Laura Davis studied MA Publishing at LCC and loved being around like-minded people. Laura felt like she gained skills here that would take her where she wanted to go.
A village outside of Wolverhampton originally, but I’ve been in London since 2006 and consider it home.
Being around like-minded people – it made me feel like I’d come to the right place. Gathering together in the canteen to discuss projects over a jacket potato. Walking through the corridors and seeing the work of students on other courses on the walls, wishing I could draw, paint or photograph like that. Feeling that I was learning concrete skills that would see me well into the world.
The final stages of production of the Proms Guide, which is our biggest individual project of the year and is full of mind-boggling amounts of detail. An exciting digital development for Proms publications for 2015. Also, as we do for nine months of the year, all of the concert programmes for the six BBC Performing Groups.
A shower (it’s where most of my ideas come to me), my brilliant team, bravery.
There are a lot of fantastic young illustrators out there at the moment, but for her aesthetic and principles I’d say Penny Martin, editor of The Gentlewoman.
I’d like to continue pushing audience expectations. Classical music publishing should be about bridging the gap between the audience member and what’s going on on the stage – and I’ll certainly never resort to an image of a concert hall with music notes coming out of it to do that.
The feedback from audience members at the Proms. It’s a real honour and joy to be able to interact with them – and see them interacting with my projects.
Take opportunities – don’t discount something just because it isn’t in your favoured area of work. In fact, for now, assume that you don’t know in which area you’d like to work.
The independent newsagent’s near my workplace – they always have a fabulous selection of cutting-edge magazines. Shops like Cos and & Other Stories, which are basically lifestyle stores rather than fashion stores. Brockwell Lido, because I can never quite believe such a beautiful thing exists – but then I’m a keen swimmer and know that 100 lengths will always clean out the fluff, wherever I am.
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