Settling with Unsettled

During the start of my DPS year I’ve been completing bits of freelance work and searching through internships for the year 2020. However, I’ve decided to dedicate start the year focusing on running the Unsettled Magazine. This magazine has been such a strong part of my life since I began University. I started off as an illustrator in 2017, I can remember the excitement to this day of attending my first magazine meeting. It gave me reasoning, it gave me motivation, it gave me a reason to keep busy and a sense of belonging.
 
Apart from this I’ve never had any experience in magazine. Yet two years later I find myself upgraded to the role of Creative director alongside my friend, Editor in Chief Vee Pandey. We have recently been in the process of revamping the magazine and creating a new team, were we’ve had over 500 applicants. We have spent the last month sifting through many emails and portfolios to find team members suitable for the vision we have. We’ve recently had had the opportunity to review many music artists, gaining press access to their shows across England. We’ve been in communication with so many clients that want to collaborate with the magazine, and we’ve managed to build a team of writers, photographers, illustrators and designers. We have recently been working with BBC Music Introducing Live, were we have held competitions and gained press access to workshops, speakers and live shows. Having the chance to be alongside artists such as James Bay, Catfish + the Bottlemen, Jake Bugg and speakers such as Dermot O’Leary is extremely exciting. I’ve found this experience so surreal and rewarding, seeing the magazine grow in such a short space of time gives me confidence for it to only develop into a bigger and better magazine.
 
Pursuing this position in the magazine has definitely felt overwhelming and difficult at times, especially as the funding is limited so we have to find ways to keep going with a very tiny budget. Spending so much time on a project that is unpaid is very daunting, so squeezing this magazine in alongside paid freelance work has felt very chaotic. Inspiring me to build a confident and strong team, which will allow me to have more time to be able to pursue paid internships in 2020.
 
Initially, I was so scared to going in to something like this, to have such a great responsibility. But as time has gone on it has been such an exciting feeling, this position has allowed me to experience things I’ve never had the chance to before. I’ve learnt how to lead group meetings, how to collaborate, how to create a team, how to set goals, how to prototype, how to build a community and how to run a magazine. This magazine may only be small, but I have strong beliefs that it has an impact on people lives, as it has mine. Giving people the platform to show their work, to experience working in a professional environment, to allow people to spark conversations and build contacts. Our plan is to make this magazine grow, to build its following and showcase the talents of UAL and London to as many people as possible.
 
I was initially very nervous about leaving my comfort zone, I've also found I've experienced a lot of self-doubt whilst been on the DPS year. On the back of my mind I constantly worry that I could be doing more, that I should be doing as many internships as possible. But I’ve learnt to take in everything that I am doing and how grateful I am for the opportunity of the space and time for me to try new things. Working on a magazine, working with freelance clients and working on myself, my portfolio and my website. I’ve found everyone that I’ve come across, the things I’ve learnt and experienced, the excitement, the disappointment, the rejection all contribute to who I am as a designer right now.

Jody Cross

Femi Kuti Review, O2 Academy Bristol