Hello everyone and welcome back to, ‘The making of’. This is an interview series where I’ll be exploring the diverse and dynamic world of design by speaking with creatives from all corners of the industry. From full-time professionals to freelancers and business owners, I’ll be featuring a wide range of voices—each offering their own unique insights into their craft. By diving into the complexities and talents that define the design world, my goal is to share a comprehensive and nuanced perspective of the industry.
Today features Harriet Beesley/Ferguson, an ex-colleague of mine and now senior lecturer at the London College of Communication. From chain-smoking mentors and garden office playlists to teaching the next generation of designers, Harriet shares her winding, wonderfully real journey through creativity, chaos, and career reinvention.
Charlie Garrod – Hey Harriet, lovely to catch up with you, how are things?
Harriet Beesley/Ferguson – Hey C, it’s all good thanks! Hectic, but good.
CG – What inspired you to become a designer?
HBF – Hmmm I guess the classic answer fits – I loved art class at school and the teacher that inspired me the most was an old, grumpy, chain smoking ex-designer. I loved the way he challenged me to use visuals to express an idea in its simplest form and I’ve been trying to do that ever since.
77 Management: Andy Murray’s sports management company (created at Aesop)
CG – Can you outline your pathway through the industry?
HBF – Art foundation at Exeter College > Graphic Design BA(hons) at Norwich with the legendary Ray Gregory> Internships at The Chase, Hat Trick, DesignBridge and Unreal > crisis of self confidence plus recession > ran down to Falmouth to do an MA and ‘find myself’ > interned and freelanced at Blue Marlin > met Blue Marlin CD Martin Grimer > followed Martin when he set up a multidisciplinary agency (Aesop) > left Aesop after 5 years to join my dream agency (Pearlfisher) as a senior designer > had a baby after 5 years at PF > started online MA lecturing for Falmouth during Covid and maternity leave > tried to juggle teaching, parenthood and agency life > quit agency life > freelanced for a bit > became a part-time lecturer on LCC’s Graphic Branding & Identity BA(hons) course > started working on design projects directly with clients > had another baby > currently managing to juggle running the third year of GB&I, developing my own design practice and keeping two kids alive.
CG – In what ways do you inspire yourself to create?
HBF – I think I’d go a bit mad if I didn’t have a creative outlet – it’s so important for your mental health to keep exercising that part of the brain. I wish I had time for more, but I love seeing my kids embrace creativity too.
Duchess Collection: Duchess of York brand (created at Pearlfisher)
CG – Can you describe your typical day as a designer? Are there any specific rituals or habits that support your work?
HBF – I thrive off to-do lists. If I don’t have one on the go, I get paralysed by the choice of what to prioritise. Breaking tasks down into bite size chunks always helps and you’ll also often hear me saying ‘one thing at a time’ to myself. On my designing days I try to get to the gym after school/nursery drop off to clear my head. Then I crack through my to-do list in my garden office with a playlist blasting on my headphones. The hard-stop imposed by kid pick-ups means I don’t have time to procrastinate much!
CG – What inspired you to move into teaching?
HBF – I’d always had it as a dream for the future, but I’m still shocked that I’m doing it already! So grateful to Bryan Clarke at Falmouth for giving me my first break. It’s so rewarding seeing students flourish.
London College of Communication, GB&I Graduate Show 2025
CG – Do you think it’s really important to keep active in the industry while teaching the new crop?
HBF – Personally I think so, the industry moves so quickly and the students really value the real world examples we can bring to the class. This type of course is so industry focused, we need to be priming students to work in the business by inspiring them to stand out rather than blending in.
CG – Is there anything you learn from the students you teach?
HBF – We have a really diverse group of students, so I get to see new references that I wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The resources at LCC are epic, so our students get to make all types of prototypes that I wouldn’t have imagined – like 3D printed clay bottles!
CG – Do you foresee AI tools becoming common-place in your process?
HBF – Don’t call me a Luddite, but at the moment I’m watching from the sidelines when it comes to AI. The issues around ethics and energy consumption worry me, but I can see its value when used smartly. Working out how to use it in the university setting is a total can of worms, how do we grade work created with AI? How do we get students to problem solve and create really unique designs if they cut corners with AI? If it could do the washing and my taxes I’d be all over it.
Heaven: Italian oat milk brand (created at Pearlfisher, range extended at Beesley/Ferguson Ltd)
CG – What strategies do you use to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
HBF – I’m not sure I know any designer with a fully healthy work/life balance – we get consumed with the creativity and it’s hard to switch off! I recently got a Blok which means I can totally lock myself out of social media and emails while I’m focusing on family time, but sometimes I do have to resort to a Disney film and snacks for the kids while I finish work for a looming deadline.
CG – Has your process evolved since the pandemic?
HBF – I’m so grateful to have the ability to work from home for half the week, I seriously don’t know how we managed before. My commute to Pearlfisher worked out to 12.5hrs a week! I miss the networking side of things, but luckily one of my regular design clients lives across the road from me – our most recent briefing session was in my garden in the sun.
PPA: Professional Publishing Associaion branding (created at Beesley/Ferguson Ltd in collaboration with Mac+Moore)
CG – Do you have a preferred setting or environment to work in?
HBF – I need music on to focus (currently either classical or 90’s grunge), or I use Loop earbuds to block out distractions if that’s not possible. Most of the time I work on design projects from our garden office, but I always take a mini sketchbook on journeys for impromptu ideas.
CG – Which recent project are you most proud of?
HBF – I’ve been so busy I haven’t put a proper case study together yet, but I’m really happy with the rebrand of textile design brand Sophie Home. The rollout has been so fun (recently featured on Newspaper Club’s billboard campaign), and the team behind it are wonderful to work with. We’re all neighbours with kids at the same primary school – it would be super awkward if the working relationship wasn’t good!
Sophie Home: Home textiles branding and packaging (created at Beesley/Ferguson Ltd)
CG – What advice would you offer to creatives just starting their careers?
HBF – I give this theme a lot of attention during the final year of the GB&I course – after all the effort and money our students put in, I want to make sure they’re ready for the first step on the career ladder. I’m also working with The Arena as a mentor this year which is super exciting!
Firstly I’d tell them not to aim for perfection, or they’ll never get their portfolio out there. Everyone is a constant work-in-progress, agencies are looking at your potential – you aren’t the finished article. Quality over quantity: 4-6 projects is all you need. Approach lots of agencies and don’t get disheartened by rejection. When you make it into a studio, remember the senior creatives are just people! I was so awestruck when I interned (especially at icons like Hat Trick) that I barely said a word. The chemistry is just as important as your work. You don’t have to be the loudest in the room, but don’t be afraid to share your opinions and ask questions.
CG – What are your career objectives for the future?
HBF – Get that work/life balance balancing, keep building my design practice, start my PhD (yes I know that’s crazy and won’t help with the first goal). Keep having fun.
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Thanks so much to Harriet for taking the time to chat with me. You can find more of her work here: beesleyferguson.co.uk
