Welcome to the second instalment of ‘The Making Of’, a new series hosted by our founder, Charlie Garrod.
In this series, Charlie will explore the diverse and dynamic design world by interviewing creatives from across the industry. From full-time professionals to freelancers and business owners, we’ll feature an eclectic mix of voices, each offering unique insights into their craft. By exploring the complexities and talents that define the design world, our goal is to present a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of the industry.
Today features Bryony Barrett, a designer at Design Bridge in Amsterdam. Her journey through design from working in the UK to moving abroad is interesting, and it was great to chat about her experiences.
Charlie Garrod - Hey Bryony, it’s great to visit you here in Amsterdam. How are you doing? how are you?
Bryony Barrett - Nice to see you too! I’m doing good thanks and you?
CG - Very well thank you! To start, what was the allure of design for you? Why did you want to become a creative?
BB - Growing up being dyslexic, I struggled to put things into words, so I always ended up creatively doing things. As a kid, I'd create business cards and cute little packaging for family members. I was always being crafty in some way, even before I knew I wanted to be a graphic designer. I've been quite lucky that I’ve always known what I wanted to do. My parents are scientists, but they pushed me to pursue something that I loved.
Some early sketch work for a whisky brand, I feel sketching is a great way of getting the ideas out and seeing where the project might go.
CG - Could you describe how you began your career in design?
BB - After graduating from Norwich University of the Arts, I spent about a year interning at several design studios, where I had the chance to work across different markets and industries. The variety was exciting, as it gave me exposure to diverse projects and creative approaches. One studio offered me a role, but after losing a major client, they had to let me go unexpectedly. It was tough, but I learned resilience and stayed motivated to seek new opportunities.
While freelancing, I focused on building connections, which eventually led to full-time positions with some great teams. I joined Futurebrand, then R Design, where I started just before the challenges of COVID-19. Despite the difficulties, we adapted and pushed through. Later, I was headhunted for an exciting role in Amsterdam, and the opportunity to work in a new culture and environment felt like the perfect next step in my career.
A branding project for an eyelash and eyebrow artist featuring type and illustration.
CG - What was your experience like transitioning from London to Amsterdam for your career?
BB - Both challenging and exciting. I was worried that the networking that I made in London wouldn't translate in Amsterdam. Especially when I was looking for new jobs before I moved because I didn't know as many agencies out here. So I've ended up sticking to international companies, which I think has helped but it is a smaller community in that sense. In the places I’ve worked at over here, there have been lots of British colleagues who have helped me settle.
CG - Have you noticed many differences in the working culture between the two countries?
BB - It's mostly the work-life balance that I've noticed here. At a Dutch company, they will finish bang on 530. I think coming from London, where you'd work till 1, or 2 am on occasion was so refreshing. I do sometimes still work late, but it's like an hour or two like it's nothing like it used to be. There's a lot more respect for your work-life balance.
I do sometimes worry if I can ever go back to the London pace because it's just not healthy. The whole environment is just so fast-paced, and you feel yourself getting kind of dragged into the whirlwind of stress. London's not all like that, but I think it depends on what I work for in Amsterdam can be still quite fast-paced and quite demanding.
Out and about with my Alpaca friends.
CG - So do you feel like your style of working has changed much since the pandemic?
BB - At first, I didn’t think I could work remotely, but when I joined Marks, I worked from home for a year and a half while they sorted out my visa. It pushed me to be more proactive in communicating since I wasn’t in the office.
Now, I prefer a hybrid approach. I enjoy the social aspect of the office but appreciate the focus and downtime working from home provides. At home, I can dive straight into work without distractions, while the office comes with travel, meetings, and interruptions that can slow me down. Hybrid lets me balance my energy, ADHD, and project needs more effectively.
Branding project for a charity featuring bold colours and illustration.
CG - Are there any routines or habits that you find particularly beneficial?
BB - For me, it is noise-cancelling headphones. Just the action of putting them on my ears helps me zone into the computer and focus. Even without music sometimes, the dampening of the noise helps my brain switch into gear.
I think also at home, it's important to create a space that's just for work. Never work from your bed, I did it during COVID-19 and realised why it doesn't work.
CG - Do you have a place where you feel most comfortable and inspired to do good work?
BB - A balance of work and home is good for me. I'm not really a coffee shop kind of person, I just get distracted. For me, the motion of travelling makes me more productive. I say to myself, ‘Okay, I have two hours on this train, let’s see what I can do.’
Going on a hike to have a break away from work and recharge.
CG - What are your main sources of inspiration outside of design?
BB - Connecting back with nature, hiking and stuff like that. I've always loved reading comic books, and I resonate more with the ones with beautiful art styles and a really different perspective on things.
But I also find mundane things inspiring, like going to the shop or restoring furniture. I feel like the hands-on tasks help your brain, sanding and painting like I’m Mr Miyagi. That's why I feel like sketching with a pencil and paper is still super valuable. Yes, we all do it now on our iPads but there is something about connecting to the surface.
CG - What's a piece of advice you would give to an aspiring creative making their start in the industry?
BB - My main one would be don't get disheartened if you get negative feedback. You don't have the pressures that you do as like senior or DD so you can push an idea and enjoy it. Even if some of your concept work isn’t chosen you can add it to your portfolio because it’s your design thinking that often gets you a job!
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Thanks so much to Bryony for taking the time to chat with us, another instalment of 'The Making Of' will be coming soon. Follow us on Instagram for updates!
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