Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) will bring a moment of calm, connection, and hands-on creativity to the heart of the town this autumn as part of the Arts by the Sea Festival 2026.
On Saturday 26 September, visitors to Bournemouth Lower Gardens are invited to step away from the bustle of daily life and immerse themselves in 10 Minutes of Creative Calm, a free interactive drop-in workshop hosted by AUB BA (Hons) Graphic Design alumna and publication designer Tess Blanshard-Phibbs.
The workshop offers passers-by of all ages the opportunity to slow down, switch off, and explore their creative instincts in a relaxing, open-air environment.
Whether they drop by for 10 minutes or stay for half an hour, participants can experiment with vibrant papers, typography, shape, and composition to build a personal mini poster or visual collage.
With relaxing background audio set to guide the mood, the workshop intentionally prioritises process over perfection. Attendees can cut, layer, doodle, and assemble without rules, pressure, or expectations.
Among the prompts offered, Tess will encourage participants to create visual ‘future messages to themselves’, a self-reflective exercise designed to foster positivity and creative expression.
“Creativity shouldn't feel daunting or reserved only for professional artists,” she says. “This workshop is about giving yourself permission to drop the day-to-day noise, pick up some materials, and just see what happens. It's a low-pressure space to play with layout, colour, and lettering, and to leave with a physical reminder of a brief pause in your day.”
Tess’ personal career path offers an inspiring story of non-traditional entry into the creative industries. Leaving school to work in for financial institutions such as JP Morgan, Tess pursued an HND in Graphic Design alongside her full-time job.
Her determination enabled her to join AUB as a mature student at the age of 25, where she completed the BA (Hons) Graphic Design course.
Today, Tess runs her own design studio, Keep Me Post'd, specialising in book artwork, interior page layout, print production, and brand identity. Working closely with authors, publishers, and purpose-driven organisations, she turns complex ideas into tactile, beautifully crafted publications.
“Returning to work with AUB for Arts by the Sea is a wonderful full-circle moment,” says Tess. “My time at university was transformative, especially coming in as a mature student. Being able to share that passion for physical, tactile design with the Bournemouth community is hugely exciting.”
The 10 Minutes of Creative Calm workshops will run at the AUB Marquee in Bournemouth's Lower Gardens on Saturday 26 September, 13.00–16.00, where visitors can drop in at any time.
Want to see more?
To explore Tess' editorial and branding portfolio, visit the Keep Me Post'd website.
