During my final year studying BA (Hons) Fashion Communication at AUB, I have truly grown into myself as a creative. My Final Major Project, Land Made, celebrates the artisans who intersect craft and nature.
I visited four incredible craftswomen to document their creative process and tell their stories through moving image and printed publications. Through this project, I have found my own creative voice – one that celebrates the makers of the world and tells stories of how the world around us is made.
At school, I never thought of myself as a creative person. It wasn’t until lockdown – when my GCSEs were cancelled and I poured all my time into photography – that I discovered my passion for visual arts. My teacher once said that my photos made her want to “speak very quietly”, and that quiet sense of reflection is something I’ve continually strived to evoke in my work.
Nature and the world around me has always been my greatest source of inspiration, and this has become the core of my creative identity. I’ve developed a passion of sharing the ability to read meaning into and find beauty in the world around us through visual communication.
My interest in telling craft-focused stories deepened while working as a communications intern for Patrick McDowell. I loved capturing the creativity and process behind the making and sharing the talents of the individuals I worked with. Since then, I’ve aimed to create imagery that provides a grounding experience for viewers, highlighting how tangible things are crafted so we can form deeper, more meaningful connections with the objects in our lives.
When visiting artisans in their studios to photograph and learn about their practice, I always prepare a set of questions to ask. These conversations help shape the visual direction of my work, both in still and moving image. My aim is always to uplift the voices of the artisans and to portray their work with authenticity and respect.
These interactions have influenced my own practice. I’ve learned so much from how these makers approach their materials and creative processes. One of the most impactful ideas I encountered during this project was the “conversation of object-making,” a concept explored by Peter Korn. It speaks to the accumulation of knowledge, skills, and traditions passed down through generations in craft. I’ve noticed how disciplines have begun to overlap as practitioners collaborate and experiment.
My creative practice is rooted in experimentation. I often begin by playing around with different materials and techniques to see what results emerge. I strive for tactile visuals that celebrate the handmade and the beauty of imperfection, which I think is very important right now with the rise of generative AI, and people seeking out human touch within the world around them. This is how I discovered a passion for moving image. I wanted to bring tactility into the digital space through paper textures, mark-making and illustration.
My process ends with bringing all the elements together into a physical outcome. Being materially conscious and environmentally responsible is essential to me. For Land Made, I printed my publication with Print Works, a sustainable printing company based in Leeds, and created printed imagery using seed paper.
Spending time outside has been a great source of headspace for me this year. Growing up in the countryside, nature has always brought me a sense of clarity. As I have developed my creative practice, it has become my key source of inspiration. Now more than ever, I believe it’s crucial for us – as the future creatives – to consider how we can work symbiotically with the natural world.
My three years at AUB have been amazing. The community here is truly special. Everyone is so passionate and energised by their craft, and that energy inspires you to push your own work further. I’m so thankful to the lecturers and technicians on the course. Their endless support and encouragement allow you to authentically explore your creative interests.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to be shortlisted for the GFW Terry Mansfield Publication Award, to win the GFW Moving Image Award, and to receive the AUB Enterprise Award! At Graduate Fashion Week, I also had the opportunity to pitch my project to a panel of judges and a live audience. Public speaking is something that has always terrified me, and I would never have believed I could do it without the support of my amazing lecturers and technicians.
Looking ahead, I hope to keep working on Land Made as a small business, telling the stories of all the incredible makers of the world who work with nature, rather than against it. I’m very excited to see where my post-graduation life takes me!
Discover more of Emma's work
Check out her website or watch the symbiotic film below, winner of the GFW Moving Image Award.
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