My Placement at Buttercrumble: Charlie
At Buttercrumble, we’re keen to nurture open relationships where individuals can learn and share ideas in a supportive environment. This is especially important for young people trying to enter the creative industries — it can be a hard nut to crack!
That’s why we’re enthusiastic about providing fair and practical placements for students. We were so excited to welcome Charlie to the team, who has kindly shared his experience below.
A Hello from Charlie :-)
From sending that first email to Buttercrumble, I was apprehensive that I would receive the same self-automated reply that I had previously from the several businesses I reached out to. That I would be too inexperienced, too much of a novice in graphic design. So much so that my hopes of expanding my digital design experience would be stumped with a simple “no, sorry, you're not a good fit” or “try again later”.
However, I was enormously erroneous. And that is why Buttercrumble is the upper crust (pun intended). Immediately Abigail and Chloe responded with enthusiasm to my proposal to collaborate with them, showing a genuine interest in my work and creative passion. I have felt at ease within the team from the moment I started my work placement to the sad day where it ends (almost a part of the furniture)! But who wouldn't at the spectacular Bowcliffe Hall? The beautiful grounds are enough to spark the imagination.
“Working in a bright and collaborative environment makes it easy to see how each team member flourishes”.
— Charlie Reader
The Industry and I
I aspire to study the core concepts and practical elements of graphic design at university in September 2022, ideas which I had only independently explored and dabbled in on Adobe. Consequently, I wanted to ground myself in the industry before my academic studies, obtaining a fresh perspective on how one can actively apply graphic design and the opportunities after completing a creative subject degree.
Therefore, the experts here are Abigail and Chloe, who co-founded Buttercrumble after their university studies. The business established its success regionally, nationally, and internationally through their hard work and dedication. They are certainly an inspiration to young people like myself, who may otherwise be deterred from pursuing a career in art and design from unfounded opinions that it isn't lucrative or stable.
However, the creative sphere is one of the most expansive and evolving industries, as supported by my mini field trip with Buttercrumble to a BIPC event held in Leeds Central Library. This assemblage of Leeds-based companies and independent start-ups inspires one to forge one's own path in increasingly diverse industries. Thus, these three weeks in Bramham have undoubtedly facilitated me in defining my career path, fuelling my continued desire to pursue graphic design at a degree level.
Communication and Collaboration
Not only have I been set briefs by the Buttercrumble team, but I have been introduced to the nuts and bolts of operating a business. Through applications like Trello and Toggl, I have learnt the importance of communicating with clients and the rest of the team, using these platforms to allocate timed managerial tasks and project feedback.
I began my placement by shadowing Chloe and Abigail, who coherently talked me through the Adobe Creative Suite. Namely Adobe InDesign, which I had never accessed before. These initial steps familiarising me with the day-to-day activities of a graphic design studio were majorly informative in revealing how one should remain organised above all, even when the creative juices are flowing!
Maintaining a structure promotes Buttercrumble's accessibility and appeal to clients. Moreover, it supports the Buttercrumble team, who know precisely what is happening and when.
Inspiration is All Around Us!
Furthermore, I have learnt that by being a creative company, one must continue to take inspiration from the world around us if one is to synthesise contemporary yet timeless design that is both beautiful and representative of modern ideals. I have expanded my research using websites such as WGSN to locate interesting yet appropriate articles that outline current trends and styles. Sharing my findings with Matilda has also boosted my confidence to justify why I felt a snippet of information was relevant to the clients we are currently working with and thus how we can apply it to their design process.
Above: Buttercrumble Map for Bowcliffe Hall, Bramham. Designed by Charlie.
The Buttercumble Ethos and Community
Over the past three weeks, I have felt that I have played a vital role in reinforcing the brand identity and values of Buttercrumble. From editing business cards, and creating Instagram graphics for our social media presence, to designing a completed map of Bramham and Bowcliffe Hall for prospective visitors.
I have adapted my artwork to represent the existing style and aesthetic of Buttercrumble, using graphic design to connote our community-sensitive, family-focused and positive visionary sentiments harmoniously. I have learnt the importance of seamless design in illustrating coherence and recognisability, as matching the brand identity across all media ensures the longevity of a business.
However, Buttercrumble's strive for positivity does not simply culminate in design – it is evident as soon as you walk into the studio how uplifting it is to work in this space! Working in a bright and collaborative environment makes it easy to see how each team member flourishes. And doing so with people as friendly as Matilda, Chloe, and Abigail has undoubtedly been the cherry on top of my Buttercrumble experience. :-)
By Charlie Reader, Graphic Design Placement
“I’d love to give Charlie a big thank you for making his mark on Buttercrumble. From day one, Charlie always adopted a growth mindset and demonstrated a willingness to learn. This positive attitude and initiative will take him far in life. Watch this space!”
We’re so grateful for Charlie’s partnership, and hope to continue extending this to other students. After all, we’re advocates for creative education. If you have any questions about careers, please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
