Design Against Crime Research Initiative, London and the sparks partnership, London.

Q: Describe your experience at Art College – what were your opportunities, what did you learn, where did you struggle?

I thoroughly enjoyed my undergraduate degree in Product Design at Central Saint Martins. It was really hard work, but combined with the opportunities to meet other Christians and non-Christians who were also seizing college years in London to develop practical skills and world views, I found the challenges exciting.

Q: What made you want to carry on as a Designer?

I don’t know many people who don’t enjoy opportunities to use their creativity. Thankfully there appeared to be a route of study and professional practice, which seemed to match some of the things I would probably be doing anyway for a hobby! I wouldn’t say it was so much of a decision as a series of opportunities (or miracles) which arose and keep arising.

Q: Describe the kind of work you are involved in. What do you enjoy about it?

I am split between several things at the moment, including: researching and designing on an initiative called Design Against Crime, run as an academic research project from Central Saint Martins; studying for a master’s degree in Design and Public Space (in Barcelona); working and experimenting with a group called sparks, based in London.

Things I enjoy:

1. The above activities seem to use some or most of the abilities and interests I have and many skills I don’t have (!)

2. The opportunity to live abroad for a bit, to learn from another culture.

Q: What are your opportunities and challenges now?

Learning Spanish (!), communicating myself faithfully as a Christian while I meet new people, living in Barcelona and juggling a number of demanding workloads at the same time.

Q: What keeps you going as a Designer?

I love it. The energy and enthusiasm of those in the arts and design industries is always really refreshing, and people rarely seem to stop questioning. It is the best way I have found so far to use the abilities God has given me.

Q: Who are your role models?

Close friends, who I see or know to be much better at emulating Christ through their work than me and other artists and designers, who seek to use their creativity in ways that can benefit people.

Q: Are you part of any support networks for Christians in Art or Design?

Yes, all 9 members of the group sparks that I am involved with are all Christian and I receive support through them, plus I have links with the ACG (Arts Centre Group) and All Souls Visual Arts Group.

Q: What advice or encouragement would you give to a Christian student at Art College?

Work as hard as you can at loving God first and how to use your creativity second! I used to have a badge from Sunday school which said ‘Don’t Panic’ with a picture of Christ’s cross on it. When I was at college, I began to realise the full significance of this badge. Many of us come up against some pretty big hurdles at college but none of them are too big for God. In him we can make the most of our experiences!

I found my time studying Product Design at college both exciting and very hard work, but, thanks to God I have been given a set of abilities and interests which I find really engaging, so even when it’s really hard going I enjoy the challenges.

The best designs reflect a really good understanding of the people who will be using or interacting with whatever is created. In this sense I find design and design research a really good stimulus to better understand the individuals and cultures around us; how they act; what they respond to, what they value, etc.

The Bible tells us to ‘love our neighbour’. I’m always learning more about how to do this, but this use of ‘love’ is meant as a verb, or ‘doing word’, so I reckon we can find ways to ‘love’ in everything that we ‘do’. If our student or professional practice takes most of our ‘doing’ time, then I want to find out how to ‘love’ the ‘neighbours’ who are affected by this ‘doing’. In my case, those people are both my colleagues and people on the processing and receiving ends of anything I am involved in designing.

Marcus Willcocks – BA (hons) degree in Product Design at Central Saint Martins in London, 2000.

Currently living in Barcelona (Spain), studying for a Masters in Design and Public Space and also working for Design Against Crime Research Initiative, based in London and working with the sparks partnership, based in London.