Advertising creative Georgia joins us this week for our next BLUP50 talent feature. As a recent Ravensbourne graduate, Georgia has been busy – with a D&AD New Blood Pencil to her name, co-founder of Nuff Said LDN, a collective dedicated to improving diversity in the creative industry, whilst landing a placement at the prestigious Mother London, she’s on the move. Read on to find out what drives Georgia and what the future holds for this creative power house.
// YOUR WORD FOR 2021
Unpredictable
// WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ONLINE/INSTAGRAM /TIKTOK / TWITTER THAT HAS STOPPED YOU SCROLLING?
Anything from @lilblackgoat on Instagram, I love his work so much. I’m usually really moved or inspired by it.
// GIVE US A WHISTLE STOP TOUR OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE
Graduated from Ravensbourne University in May 2020, I won a D&AD Award for my response to a Durex brief (with Aaliyah Grant). I co-founded my creative agency, Nuff Said LDN. Nuff Said LDN was shortlisted in D&AD’s Side Hustle Awards and it won a Gold Award for Creative Conscious. We recently collaborated with the Obama Foundation and another team of young creatives based in New York to deliver a project in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. I recently managed to get a placement at my dream advertising agency. So right now I’m at the start of my career, I’m trying to gain experience in the industry and build my network as much as I can as I work on and grow Nuff Said LDN on the side.
//WHAT DOES 24 HOURS IN YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?
Right now, because of lockdown, I’m either sitting at my desk in front of my computer for 12 hours straight working and plotting in between meetings or I’m out on a shoot somewhere, whether it’s press or client work for Nuff Said or I’m working on some personal projects of my own.
// WHAT DO YOU DO TO SWITCH OFF OR CHILL?
SELF CARE! Potentially a very cliche and boring answer but I’m honestly having the time of my life sitting in a bath with some bath bombs, a face mask and a deep conditioner in my hair. Then I get out and listen to some bashment/soca and pretend I’m whining my waist (dancing) at Notting Hill Carnival. But I think as creatives, we love what we do because we get to have fun as we do it and our experiences and passions influence the work we create. So finding ways to inject some fun and enjoy yourself in this particularly repetitive situation helps me with inspiration and motivation. Especially if I’ve found myself alone in front of my computer all day every day because of lockdown.
// WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BEST CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
It’s between winning a D&AD New Blood Pencil and being a part of the birth of my business Nuff Said LDN.
Aaliyah Grant (my creative partner on the D&AD Durex brief) and I worked so hard on the idea. The entire process was a big rollercoaster of emotions, highs and some very low lows, but we both learnt so much. I’m ambitious and when I really want to achieve or do something I’m so committed to making the vision a reality. I knew I wanted to start my career with a D&AD Pencil to my name, so I had to make it happen and I’m so happy and proud that the two of us did. The final outcome of our work isn’t exactly what we had envisioned, I can’t explain all of the hurdles and complications we endured before we got to the end but like I said earlier, a lot of lessons learnt from this project, do’s and don’ts. I’m super grateful our efforts were recognised by highly thought of industry professionals. I’m also really thankful for all of the people we met along the way, how much we learnt about disabilities and chronic illness and that the people our campaign was speaking to loved it and believed something like this needed to exist.
Another highlight is Nuff Said LDN, a creative agency I co-founded in 2019 as it’s helped me kick-start my career and gave me a great sense of purpose. Nuff Said is a creative agency I co-founded with 6 others (Kemi Adeeko, Maisie Angela, Lisa Hooper, Maureen Vasquez-Guzman, Paul Ifeneziuche, Isaac Izekor) that I met at university. The 7 of us were aware of the lack of diversity in the creative industry and for us, diversity wasn’t a buzzword, it was our reality and the reality of the next generation of creatives. So we decided we needed less talk and more action (hence the name Nuff Said). Now we work to connect the industry to the next generation of diverse creatives and work with forward-thinking brands to create events, campaigns and initiatives. I’m so proud of everything Nuff Said has achieved so far and the response we’ve received from people. I think the thing I love most about Nuff Said is that we created a space we all feel heard and comfortable in for ourselves, the work we do promotes change and we get to have fun as we do it.
// WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR FUTURE?
I’m actually in a funny place right now where I’ve ticked quite a few things off my bucket list and I’m where I wanted to be at this stage in my life. So I need to sit down with myself and ask, what’s next?
But I would love for Nuff Said to eventually become my full-time job and for us to have our own office and be in a position where we can support and share paid opportunities with other emerging creatives. I see myself travelling for work, having international clients and I would also love to see an ad I’ve worked on / creative directed on that big screen in Piccadilly Circus. But this year I’m focusing on learning, perfecting my craft and getting experience in my field.
// IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ONE CREATIVE/BRAND WHO WOULD IT BE?
Footasylum! I used to be a sales assistant there for a few years, I would love to do a 180 and go from sweeping their floors to being a creative lead on an advert or campaign for them. It’s a big goal of mine. The brand’s tone of voice and target audience also really resonates with me. The representation included in their billboards and any promotional content features the type of people I grew up around, people that look and sound like me, the people that really built and influenced my personality and character, people I can relate to. That’s something I want to see more of and be a part of. I’m also a sneakerhead at heart so it makes a lot of sense to me!
// WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
Ava DuVernay. She’s not in the same industry as me and I don’t see myself ever being a filmmaker but I love her work and her work ethic and how much she has done for the black community. I’m just in awe of people who’ve built extremely successful careers on purpose instead of materialistic gain. Her work has genuinely changed people’s lives for the better. I would love for my work to have the same kind of positive impact and success.
I’m also really inspired by all of my friends and age mates. This generation is so motivated and driven. Seeing everyone do their own thing and trying so hard to be their best day in day out inspires me always.
// YOUR FAVOURITE SONG OF 2021 SO FAR?
This is cheating because it was released in 2020 (but late 2020) Peng Black Girls by Enny. It’s so good, the message is so beautiful and I’m so happy that Enny blew up as an artist from that song.
// WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT YOU AT THE END OF YOUR CAREER?
That I made a difference, my work inspired and empowered a lot of people and my trainer game was always 10/10.
// WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO NEW CREATIVES?
I feel like I’m a new creative myself. I’m just starting my journey and figuring things out so it’s weird for me to give advice but from what I’ve experienced so far my best advice is to trust yourself. I think when you’re at the start of any journey the first thing you do is seek a lot of advice from a bunch of different people, which can be really helpful but if they don’t understand or they can’t relate to the reason or thing that sparked that initial fire in your belly, the thing that made you want to go down that path in the first place, without realising they might extinguish the flame. But don’t let them! Trust yourself! Your voice, experiences and perspective are valuable.
// WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU IN YOUR WORLD RIGHT NOW?
Having a more inclusive, diverse and equal creative industry.
// ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MENTION?
Yes, as I was answering these questions I thought it’s so crazy that I have been selected to have an editorial of myself written for The BLUP. I can’t believe I met Dines 4 years ago during the first term of my degree. All of us were starstruck and now I get to be a part of BLUP50! I’m so grateful! Thank you again!
FOLLOW GEORGIA
