This summer (which feels more like autumn… 🌧️), I often find myself thinking back to my final year at university. In 2012, I graduated from the University of Lincoln (UK), where I studied for a Master’s degree in Design for Exhibitions and Museums. I had to submit my thesis in September, which meant I spent a lot of time at the university that summer.

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The student city, which was normally so lively, felt empty, cold and lonely. And now that I’m writing about it, with a yellow weather warning forecast for tonight, I can’t help but notice how much this summer’s weather reminds me of that summer in England.

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The Design for Exhibitions and Museums programme focuses on designing narrative environments for commercial exhibitions, events, retail spaces, visitor attractions and museums. The programme specialises in storytelling, whether it’s about a brand, a collection or an idea. The aim was to teach me, as an exhibition designer, about the different aspects of graphic, interior and interactive design in an interdisciplinary way.

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All with the goal of translating a design and its story into a meaningful bridge between the client and their target audience.

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I absolutely loved this programme! Actually, I don’t even need to tell you that, because if you know STUDIO &lotte even a little, you’re probably thinking: “Of course, Lot. This is such a perfect and logical fit for you!” And yes, I’m one of those people who actually turned her degree into her profession :)!

 

Even though I knew exactly what I was working towards, I found the final stretch difficult. I never doubted my studies, worked hard for them and, above all, enjoyed them immensely. That’s why I didn’t see this coming: two months before the end of my studies, I simply didn’t feel like doing it anymore. From experience, I can tell you that the days feel very long and the finish line seems very far away.​ After one particularly long day, I called my dad. He asked me if I had a tape measure at home. After a short search, I followed his advice. I counted the number of days until my submission date (there were 24 ) and cut the tape measure at 24 centimetres. From then on, I cut off another centimetre every morning.

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For me, this became a milestone: something to look forward to, something I could count down to, and a way of gaining perspective. Through this simple action, I knew that it would eventually be over. There would be a moment when I reached 1, and on that day, I would be finished with my thesis!

 

The reason I’m writing about this and sharing it with you is because I believe in making your dreams a reality. The road towards them isn’t always easy, but as long as you have a clear dot on the horizon, anything really is possible! And that is exactly how I approach the projects at STUDIO &lotte: thinking in terms of opportunities and possibilities, and working towards the desired end result.

 

Lotte de Jong, MA

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P.S. The photo below was taken during my graduation ceremony. A ceremony with all the bells and whistles, just as only the English can do :)! And what a dream location: Lincoln Cathedral, known among other things from films such as The Da Vinci Code and Napoleon.