Introducing the collective: 

Sandra

Sandra is a multilingual graphic designer, born in Germany and now based in Kent. When she’s not at her desk you can find her wandering the coast with her nosey Border Collie or drawing from life in Deal’s Astor theatre. She’s a lover of coffee and colour and a passionate photographer of random beauty.

Interview

Where are you based?

I am based in the beautiful seaside town of Deal in Kent – a place that inspires me every day.

In a nutshell, what’s your creative experience, skill set and responsibilities?

My road to design was windy. I worked in international marketing for a decade and travelled lots. Then in 2015 I decided to chuck it all in, follow love to the UK and go back to uni – at 29. It was the best decision ever and allowed me to combine my strategic and linguistic background with a love for visual storytelling and design. It’s also where I met Richard and Carli. Life is a journey and so are careers. It’s a combination of hard work, determination, creative spirit and just that little tiny bit of fate that got me to where I am today, doing a job that fulfils me and lets me define my own version of success.

What’s one surprising source of inspo for you?

Colour. In fact, I think in colour. When someone asks “What car do you drive?”, I say “It’s red”. It plays such an important part in design.

Who’s your creative hero?

I have many creative heroes who aren’t necessarily designers. Frida Kahlo is my all time hero. Chilean writer Isabel Allende would definitely be on my list for her ability to tell amazing stories layered with emotional and cultural depth. I also love Simon & Garfunkel for their music that is pure poetry and hits you without being loud. In the design world, I’d have to mention Louise Fili for her beautiful type design and Dave Trott for his outside the box creative thinking.

What’s your creative point of view (pov)?

My background, journey and curiosity. I am fluent in German, English, Spanish and French and have called three countries home. Languages are a huge passion of mine and I see them as tickets that allow me to participate in other cultures and view creativity through a multicultural lens.

My creative work is heavily influenced by my time spent abroad and a unique perspective and cultural nuance I am able to bring to projects.

If your design style had a theme song what would it be?

I have a world music playlist called “sonic voyage” that I listen to all the time. It features artists from 50+ countries. Music is a great way to travel without leaving. You can listen to it here: sonic voyage on Spotify

What would you be if you weren’t a designer?

Easy, I’d be a dog trainer. I have always loved animals and understanding the way they think and communicate is so fascinating. I guess it’s another language and I am learning it at the moment with my border collie Mac. He’s very communicative ;)

What do you love about being part of the Slade Design team?

We’re a great team and everyone is so talented. But the most important thing for me is that we’re all kind people.