My Final Project

Three years of university really flew by — thanks to COVID and over a year of online learning. But here we are — the final chapter. As all good things come to an end, I wanted my final project to reflect that. Not only was university wrapping up, but I also decided it was time to leave my part-time job I have had for the past five years. So, when it came to brainstorming ideas, it was a no-brainer: why not tie up both chapters of my life and turn that into my final project?

I worked as a barista at a garden centre, surrounded by plants. That sparked the thought — how could I bring this into a project? My ideas were all over the place, from creating ‘plant your own coffee cups’ to designing work for display in a garden centre. But with my love for editorial design and some guidance from my lecturer, I landed up creating a publication. The concept? A book that could hypothetically be sold in garden centres or horticultural spaces — a mix of education and inspiration that delves into the history of ‘the garden,’ the importance of plants, and the unique ways we each connect with horticulture.

The journey of creating my publication.

We had around three months to work on this project, starting with initial ideas, refining and developing them, and finally deciding how to present our work at the final show.

I really enjoyed the process of creating my publication. From pressing flowers to add texture to the pages, to printing mock-ups to fine-tune the layout, to consulting with a print shop about paper weight — each step was an important part of the journey. It also gave me the perfect excuse to get out and explore, whether it was visiting garden centers, going on typography walks, or finally making my first trip to Kew Gardens.

That being said, creating this publication came with its challenges. Sourcing work online and correctly citing artists was a bit of a learning curve, but I worked through it as I went. I definitely made things more difficult by focusing on British horticulture, which meant every artist and writer I referenced had to be British. Luckily, with some help from the UAL library, my lecturer, and plenty of online research, I was able to pull it all together in the end.

A series of mockups showcasing my final publication.

And finally, my publication was complete! Blooming Britain, a play on words, explores the history of British horticulture, the influence of other cultures, and how we all perceive ‘the garden’ in different ways. This publication is designed to both educate and entertain the reader, blending images, artwork, poems, and written text. In this project, I positioned myself as an editor, copywriter, and curator. I wanted the reader to feel fully immersed in a garden, with the content laid out in a simple, almost step-by-step format, mimicking the flow and structure of a garden itself.

My final project on dispaly.

When it came to displaying my final publication, I wanted to immerse the reader not just through the content, but also through the way the work was presented. After some trial and error, I created a realistic tuft of grass to also replicate the essence of a garden. I used tea leaves and petals to add depth and texture to the grass, keeping it simple so it wouldn’t distract from the publication, but instead enhance the feeling of being part of a garden.

I’m really pleased with the final outcome of my project. Although I wasn’t able to use the screen printing method I originally planned, which would have given the paper a matte, more garden-like feel (since screen printing requires printing in bulk), I still had a great time experimenting.

While it's a little bittersweet that my university journey has come to an end, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown and what I’ve learned along the way. I’m excited for what’s to come next!