WHEN MOST PEOPLE see her work, their first reaction is, “Wait, a girl did that?”
That gives graphic designer Shanice Bourne great pleasure since she loves getting into areas that people do not always expect women to.
For the past seven years, 22-year-old Bourne has been following her passion in the arts. “I always try to do things that people would not normally expect women to do so it is always fun to see that when you are on the drums or doing graphic design that people say, ‘Wow, a girl!’” she said.
Bourne, who said she always loved art from her secondary school days, had that burning desire to be an artist, but just did not know what kind. That led her to complete the Fine Arts programme at Barbados Community College (BCC), where she earned an associate degree before pursuing the bachelor’s in graphic design, also at the BCC.
It was there she met her fiancé, who is also a graphic designer.
Bourne, who started her own company some years ago, took a break for a few years, but has gotten back into business recently. “Between doing work on my own and finishing up my bachelor’s degree I had no time for the business, so it ended up being just a Facebook page.”
Now planning her own wedding, she added: “I recently got into wedding stationery after doing my own because what is available here is very limited. You do not always find what you want so I realised this was an area of potential for me and I relaunched my business last month.”
Graphic Designer Shanice Bourne working on a project on her computer.
Love and Design Studios, the name she decided on, came about because of her love for design and meeting the love of her life working in the same area.
Bourne does business cards, logos and T-shirts, and also restores, customises and designs shoes. She said in Barbados clients usually want something that is affordable but still really nice.
“I usually do work depending on the person’s personality so if you are fun I do nice bubbly work with lots of colours. If you are a corporate entity I stick to your colour schemes,” she said.
Her clients have included entertainer Biggie Irie and the Central Bank of Barbados.
She lamented that fresh out of college she met with a wide range of challenges while trying to break into the job market, so it was not unusual to hear that dreaded response – that she lacked the required experience.
“A lot of places want experience and I find it quite limiting because us young folks that just left school we have these creative minds and no way to express. I think a lot of businesses lose out because of that,” she said.
Initially she met some business people during the annual Portfolio event staged by the college, which gave her an opportunity to exchange business cards and interact with them. This turned out to be a worthwhile exercise that allowed her to do some freelance work and gain a few contracts.
Despite the pitfalls and the headaches she has had to overcome, Bourne still sees graphic design as a field that is worth getting into because it is very versatile and allows the artistic mind to gain academic qualifications while also preparing the individual to branch out into other areas.
What makes her work stand out is that she always tries to give her customer something unique. “Most of them come and they do not know what they want so it is up to me to give them options and guide them. Most of the time they absolutely love what they get. Sometimes it is actually totally different from what they wanted when they came in,” she said.
Another plan on her cards is to get seriously involved in event planning since in addition to designing party items she does gift hampers and anything for a party. She is actually a one-stop shop for anyone hosting an event.
But furthering her academic studies also remains a priority and that is why she wants to pursue a master’s degree in branding and has been looking at a few external colleges. What worries her is that in Barbados people often do not get paid for their degree. “It seems almost like a waste of time to go overseas, pay to study then return to just do what I am doing now being an entrepreneur,” she said.
While offering words of advice to young people interested in getting involved in graphic design, Bourne told them to pursue their dreams. “Do not be discouraged that people want you to come with experience. That means you can start your own business because it is a creative avenue and you basically have no limitations.
“The other misinformation that people spread, that art does not make any money, that is so not true, especially when it comes to graphic design.”
She also said that you do not have to be a great artist to get into the field, but depending on where you go to study the talent naturally develops. “When I started I could not draw as good as I wanted to but my peers and the tutors helped to bring my creativity to the surface.”
Bourne, who from the age of 12 years was a drummer at Praise and Worship Assembly where she attends church, also loves Latin dance.
She said even though she went to drumming lessons for a few weeks, she stopped it because she believes that drumming was more spontaneous. “For me it is however the spirit moves and whatever anointing I am feeling. However the vibes go, I move to suit,” Bourne said.
