullenLowe Nova Award for her final year project. We talked to Jann about her journey thus far.
You can read more about Jann and this award via this LINK.
Jann, please tell us more about your journey after GIS
I completed my A levels in the UK and then went on to do an Art Foundation course at Kingston University before studying and graduating from Graphics Communication Design with Creative Computing at Central Saint Martins. I have since worked as a junior creative at Unit9 and am currently interning at Field.io & Field.systems. My friends and I also won the 2020 D&AD New Blood Award and opened a design studio called Applied Logic (hit us up!)
Tell us more about this MullenLowe Nova Award
Over the last decade, the MullenLowe NOVA Group partnered up with Central Saint Martins to highlight emerging talent. From 1,300 graduating students, 14 are nominated and 6 students are selected for the MullenLowe NOVA Awards. I won the YourNOVA category, and it is a massive honour to even be considered for the award alongside such amazing talent!!
What made you choose this pathway?
I’ve always known I wanted to do something creative, but I was not sure what path to specialise in. Doing an art foundation helped me, as I fell in love with graphic communication. At Central Saint Martins, the graphics course is extremely open; you can find students’ outcomes ranging from generative logos, lights that respond to bird songs and love hormone inducing devices, to name a few! They encourage creative thinking and processes, which was perfect for me as a multidisciplinary designer. When they introduced the creative computing pathway, I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to further broaden my skill sets and thinking; I absolutely loved the course.
What are the challenges that you faced along the way and how did you overcome them?
Figuring out your voice in a creative field is hard- it is still something I struggle with at times. However I had an amazing support system of like minded friends and tutors who challenged my thinking, encouraged my work and helped me out countless times. Asking for their help and getting different perspectives from people outside your field is super helpful. Subjective pathways with no textbooks or rules can be difficult to navigate, but by working hard, putting your work out there, constantly experimenting and just trusting in your process and ideas, you can’t fail. Also taking breaks and binging some Netflix time and again helped me get through it- self care, baby!
Jann, how do you think GIS prepared you for university?
The Art Faculty in GIS is amazing and I had such great support from my art tutors and technicians- special shoutout to Mr Padgett! I did not realise it then, but the way of thinking and experimenting, embedded in me by the GIS art facility was so valuable. It is the kind of forward thinking that Central St Martins was looking for, so in that respect it helped me get in.
Anyone else to thank?
My lovely big family that supported my entire journey, my grandma who taught me how to use crayons, my tutors that opened my eyes to design and all my friends who helped me, encouraged me, debugged my ugly code, listened to me panic and went through thick and thin with me.
Your message to our current student who would like to take the same pathway as yours?
Do it! You will thank yourself in the future.
And finally, check out more of Jann’s work at jannchoy.com!
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Alumna Jann Choy for sharing her journey with us. Once again congratulations and we wish you many more successes to come in the near future.
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