Jul 20, 2015 8 Questions with: The Design Kids
Frankie Ratford is a designer, lecturer, curator, facilitator, roadtripper based in Australia. She has worked with Creative Mornings, Supergraph, Frost, TRACTOR, Apple, Semi Permanent, Herschel Supply Co, Aus Infront, Desktop Magazine, and more. In 2009, Frankie created The Design Kids (TDK), which is intended to bridge the gap between students and industry within the Australian and New Zealand graphic design community. Now expanded to 14 cities and boasting 30,000 community members, TDK creates fun and unique programming such as: Terrible Twos (professional/student hands-on program), Threesome (treasure hunt/exhibition), Design Roadtrip (five month roadtrip canvassing design and academia), and Fourplay (design team, hands-on exhibitions based on four letter words and play). Watching Frankie’s genuine passion for creativity and people is inspiring. Her grassroots growth of TDK, a community and ongoing collaboration amongst savvy, creative, and forward thinking designers is a model we can aspire to emulate.
Tell us how The Design Kids concept was incepted.
I found sitting at a desk wasn’t really the best version of me. I loved Frost Collective, the clients and living in Sydney but just felt generally like something was missing. After a six month trip around the world, I had a pivoting moment in Madagascar, and decided even though I wanted to be in the design industry, I wanted to do more. So, I started The Design Kids (TDK) – a platform to help students. Back in 2009, it was an online shop where we sold tees and posters of the design students’ work. It has since evolved into a platform to connect students with industry and build a design community, enabling both parties to be part of. We now provide industry knowledge, exposure and opportunities to students and graduates, with a focus on illustration, typography and graphic design. We spend 9 months a year on the road, spreading the love, doing talks, running exhibitions and facilitating workshops and design meet-ups. We now run 12 initiatives online and offline to help bridge that gap.
How would you describe your job?
My job is incredibly varied. I’ve been joking recently that I’m in charge of talking, Yve is in charge of doing, and Kate is in charge of promoting. My role as director is about problem solving, meeting people, coming up with new ideas and working out the best way to implement them. People wise – I talk at universities, meet with Creative Directors and go to as many design events as possible. I would describe it as incredibly fun! It’s hard work, and yes we get to travel to all these exciting places, but there is definitely no off button, so it’s all work and work related play, which suits me as I love the design industry!
Where do you hope to take The Design Kids in the near and longer term future?
World domination! No, really. It’s going to be fun! USA, Canada, and Europe are our next destinations.
What has been one of the most rewarding road trip moments? In what way?
So many! Someone asked me what my favourite part of New Zealand was yesterday, and I couldn’t narrow it down! Each place was incredible – from the diverse scenery to the kind people we met. From climbing Fox Glacier, sleeping in our new ‘hitchhiking mum’ Lyn’s farm and having a road trip with her family, drifting down emerald coloured rivers, meeting incredibly talented (and shy) illustrators to famous Creative Directors, attending a few really inspiring talks – it was all amazing! Our 2013 Australia takes on another level, as the then students are now graduating and becoming future design stars in their own right, making up the design industry here in Australia, and to shape that future is really powerful.
What have you learned through the growth of The Design Kids community?
Everything! From personal realisations, like follow your dreams, push through in the hard times, listen to feedback, find people that believe in you, etc., to professional lessons – how the industry works, how I can make a difference. I really feel like all my jobs leading up to launching TDK full time have all added to the many qualities TDK has, from being mega organised (some call it OCD!) to building professional relationships, having confidence in your ideas and knowing which people to ask for help. It’s definitely trial and error, but I think if you at least get it right 80% of the time, you put the rest down to learning!
As a child, what did you want to be?
I remember when we were about six, all the girls wanted to be ballerinas and the boys wanted to be fireman, and when it came to my turn, I said artist. I don’t even know why! But I remember the rest of the class looking at me strangely, and I think that still happens today! I describe myself as a designer/lecturer/entrepreneur/road tripper.
Who are a few of your favorite artists/designers?
My idols are not all artists/designers in the traditional sense, Tim Ferriss, Malcolm Gladwell, Henry David Thoreau, and Tina Roth Eisenberg. Ferriss for efficiency (his book is my bible), Gladwell for success, Thoreau for simplicity and remembering what is important and Tina for well, just being Tina. How can you not love that laugh!!? Her entrepreneurism within the design industry is incredibly inspiring. Most of them are authors – I love reading – see #52booksfor2014 on Instagram. I heard Charlie Munger spends 8 hours a day reading. And he’s 80! Legend.
Where do you personally find inspiration?
Travel 100%. I love being on the move, meeting people and talking design. I’m not really a blog kind of person – in fact I hate screens! A graphic designer that hates screens and clients – I had to get creative! Hence the 2015 Hitchhiking Type Competition, or our 2013 and 2014 Design Road Trips. FUN!
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