6 months in. Finding my feet at O Street

A baptism of fire

I was lucky enough to intern at O Street the summer before my final year at DJCAD. With no prior industry experience, it was a bit of a baptism of fire. Those two weeks were more challenging (I even had to do some maths) than anything I’d done at uni and, consequently, hugely rewarding. Mix that with a sunny studio and some great people, and it became a bit of a career crush.

A few years later, I took part in INTL’s live brief and chose to do it with O Street. I’d learned so much during my first placement that I wanted to come back with a bit more experience under my belt. Kevin and Bea mentored me over the two days and, with their encouragement and direction, I was lucky enough to secure another placement with the team. Even as an intern, I was welcomed in, pushed out of my comfort zone, and felt like my voice and ideas were genuinely valued. That’s something that’s carried through into my first six months here as a junior designer.

Worship, Whisky + Workshops

Now it feels like I’m starting to find my feet. My role spans research, artworking, concept development, the occasional site visit and of course some party planning. What’s stood out most is the range of work, both in scale and sector. One of my first projects was for an urban church and more recently I worked on a label design for Tiree Whisky. No two days are the same and I’m constantly picking up new ways of thinking and working.

The studio has also been developing a brand identity for a new park in Glasgow, which is exciting and at times slightly daunting. It’s been invaluable to see behind the scenes of a project at this scale and to work alongside the mix of people bringing it to life. A real highlight was running a workshop with Keli for the P5 and P7 classes from Riverbank Primary School, one of them even called me ‘Miss’.

At the other end of the spectrum, I had the chance to return to DJCAD with Andrew to speak with students ahead of their degree show. I remember how intense that period felt, so it was nice to experience it from the outside. Seeing the work in progress gave me a real appreciation for the level of thought and creativity behind their projects. I was genuinely blown away by what I got a sneak peek at.

The bigger picture

Something a bit different that’s been great to be part of is the advent of Open Door. It’s been really nice to see another side of the studio and how it connects with people outwith projects. As a semi-recent grad I know how valuable opportunities like this can be, so it’s exciting to see it grow and think about where it could go next. It says a lot about the team and their commitment to supporting the wider Scottish design community.

All of this has taught me a huge amount. It’s strange to think how recently I was starting out. The biggest shift has been in how I approach briefs. I used to try to cover every possible direction at once, but working in the studio has shown me the value of focus. There’s a clarity in how the team works and a confidence in committing to a strong idea rather than overloading something with competing ones. I’m still developing that instinct, but I’m starting to get a better feel for when to refine and when to push.

The next 6 months

Looking ahead, I’m keen to keep building on this and get more confident in carrying ideas from early stages through to final delivery. I’d also like to improve how I talk through and present work. Being surrounded by such a supportive and experienced team, I’m just trying to absorb as much as I can but not put too much pressure on myself. My first week at O Street coincided with the release of Lily Allen’s West End Girl – I think these last 6 months have been as impactful for me as that album was for anyone on the internet.