Interview with WSU Design Graduate Ned Lanyon

At MTNS MADE, we believe strong creative communities are built through connection, collaboration, and shared experience.

We interviewed recent local design graduate, Ned Lanyon, who not only completed his studies at WSU but also took part in the university's student mentoring program, gaining valuable insights from established local creative Simon Bosch while taking his first steps into the industry.

As we prepare for the WSU information session exploring how professional creatives and university educators can work together to better support aspiring creatives, we asked Ned to reflect on his journey, from studying design and participating in the mentoring program to building confidence, developing his creative practice, and beginning a career in the industry.

Looking back on your time studying design at WSU, what experience or piece of advice had the biggest impact on your creative journey, and how did taking part in the Uni’s mentoring program influence your transition into the industry?

I think the thing that really made design click for me was learning two things. The first was how to ‘look’ at something: When to fret over the small details, when to step back & see the bigger picture. Knowing when & where to focus your creative eye & when to let your vision blur a bit to see your work in a simpler, more broad perspective. The second thing is what I believe to be the unspoken hero of successful design - workflow. Some people become brilliant creatives based on their skill & ability to arrange & organise their process, to not only have a vision but forge the steps to execute it. Knowing your process helps you engage with clients & employers confidently, knowing what you can do & being able to explain the process.

From your perspective as a recent graduate, what difference does it make when professional creatives are involved in a student's learning journey, and what would you say to local creatives considering sharing their time or experience with students?

As a recent graduate that had the pleasure of engaging with several industry professionals during my tuition, I can say for certain that there is so much to gain from interfacing with industry directly. A classroom environment is incredible for building skills, but I found it wasn’t as well suited to teaching how to apply said skills & use what I’d learned as tools in an organised workflow. I had the opportunity to take on an internship where my focus was funneling everything uni had taught me into that exact workflow. Thanks to my supervisor, the wonderful Mr. Simon Bosch, my capacity as a creative practically doubled after the internship concluded. If I could say anything to fellow creatives it would be this - Your experience & guidance is worth so much to young creatives. Education is a community effort & everyone has something to contribute. If you can, please support your future colleagues.

What advice would you give to current creative students who are hoping to build connections, gain confidence, and find their place in the creative community?

Honestly, just keep it simple. I think a lot of media today inspires this idea that a creative practitioner should be able to do anything & everything all of the time, but the reality is that we are just people with only so much energy & time. Not being a jack-of-all trades is ok & I think there's a lot of desire for specialized creatives out there than people realize. Know yourself & know what you do. Get a cat and a good chair, drink good coffee, but not too much. Love your creativity & know it has value regardless of the “profitability” or “market value” or every other buzz word that is swarming around today.

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