Words: Kate Rintoul / Image: Ash Tailor

Many of you will have seen and hopefully been into the containers that are currently positioned outside LCC for the Power of 10 summer show. From the moment these alien containers arrived people have been wondering where the came from and who was behind the idea, turns out Morag Myerscough was.

From swatch watches to tampon packaging to entire buildings (including the redevelopment of the Barbican and the Deptford Project) Myerscough and her designs have weathered two recessions and come out as strong as ever. Compromises and failures have had to be made on the way but Myerscough’s unique approach to her projects has made her highly sought after and admired by younger generations. Myercough’s talk looked into her back ground, from her teenage embroideries right through to recent experiences at parties. Though her stories were often very unique to her and subjective the room full of aspiring designers clung to her every word. Where I thought the attendees of Futurising would be eager for websites and top tips this group of listeners were happy to just hear about creative life, true celebration of creative minds if there ever was one.

As well as taking a sense of enthusiasm from the talk I also managed to pick out some top tips from the lady at the top of design in London.

Always think high: My tutors at CSM always encouraged me to think big and I think this is essential in whatever you do. It’s much easier to take things down a level than it is to add more.

Don’t compartimentalise yourself: When I was studying I dreamed of having a studio of people from different backgrounds working together, even though I never actually did this the idea has figured in all of my work and made it stronger. One of my first competitions was for Design Week, I collaborated with an architect friend and we won because no one else had approached it in the same way. We got to design hoarding for the science museum, it ended up being 230 meters and we had friends in at night painting, it was then I realised I loved BIG things!

If there’s no money around help each other: I graduated in the late ‘80s just as the recession was starting. I did projects for my friends for free and over the years they’ve returned the favours.

Be careful what you wish for: When you’re running a business or studio people often think the more people you employ, the better when actually this only means more mouths to feed and more compromises that have to be made along the way.

Balance is key: My parents were both creative, this meant I was used to not always having money around. Today I like to live a nice life, this means finding a balance between work that means I can live and work that satisfies me.

Use walls as sketchbooks: At any point in the design or research process take things off your computer and get them on a wall. Collect lots of experiences, take pictures and just go and stimulate your senses.

One job leads to another, you’re only as good as your last job, you constantly need to strive for employment: Though I’ve had a certain amount of luck a to of opportunities have come from previous projects.

Never be too snobby: No matter what the job, I’ve got involved at the base level, painting and constructing. As you get busier you might not be able to be there all the time but having the builders on your side and showing willingness is important, people will be more inclined to help you.

You have to make your own luck: Just putting yourself out there is important, I often think that I didn’t socialise enough when I was starting out. I worked all day at a design agency then on personal work through the night, that’s why things have happened for me later. I didn’t really start socialising until my early thirties, before that I didn’t really like being noticed, then I got to a point where I just didn’t care anymore!