As part of our commitment to elevate creative voices we are speaking to members to our community. We will be celebrating their work and sharing their story because we think it’s important to champion the people that make our sector so damn good! In this edition we are joined by freelance designer, creative muralist and community leader, Sarah Carlton.

Hey Sarah. It’s great to speak to you. To kick us off could you tell me about how you entered design?

I always knew I wanted to work in the creative industry, so after a foundation degree at The Northern School of Art I went on to study graphic design at Teesside University. I was lucky to land a junior creative role at a local printers quite quickly after graduation. I then went freelance in 2012.

In the early days of your career can you remember the challenges you faced?

I think being a young woman in any industry can be daunting. I didn’t always have the confidence to speak up. Design still feels quite male dominated but there are brilliant initiatives now like Ladies, Wine & Design to support and uplift females that I would have loved back at the start of my career.

From what we have seen, your work spans a wide–range of disciplines. Have you always been interested in multiple outlets for your creativity?

I’ve always been interested in other forms of creativity but only really focused on traditional graphic design until recently. I think when you have your head down making sure bills are paid, sadly exploring your creativity can get pushed to one side.

This changed after booking onto a spray paint workshop last summer. Since then, I have met some great people who have helped me to start to get some of the bright colours and patterns I love in design, out onto the streets through murals and public art.

Is it hard to make these projects commercially viable?

Yes, but I am learning. Connecting money with doing something I love has always felt a bit strange for me. But I have been surrounded by people recently who are helping me to see the value in both the creative and community work I do.

We know community is really important to you. Can you tell us about your Billy No Mates co–working sessions?

I set up Billy No Mates at the start of 2023 with a local cafe. Living and working in a rural area can be isolating, so I wanted a way to connect with other home or lone workers without the need to travel to cities to access co–working spaces.

We currently meet twice a month - and the community we have built has been invaluable. It’s also a win win, as it’s a regular influx of heavy coffee drinkers for the independent venues that host us.

Are you taking it one step at a time or do you have any longer–term plans for the project?

We’ve had some interest recently about hosting more sessions across the North East and I am currently looking at ways this can happen. If I knew that people could find support, friendship and inspiration at BNM sessions, across the country, I would be one happy woman.

From a distance the North East looks to be buzzing right now. What’s it like from your perspective?

It definitely feels that way. Not just in the larger cities either. There are so many people quietly doing great work in ‘left behind’ towns too.

What would be your advice to anyone that’s looking to go solo?

Give it a bash. It’s not for everyone. There are still days now, when I need to hit a deadline after putting the kid to bed that I wish I had a 9-5. But everything else that comes with being self employed is worth it to me. And there’s no shame in the part-time game.

If you need to work a second job, but still get to be creative when you’re not there, you are still a creative. Also, making friends in the industry will be the best thing you can do. Some of my closest friends do exactly the same as me - we all need emotional support when inDesign crashes.

Based on your experiences is there one thing you think the design industry should be better at?

Less judgement. People should be able to feel comfortable enough sharing their work without fear of it getting torn apart online. Sometimes it feels like one giant ‘best graphic designer’ competition and it really doesn’t need to.

There is enough work for us all.

Final question. What the short and long–term plan for you?

Short-term, I’ve been really enjoying working on public art projects recently so planning more of that. Long-term, KINSHIP is 12 years old now - if I can keep ‘making nice things’ and supporting my family for the next 12 years or more, I would be one proud lass.

Fore more about Sarah Carlton visit: designbykinship.co.uk

Interview: Freelance designer, creative muralist and community leader, Sarah Carlton

Hey Sarah. It’s great to speak to you. To kick us off could you tell me about how you entered design?

I’ve always been interested in other forms of creativity but only really focused on traditional graphic design until recently. I think when you have your head down making sure bills are paid, sadly exploring your creativity can get pushed to one side.

This changed after booking onto a spray paint workshop last summer. Since then, I have met some great people who have helped me to start to get some of the bright colours and patterns I love in design, out onto the streets through murals and public art.

Is it hard to make these projects commercially viable?

I set up Billy No Mates at the start of 2023 with a local cafe. Living and working in a rural area can be isolating, so I wanted a way to connect with other home or lone workers without the need to travel to cities to access co–working spaces.

We currently meet twice a month - and the community we have built has been invaluable. It’s also a win win, as it’s a regular influx of heavy coffee drinkers for the independent venues that host us.

Are you taking it one step at a time or do you have any longer–term plans for the project?

We’ve had some interest recently about hosting more sessions across the North East and I am currently looking at ways this can happen. If I knew that people could find support, friendship and inspiration at BNM sessions, across the country, I would be one happy woman.

From a distance the North East looks to be buzzing right now. What’s it like from your perspective?

