So I kind of have some HUGE news

I actually couldn't wait to get to the end of the post to write this:
I GOT A JOB AT PENGUIN

But here's how it happened:

Back in February I applied for a job as Design Assistant to the Children's department of Penguin (now Penguin Random House) and I remember thinking there is never going to be a job more perfect for me than this; reading/books and design are my 2 favourite things ever and in a position like this I would get to be a part of the 2 combined. I already had my CV and PDF portfolio ready but I needed a cover letter and it needed to be a damn good one for such a prestigious company. I put my absolute heart and soul into that cover letter (that might sound cliché but it's true) and was very honest, because that's the best way to be. People want to see enthusiasm, and I've got plenty of it. 

Just under 3 weeks ago I received an email telling me I'd been shortlisted and invited for interview at Penguin publishers down in London the following Tuesday and I couldn't believe it. I actually think I'm still in shock. So early Monday morning Bryce and I packed up the car, got some coffee and drove down to London for a couple of days so we could make the most of being there around my interview.

Making the most of being in London included visiting the new flagship Lush store which has 3 floors(!!!) There's so many new and exclusive products I could have spent hours in there, and probably did. I restrained myself though and came away with just a couple of soaps and bath melts. The soap is salted caramel scented and I can't get enough of it. I also bought a present for Frankie as she was letting us stay with her – nothing says thank you like Lush products (or people might think you're saying they smell, hopefully it's the former)

I also fell absolutely in love with the carrier bag.

We didn't actually do anything hugely tourist-y as we wanted to use the couple of days to relax, not including the panic before the interview, and before we knew it it was time for my interview.

I don't want to get too much into the actual interview itself as that's my personal experience and I'd quite like to keep it to myself as it was such a great experience but I fell in love with the place as soon as I walked into the reception (the table has books IN it!) I remember thinking "even if I don't get this job, at least I got to come here and oh wow it's amazing!" – this excitement did not leave me the whole interview. The 2 people who interviewed me were absolutely lovely, and I can't believe I get to work with them. I was so over-enthusiastic about Adventure Time they gave me this book to take home with me which I thought was so nice of them and now I have it as a permanent reminder of my interview (as well as my job)

The following week I was invited back for a second interview, which was to take place in 2 days time, which meant I got to go back to London, see Frankie again, visit Lush again and then relive the dream at the Penguin offices and show more people my portfolio. I really felt like the pressure was on this time, but knowing I'd got so far gave me the drive to really go for it even more this time. Being interviewed by someone else who was easy to talk to definitely helped too. I didn't think I could be more enthusiastic about the job, but apparently I had reserves and it paid off. I received a phone call the following day as I was just getting back into Carlisle offering me the job and I cried. Genuinely cried.

I still stand by what I said in my second interview:

This is more than just a job for me, this is a lifestyle and the absolute dream. I want a job that I'm passionate about, that I think about all the time and I really enjoy.

But now I've actually got it and I still can't believe it.

 Over 300 down to 20 down to 6 down to 2 down to 1

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Current reading situation

As a self confessed bookworm, I seem to see it almost as a challenge to read as many books as I can in a small space of time. I'm a fast reader, which is extremely helpful, but that's not to say I don't take it all in and enjoy it. In fact, it's quite the opposite; I enjoy them so much I'm just devouring them and wanting to see what the next page will bring. And with that lovely image in mind, here's what I've been reading over the past week or so: 

I'd almost finished "Girl, Interrupted" so I got myself some books from the uni library. I thought it was time I got down to some classics, else I'd have to stop calling myself an avid reader. I've been finding them a bit heavy going for bedtime reading, so I think they'd be better suited accompanying a morning coffee when my brain is less fried. 

Although I got this book for Christmas I hadn't actually started it until last week, where I read a couple of pages here and there on a night-time but was struggling a little to get into it. However, that all changed when I went home for the weekend and spent a collective 5 hours on trains, where I read the whole book. I'm not going to say I didn't enjoy it, but I will say it doesn't hold a candle to Nicholls' previous book "One Day", one of my absolute favourites. 

For a quick and easy read last week I settled on "Seconds", not only because it's beautiful, but because the story is so immersing. I find new things that I didn't notice before each time I read it. Also, it's just a bonus getting to open it and seeing it signed to you by the author. 

I've now started reading "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath, which I'm really enjoying. It's another book I got for Christmas but have only just got round to reading, but so far so good. 

What have you been reading lately? Any recommendations?
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In with the new

Say hello to my brand spanking new website, shown to you through poor quality screenshots.
You can see it in action at derrianbradder.com – it still needs some work on phone display but works perfectly on desktop. I'm really pleased with it, it feels a lot more "me" (lame I know).

There's a lot more going on this time around, a lot more work went into it, and overall it's just better. There's colour changing rollovers, the blog opening up in a new tab, and tiny flags.

Dreamweaver knowledge originally taught and expanded upon by my trusty illustrator pal Edwin. You can see his work here : edwinburrow.com

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Out with the old

It's not you, it's me.
It was time to finally say goodbye to my first website and start again completely from scratch, with new branding and a ~fresh~ look. But that's not to say I didn't love my first website, it was very me at the time and fitted well with what I was doing.

Here it is in its entirety.
Home page and portfolio which uses a lightbox. 

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If you read it, you can (try) design a cover for it

After my previous post about my greatest passion in life it seemed only right to post my redesign of the cover of "Gone Girl". At the time of designing this piece I think the book was relatively unknown, but at the time of writing it's become HUGELY popular after it was successfully adapted for the big screen (which admittedly I was convinced I would hate with a passion). After much deliberation I went to see it and I was absolutely blown away. However, and there's always a however, there was several things missing from the book but that is sadly something the book lover has to come to terms with. One of these missing elements was the use of blue envelopes by the protagonist, which was the main visual feature of my design. Nevermind, it was in the book and everyone knows the book is always better.

This was a quick piece which took me 2 hours including prep time

Where is human nature so weak as in the bookstore?

Preach it with a badge

Whenever I'm not glued to my Macbook (I know, I know but it's the student designer life) I like to stick my head in a book and get completely lost. Be that for 2 pages or 200 pages, it doesn't matter. Each to their own but I just find it difficult to understand how people can just not like reading, or say it's boring. I think that I may just be biased as it is my favourite hobby (is it a hobby?) though.

Currently on my to-read list:

The New Republic – Lionel Shriver

Someone Like You – Roald Dahl

The Bell Jar – Sylvia Plath
The Fault In Our Stars – John Green

Editorial Design: Digital and Print – Cath Caldwell and Yolanda Zappaterra

Basics Design 07: Grids – Gavin Ambrose and Paul Harris

Jurassic Park – Michael Crichton

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children – Ransom Riggs

Saga – Brian K. Vaughan and illustrated by Fiona Staples

What I'm currently reading or rereading:
Girl, Interrupted – Susanna Kaysen
Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling

Basically reading is good and more people should do it, if only so that I can start a book club. 

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