JONATHAN HARRIET-BLACK

I worked in graphic design for 30 years for a global fashion chain. Deadlines were always near impossible.

As the brand grew I became head of creative in charge of a large graphics team. I worked on tactical adverts, window designs, large format bill boards you name it. We worked with a few artists on special projects and I was always fascinated to see how these people thought & created.

When the pandemic hit, 155 global stores were closed, no more window designs, advertising, point of sale or anything else. Whole departments were swept away in a tide of redundancy.

Everything became a zoom call & finally HR caught up with me. I took the redundancy & the next day thought what shall I do? I Learnt something very key about myself. I never look back.

Fast forward : I saw an exhibition when the world returned to life. “ America’s Cool Modernism” at the Ashmolean Museum. Something hit me like a train & I devoured the exhibition book & suddenly I knew this is what I wanted to do.