Philip Harvey
Interview with Philip Harvey, who studied our BA (Hons) Visual Communication Graphic Design
What were the main reasons that you took the course?
The main reasons were the hands on approach, it was all about the idea behind the design. I also felt that a lot of the other courses were more about going on the computer doing something that 'looked pretty'.
Plus I knew that the Derby course had a great reputation for being quite tough and that the lecturers kept the students on their toes.
Why did you choose the course at Derby?
Derby is a pretty good hub of inspiration and activity which is good for design. It's not too big and you know where to go when you need something. If you're working on a project and you need a photograph you can easily go and get it yourself. And if you're short of inspiration, there are plenty of places in the surrounding area that you can find it.
How would you sum up the experience of studying this course, and how did you find the lecturers and the support they gave you as an individual?
It was a great three years of my life, I look back at it with great fondness, I don't think I was ever the best student on the course, but the lecturers really helped with problem solving, not giving you the solution but giving you the direction to find the solution. They were always there if you needed them, of course they had there specific time slots but you could catch them in their break and they would always be willing to help.
At Derby University it was more about encouraging you to come up with a good idea and a strategy, before getting on with the final visual.
How do you feel Derby has helped you so far, regarding the students union, the careers centre and the Alumni?
To be honest I didn't really use that service, I got offered four jobs as soon as I left University and chose the one that I wanted.
I think the lecturers were good at making sure I had the skills I needed for my career. I left with a great portfolio which is important when you're going for a job interview, it had a good mix of creative ideas and commercial ideas.
So what are you doing now?
I'm the Managing Director of Fluid Media Services Ltd, Fluid Media is the internet side of the business and Fluid Ideas is the creative design side of the business. In 2003 we started off with just two of us and now there are now seven of us. We also have a new member of the team starting soon and he's going to be a web programmer.
We all push for very high standards to get the best out of a project. We always work quite closely together with clients, getting under the skin of the brief and making sure we really do well.
We have got many different clients in the care sector who started using freelance services. They realised this service wasn't really working out and they wanted to re-do all their literature. They got four agencies to pitch, some of which were big agencies, and we beat them hands down. We pitched a couple of ideas, and they have chosen two of them which we have brought together.
What are your future plans?
I should really say grow the business, but if I say grow the business, clients may not get that service that we are offering now, I never promote Fluid and I never advertise, we tend to get business through word of mouth, people liking what we've done and taking us on board.
Saying that, it would be nice to double the team so it's not too big, but keeping the Fluid mentality and ethos going. Our ethos is, always doing the right thing, always achieving high standards, always bettering yourself and the work that you do! This is instilled in all the members of the Fluid team when they work on projects.
At Fluid we don't go below a certain standard, we will never just churn it out, we will always make sure we do a good job. Value for money.
What would you say to anybody thinking of coming to study the course at Derby?
I know it's cheesy but if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything, I see so many young designers who don't quite believe in themselves. I think I am at the stage in my career where I can see a glimmer of creativity and I know that they will do well. It's up to people like me who now have a business and senior designers and lecturers to spot that creativity and to push them. Helping them and supporting young talent to give them that extra bit of confidence and a nudge to help them succeed in their career.
