Hello! My Name is Monique Patience

Hey Monique! Tell us a bit about you?

Hi I’m Monique. After 5 years of working in Beauty and Fashion Public Relations, Social Media and Content Creation in Sydney, I packed up my life and moved to London for 9 months with my boyfriend. Now I’m back home, engaged and have just finished my course with TGDS where they offered me a dream role, helping out across graphic design and social media. I’m loud, creative and enjoy spending time with family and friends – drinking, eating and travelling. I still love everything to do with the beauty industry and spend way too much money on my skin.

Grown Alchemist

Advertising campaign for natural Australian skincare Company, Grown Alchemist as part of their new detox haircare range.

#SELFLOVEMOVEMENT

A campaign project aimed towards the negative effects of social media within young women, explored both in print and digital campaign

Institute Magazine

Layout design for fictional beauty and fashion magazine aimed towards the savvy millenial

Sweaty Betty Social

Content creation and social media design for Sweaty Betty, London.

Naran Lingerie

New brand identity, logo design and social media strategy for Naran Lingerie Australia.

Skinstitut

Rebrand and product design for Australian skincare company Skinstitut playing on their masstige positioning, the rebreand will help the company compete in the luxury sector.

Java Love Coffee

Brand creation for fictional coffee company, Java Love, fantatic about high quality and ethical coffee.

Nia Morell Studio

Branding design for fictional company, Nia Morell Studio, an environmental fashion brand whose clothing spans both age and season.

Monique’s Personal Branding & Identity

Personal identity creation inspired by a collection of my favourite things.

What or who inspired you to be a designer?

After 4 years in beauty and fashion Public Relations, I found myself wanting to be more creative. I asked my boss to create a new role looking after all of the in-house graphic design social media and content creation for our clients. I also knew I wanted to study graphic design and looked into different course options. I found TGDS the best option for me – working full time and studying in my own hours. I think I was driven to pursue design after fixing too many bad power point presentations and my drive to further my skills in the design field. Also working for the beauty industry, you are surrounded by beautiful branding, packaging and imagery, so I also think that had a great impact on inspiring me every day.

What are you up to in the design world at the moment?

My role at TGDS gives me the opportunity to work across a variety of different design activities. From InDesign templates to social media strategy. It’s challenging at times; however, I have a super supportive (always patient) team behind me.

What is your favourite part of the design process?

I have always loved the research process. Sometimes I spend way too much time researching, but that is how I work best. I always seem to create the best ideas after spending hours researching, compiling inspiration and understanding the voice of the brand.

You were really into all sorts of design disciplines at TGDS, branding, campaigning and even packaging. Have you a fav?

I enjoyed so many of the disciplines I learnt at TGDS because I always made the subject matter something I was passionate about – beauty. My favourite’s were layout design, package design and branding.

Tell us anything you would like to about your featured works.

My Personal Identity project is me in a nutshell, inspired by traits of my personality – playful, girly, edgy, modern and romantic. I also wanted to incorporate elements of my favourite movie – ‘Romeo & Juliet’ by Baz Lurhmann. The styling of the movie is described as ‘90’s youthful rebellion, with a mix of Gothic Romance’ – I started with my mood board and everything flowed from there. The Layout Systems Project for fictional ‘Institute Magazine’ was super fun. When I was in London I was inspired by the street style and individuality of teens; there was something bold and carefree in the way they dressed. They aren’t afraid to push boundaries and there was something really refreshing about this. This is where the basis of my design stemmed from.

What did you love about studying design?

So many things! But the most rewarding is seeing how far you have come from the beginning. I also loved seeing projects come to fruition after hours of work! Super rewarding.

What’s your dream design job? Don’t hold back!

I would say for now I am working in it! But if I had to pick a dream role it would Art Direction for a cool magazine or working in the graphic design team at a beauty brand like Glossier!

What would you say to someone about to embark on his or her own journey in design?

Stay curious, be receptive to feedback and have fun!

Thanks Monique