Foreign Correspondent: Ellie Nuss

20th April, 2009 by Brita Frost

Many a young designer relocates overseas to gain crucial knowledge and experience. Ellie Nuss moved to the United Kingdom two years ago to pursue a career in design after completing her degree at the University of Technology in Sydney. Currently enduring the UK’s worst economic downturn in history, we caught up with Ellie to see what life was like as an Australia designer OS. Here’s some of what she had to say: 

At the moment, I am getting lot out of working in the UK but I don't have much experience working in Australia, so I can't say that I prefer it. 

The UK has a very strong design culture on a much bigger scale to Oz. Given that competition is really fierce over here, I think standards expected by studios are generally higher than in Australia. I believe the value of design is also more recognized in the UK with clients more willing to invest both budgets and risks into the design process. I have also had more opportunities to work with global clients who tend to be based in the UK given that it is one of the world's major commercial centres.

I have been surprised at just how specialized a lot of studios and designers can afford to be in the UK whereas in Australia most designers that I know are very well-rounded and have a good knowledge of production as well as the purely creative aspects of the job.

Like most studios in London, my workplace has experienced redundancies and I am also aware of quite a few smaller studios that have completely folded. I will probably come home in the next year or two. My advice to a designer wishing to relocate overseas:
Do your research. Work out where you want to work and go for it.

photograph above by Andy Sargent.

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