It definitely feels that way. Not just in the larger cities either. There are so many people quietly doing great work in ‘left behind’ towns too.

What would be your advice to anyone that’s looking to go solo?

Give it a bash. It’s not for everyone. There are still days now, when I need to hit a deadline after putting the kid to bed that I wish I had a 9-5. But everything else that comes with being self employed is worth it to me. And there’s no shame in the part-time game.

If you need to work a second job, but still get to be creative when you’re not there, you are still a creative. Also, making friends in the industry will be the best thing you can do. Some of my closest friends do exactly the same as me - we all need emotional support when inDesign crashes.

Based on your experiences is there one thing you think the design industry should be better at?

Less judgement. People should be able to feel comfortable enough sharing their work without fear of it getting torn apart online. Sometimes it feels like one giant ‘best graphic designer’ competition and it really doesn’t need to.

There is enough work for us all.

Final question. What the short and long–term plan for you?

Short-term, I’ve been really enjoying working on public art projects recently so planning more of that. Long-term, KINSHIP is 12 years old now - if I can keep ‘making nice things’ and supporting my family for the next 12 years or more, I would be one proud lass.

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Interview: Freelance designer, creative muralist and community leader, Sarah Carlton

Hey Sarah. It’s great to speak to you. To kick us off could you tell me about how you entered design?

I’ve always been interested in other forms of creativity but only really focused on traditional graphic design until recently. I think when you have your head down making sure bills are paid, sadly exploring your creativity can get pushed to one side.

This changed after booking onto a spray paint workshop last summer. Since then, I have met some great people who have helped me to start to get some of the bright colours and patterns I love in design, out onto the streets through murals and public art.

Is it hard to make these projects commercially viable?

I set up Billy No Mates at the start of 2023 with a local cafe. Living and working in a rural area can be isolating, so I wanted a way to connect with other home or lone workers without the need to travel to cities to access co–working spaces.

We currently meet twice a month - and the community we have built has been invaluable. It’s also a win win, as it’s a regular influx of heavy coffee drinkers for the independent venues that host us. Are you taking it one step at a time or do you have any longer–term plans for the project?

We’ve had some interest recently about hosting more sessions across the North East and I am currently looking at ways this can happen. If I knew that people could find support, friendship and inspiration at BNM sessions, across the country, I would be one happy woman.

From a distance the North East looks to be buzzing right now. What’s it like from your perspective?

It definitely feels that way. Not just in the larger cities either. There are so many people quietly doing great work in ‘left behind’ towns too.

What would be your advice to anyone that’s looking to go solo?

Give it a bash. It’s not for everyone. There are still days now, when I need to hit a deadline after putting the kid to bed that I wish I had a 9-5. But everything else that comes with being self employed is worth it to me. And there’s no shame in the part-time game.

If you need to work a second job, but still get to be creative when you’re not there, you are still a creative. Also, making friends in the industry will be the best thing you can do. Some of my closest friends do exactly the same as me - we all need emotional support when inDesign crashes.

Based on your experiences is there one thing you think the design industry should be better at?

Less judgement. People should be able to feel comfortable enough sharing their work without fear of it getting torn apart online. Sometimes it feels like one giant ‘best graphic designer’ competition and it really doesn’t need to.

There is enough work for us all.

Final question. What the short and long–term plan for you?

Short-term, I’ve been really enjoying working on public art projects recently so planning more of that. Long-term, KINSHIP is 12 years old now - if I can keep ‘making nice things’ and supporting my family for the next 12 years or more, I would be one proud lass.

Interview: Graphic designer, storyteller and marketeer, Terri Witherden

Resources: Refresh your portfolio with mock–ups from our five favourite libraries

For more information about subscribing or to inquire about what we do email our team and we will be in touch as soon as possible

LearnWorkshopsBriefsCoursesConsultancyStoriesEducator Access

InitiativesShopStudio Directory

CompanyAboutDonateInclusion & DiversityPrivacy PolicyDelivery & ReturnsContact

Work With UsSubmit WorkshopAffiliatesPartnershipsAdvertiseStudio Supporters – Coming Soon

We currently meet twice a month - and the community we have built has been invaluable. It’s also a win win, as it’s a regular influx of heavy coffee drinkers for the independent venues that host us.

Are you taking it one step at a time or do you have any longer–term plans for the project?

Learn
Workshops
Briefs
Courses
Consultancy
Stories
Educator Access

Initiatives
Shop
Studio Directory

Company
About
Donate
Inclusion & Diversity
Privacy Policy
Delivery & Returns
Contact

Work With Us
Submit Workshop
Affiliates
Partnerships
Advertise
Studio Supporters – Coming Soon