I studied abroad for 4 months during my senior year of college, and it was quite possibly the best time I've ever had anywhere.

I went to Nottingham Trent University in Nottingham, England, and worked on my Bachelor's degree there for a semester. I was amongst about 200 fellow graphic designers all graduating that year as well, and who were so eager to learn about everything.

They're very conceptual in Europe, and don't have the technical training that we do here for the most part. Most of their knowledge is self-taught when it comes to programs, printing, execution, hand skills, etc., but on an idea level...they're extremely talented.

Sometimes we had group seminars in huge meeting halls where the 4 lead professors of the graphic design department presented work to us as ways of motivation and inspiration. Some of the students that had graduated the year before had amazing, amazing work and had gone off to be fairly successful.

As one of the major factors in students' grades, the process was integral to the end result. Sometimes the initial process was dramatically different than the finished work, but the thoughts, moods, development and evolution of an idea was regarded to be the most important part of the project. And quite often, the process was far, far, far more interesting and inspiring than the actual finished piece.

One of the students, who's videos I recorded during the presentation are below, had a difficult time keeping a process book. He just wasn't able to put down what was going on in his head, and keep at it consistently; he just wasn't a sketchbook person.

So instead of having a sketchbook for his final project, he decided to record himself working from concept to final execution. It was a project for BBC Radio, entitled "Radionation", and as he progresses over the course of months, it's apparent his idea to record himself was well worth it. I actually find his process and struggles far more interesting than his final piece because it shows how much work, time and energy went into completing it.

His name is Callum Bain, and you should definitely, definitely check out his work, namely his sketchbooks. His books are inspiring, and reveal a lot about his personality.

Open up a notebook (or record yourself) and
Draw.

Process of Radionation:

Final Piece: