MICHELLE LANG
A Canberra graduate graphic designer with big dreams.
So tell us about yourself, what got you into graphic design? Well,
I’d say I’ve always had a creative mind. Being the only child
for the first twelve years of my life with a single mother, I was
usually left to entertain myself whilst my mum was at work. We
weren’t that well off either, so money for toys was a rare treat. I
remember entertaining myself with house plans. I’d draw them
in this one visual arts diary that I had, and using only my mind,
I’d create characters that I’d play with inside them. Funnily
enough, those two activities –designing and storytelling, ended
up moulding my university degree.
Oh yes, you did a writing degree, didn’t you? Yes, yes I did.
What made you change career paths? Well, it hasn’t changed
that much. Initially I wanted to become a journalist for a
magazine company. Now I just want to design the layout of
magazines.
Well, yeah I suppose since you were already quite creative it
wasn’t much of drastic change. Exactly. Plus, writing students
–the creative writing ones, are quite proficient at designing
when you come to think about it. Rather than using different
types of brushes, typefaces, or layer styling to capture their
design concepts, writers use words –which is often much harder.
Other than that, a writer and a designer, of any field, is much
the same in their way of concocting an illustration they wish to
convey.
Wow, I never thought of it that way.Yeah, many rarely do. I find
most people shocked that I haven’t done a graphic design
degree and rather a writing one instead. I would say most of
the writing students I completed my degree with enjoy the arts.
Actually, most of our lecturers suggested we engage in all types
of arts in order to become more ‘cultured’.
Oh really? What other types of arts do you enjoy? And do you
have any general hobbies? Well, not to be a downer, but I’m
not too fond of art galleries. Like the ones that display abstract
paintings, artefacts, or even at times photography. I would
much prefer going to housing showcase rooms, where they
have the miniature 3D version of the building they’re going to
build or an actual walk-in display. I don’t know what it is about
architecture but I literally can’t get enough of it. I love house
renovation shows and even shows like Grand Designs. Apart
from that, I love Latin music. I wouldn’t say it helps in any way
with my creativity –well it doesn’t feel like it does, and also
handmade crafting. I don’t think crafting is a part of the arts is
it? Well I love DIY things –you name it and I can probably make
it. I also enjoy fashion and makeup, like most females, along
with fitness and food.
You seem to really enjoy architecture. What didn’t you go
down that career path instead? Well, my plan for many years
was to do that actually, but when I was in year ten I did work
experience at a firm and felt it wasn’t the job for me. I felt, if
I went down that career path, I’d no longer have the same
passion that I do now for architecture. That’s sort of the same
reason why I didn’t do a graphic design degree. I’ve noticed
that anything involving in depth history of any subject I enjoy,
I end up getting tired of it. Maybe that’s why I swapped from
writing. Oh my, literary studies was the death of me, but in
saying that, I enjoy the knowledge and mental strength that
subject pushed me to gain and overcome.
That reminds me, I hear you have trouble making decisions,
especially narrowing down favourites. Is that true? Haha, yeah.
Well the choosing favourites part anyway. The only other trouble
I have is in deciding what food to eat and whether to buy
something or not. I love clothes and spoiling people with gifts,
so sometimes I don’t know when to stop –I’m getting better
though. With food, I just adore it –I actually wanted to become
a food critic at one point in my life –still that would be a dream
of mine.
Do you have any other dreams or goals you’ve set yourself?
Well if we’re referring to career wise, my goal is to eventually
start up my very own magazine company. Hopefully it does well
enough to become international.
How about personal goals? I would have to say “To be
successful in anything I do and in doing so, be filled with
happiness”. When I was younger I used to repeat this quote to
myself every time I saw the time create a unique pattern, such
as, 11:11. I don’t know, it was a habit of mine.
Three more questions and I promise you can be on your way.
Haha, oh it’s fine. It’s actually interesting what things I discover
about myself whilst doing this.
What or who inspires you and why? Ooo that’s a good question.
Well, to be honest, everything inspires me. Haha, I know I’m
not narrowing it down, but just let me blabber on for a bit and I
might find it in myself to choose some favourites