Being a designer in the current market feels a bit like being stuck in a knowledge arms race. You’re constantly trying to squeak out any small hard or soft skill advantage to stay competitive (or simply get employed). It’s a battle many designers have felt they’ve been fighting over the past half-decade.
The latest challenge, of course, has been the Ai-Pocalypse. Many of my contemporaries are vehemently against or at least wary of the rise of automation within our industry. And who can blame them? Watching our passion reduced to several lines of text can be a bitter pill for some to swallow. You see the newer generation, the post-covid graduates, hit particularly hard as roles diminish and opportunities shrink.
As someone sitting in the middle ground with middleweight experience, I’m aware of the bare necessities needed to thrive as a fresh designer. Hunting for rarer, more ‘epic-quality’ inspiration and opportunities has become my new mission.
So, towards the end of last year, when I was handed a guest pass (my sources shall not be named!) to attend an album release party for BICEP – an electronic duo at the cutting edge of their industry, celebrating the official launch of their longstanding CHROMA project, I suddenly had the chance to indulge myself in an environment full of creative, like-minded people.
The setting? The heart of Shoreditch, at night, in pouring rain. After a warm-up pint with my friend at a nearby pub, we headed to the entrance. Around the block stretched an enormous queue, people dressed in outfits we both silently agreed were better than ours, happily getting soaked just to attend this limited-capacity free event.
Luckily, with umbrellas and the relief of the smaller guest-pass queue, we made our way inside. The venue was surprisingly sparse compared to other gigs I’ve been to. The booth we’d be facing sat to the right of the entrance, where a female DJ played soft house, gently easing us into the evening.
Along one wall ran the bar, handing out free mixer cocktails and beer cans adorned with custom prints and stickers made specially for BICEP. I can’t say for sure if there was a limit on freebies, but I may have had one… or three. It showed how powerful extra design communication can be, adding depth to your experience. Even the drinks felt like part of the buildup, preparing you for what was to come. Creating that added value is something designers at every level strive for, and this was a perfect example.
After a short wait, the crowd settled, and the duo emerged from backstage. A wave of applause and adoration hit them as they reached the decks and without delay, the show began.
They blended freestyling with familiar tracks, offering a fresh take on the album. The environment was close and intimate. Having seen them twice before both at festivals and in arena settings, this felt entirely different. It showed how the context of a place can dramatically change your perception. I’ve always appreciated how lighting and visuals elevate a performance. Much like the drink cans, these layers added to the experience in a way you cannot replicate by listening to the album at home with headphones. There was a kinetic energy between performer and audience that existed only in that room.
After, once the lights dimmed and the noise softened, I found myself outside. Some people drifted off; others stayed for merch or the chance to meet their heroes. I stood there reflecting on an evening many people won’t get to experience, something for which I can genuinely say, “I was there.”
It was a great reminder for me (and for anyone, to be honest) that rare or epic levels of inspiration are everywhere and that, as creatives, we should embrace unusual opportunities whenever they arise. We’ll never know who we might meet, what we might see, or what tiny detail might be the inspiration for something really special.
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