New year, new goals. Lantern share their creative goals for 2023 as well as advice on how to write your own.
With 2022 almost over, the conversation in the studio has recently been dancing around the dreaded subject of New Year’s resolutions. They often get a bad rep, but we’re not talking about diets, gym memberships or learning a new language. Creatively, yearly goals are helpful in keeping us focused and on track. They can also be a useful tool for self–reflection and for thinking about what we could do better as well as what we’ve been doing well.
In order to make sure they’re kept this year, some of the team have been brave enough to publish their resolutions in this blog post. Read on below to find out what we’ve been talking about and some thoughts and advice for any other creatives who are also thinking about their ambitions for 2023.
Henry Brown
Design Director
Henry, creative goals for 2023?
My resolutions for next year are currently a work in progress. I recently became a dad so my ambitions for the year ahead are a little different than normal. I’m treasuring every minute at home so my focus and new relationship with work is taking some getting used to. That said, it’s now more important for me to ensure that I work with clients and businesses that align with my values. I don’t want to work on anything that I might look back on and think “at least it paid well.” I’m examining everything a lot more closely and thinking about the sort of world I want my child to grow up in.
What's your biggest creative achievement over the last year?
Over the last year, I’ve been particularly proud of being a part of growing the design team at Lantern. We’ve doubled in size and the quality of work has also increased thanks to two new talented members of the team. Particular highlights include creating a bespoke brand typeface for a campaign promoting the Isle of Man, as well as creating a new brand for a region of the East Coast of the UK. One of my resolutions this year was to collaborate more on projects, which the success of two projects is proof of. However, all of this pales in comparison to the creation of my son – that’s got to be my biggest creative achievement of the year.
Any advice for creatives who aren't sure what resolutions to set for the coming year?
Writing them down is important because it helps you to focus them and visualise them. You can even try and work them into your yearly objectives within your role at work. That way you make sure that they’re realistic, achievable and you’re accountable for them.
Mollie Kendell
Designer
Mollie you’re up, what are your creative goals for 2023?
In the new year, I want to make the time to explore other creative endeavours and to find that ‘thing’ outside of my usual design work. I’m looking forward to doing creative workshops, whether that’s a ceramics or life drawing class and getting into the precision, and craft of other practices. Like a lot of people, I get caught up in the day-to-day and I would like to give myself more time to learn new skills. I'm hoping this will bring fresh ideas and perspective when designing, helping look beyond where I would usually find inspiration.
Biggest creative achievement of 2022?
This year, 2022 was my first working within the creative industry since graduating, and being part of the team at Lantern - I'm really proud to have been part of the we’ve created this past year. In terms of stand out moments, I would say our work for Digital Isle of Man and being able to create a bespoke typeface from start to finish. One of my resolutions from this year which I want to bring into 2023 is to go out of my comfort zone more when designing. This project taught me to trust and enjoy the creative process.
Can you offer any advice on how to keep resolutions?
To avoid an overwhelming list of resolutions in the new year, try and keep them as specific as possible to make them feel more manageable. Also to set smaller, achievable goals that you can slowly incorporate into your routine to add to the bigger picture by the end of the year.
Baz Forrister
Senior Designer
Baz, your turn, what are your creative goals for 2023?
This year has been a busy one and consequently a couple of habits I’d begun to form have slipped a little. It’s these that I’d like to pick back up in the new year. One of which is to actually read through some of the design books I’ve collected that have mainly served as living room decorations. It doesn’t sound like much, but the times in which I have found myself reading up on designers/studios I’ve definitely felt the inspiration from it, and I think there are approaches from previous ‘offline’ decades that we could all benefit from utilising.
Secondly I’d like to work on my animation skills. I’ve signed up for an online course but could do with dedicating set weekly time for it. Having a good understanding of animation principles can really add to the early stages of brand creation.
Biggest creative achievement of 2022?
I transitioned from freelance to full time in November and that in itself was a huge creative achievement. I worked hard at making introductions with studios I could see myself working in full time, and was selective over the freelance roles I took, ensuring they also aligned to this goal. As a result that came with a lot of admin and management outside of the working days, and ultimately plenty of hard work, ensuring I was making as good an impression on them as I hoped they were on me. I’m glad to say this all paid off and made the transition to being a full time member of staff at Lantern feel even sweeter.
Can you offer any advice on how to write meaningful resolutions?
I think resolutions can easily feel heavy and a bit forced at times. For me the best way to avoid this is to jot things down as they come into your mind throughout the year. These can be big or small it doesn’t matter, but what it does usually show it that these are things you genuinely want to work at, as they’ve come to mind at a point where no one is forcing you to think them up, say at the end of December! I have a saved note on my phone that I’ll add allsorts into as I go, creative and not, a little ‘come back to later’ list. More often that not these can act as great starting points for new resolutions.