In the lead up to our 2018 MA Summer Show opening on 7 September, we’re catching up with some of our postgraduate alumni to find out what they have been up to since graduating.
Lucy Hardcastle graduated from BA Textile Design in 2014 and has since collaborated with various brands on interactive projects and set up her own creative studio in London. We interviewed Lucy about how her time at Chelsea influenced her professional career development.
What have you been working on since graduating?
I have an interdisciplinary practice ranging from creating still imagery, to video, to sculptures to spaces and installations.
How has your practice developed since graduating?
I have developed my designing style into creative direction, I now work on a wide range of projects from moving image content for brands to interactive experiences. I now have a creative studio, Lucy Hardcastle Studio and a growing team.
What work/projects/exhibitions have you got coming up?
I have a few events happening for London Design Festival and am currently working on a few personal short films as well as exploring more interactive projects.
How did your time at Chelsea push your practice? Did it challenge your ways in thinking in anyway?
My tutors at Chelsea gave me the right balance of freedom and support to explore areas that went beyond my Textile course, and inform how I still work to this day.
What was unique about studying at Chelsea College of Arts?
That the textile course was creatively open and not only focused on the commercial industry.
What was the most valuable thing you learned on the course?
The most valuable thing I learnt was the importance of research.
In what ways did the summer shows enhance your practice? Did they lead to any new opportunities?
Yes – my studio partner who I still work with now I actually met at the show! It also gave me the opportunity to create some PR for my work and get it out to journalists and blogs.
What advice would you give to our graduating students?
Develop as many employable and interchangeable skills as you can while you have access to the facilities, and be at your show every single day ready to speak to people as you never know who could see your work.
Describe your time at Chelsea in 3 words
Explorative, Informative, Supportive
To see more of Lucy’s work head to her website or Instagram page:
Find out more about BA Textile Design at Chelsea
Explore work by more students at ChelseaDegreeShow.com
For information on the Postgraduate Summer Show opening on 7 – 13 September, click here.
