CURRICULUM MORTUS

for graduate and early career designers

Our industry is going through a time of huge change and with more graduates competing for fewer fairly paid jobs it now seems harder than ever to forge a path ahead through this odd career. Looking at the websites of other designers is useful to a certain extent, but I used to find it a little demoralising too, as the trajectory always seemed obscure, or no longer available to designers of my graduating generation. And the website is, of course, just a list of the achievements: the prizes won and projects secured, and is in no way reflective of the tortuous path taken through fluffed interviews or costly wasted portfolios. With this in mind I thought it might be useful to graduate and early career designers to see the other side of my career trajectory.

Someone I showed a draft of this to was concerned that it could be read as bitter, but that’s far from the intention. Writers on Twitter are quite good at talking openly about the over-saturation of their field, and how every yes is accompanied by a dozen nos. I watched every single one of these opportunities go to talented, hard-working, well-deserving designers who just happened not to be me. And I can’t claim super-human resilience either: I benefit from various privileges which have improved my chances of succeeding in this industry over others. But it can sometimes feel that there is only one path to move ahead along, and that certain milestones once missed may forever condemn your chances of securing full time work. So far for me, despite numerous milestones missed, that hasn’t been the case. You can’t be everyone’s cup of tea.

Notable Rejections (this is not an exhaustive list)

Bush Design Fellowship 2014 - rejected without interview

Royal Shakespeare Company Trainee Designer 2014 - rejected without interview

Royal Shakespeare Company Trainee Designer 2015 - rejected without interview

Royal Shakespeare Company Trainee Designer 2016 - rejected without interview

Linbury Prize 2015 - rejected without interview

Nuffield Associateship 2015 - rejected without interview

Nuffield Associateship 2016 - rejected without interview

Old Vic 12 2015 - rejected without interview

Old Vic 12 2016 - rejected without interview

National Theatre Design Assistant 2015 - rejected without interview

National Theatre Design Assistant 2016 - rejected without interview

JMK 2017 - rejected after second round

JMK 2019 - rejected after second round

World Stage Design 2017 - one project rejected, one accepted

World Stage Design 2022 - two projects rejected, none accepted

I have never been nominated for an Olivier, WhatsOnStage or Off-West End Award

And have made over 60 unsuccessful job applications via StageJobsPro/Mandy

Good luck