Spotlight on creativity with senior designer Brinley Clark

Brinley Clark is an award-winning senior designer at a global brand agency. He has over ten years of experience in the creative industries and has worked with some of the world's biggest brands. 

For some people reading this article, this news may come as a surprise, as for others it’s old news that I am a Traveller...........writes, Brinley Clark.

Despite being half Romany I spent the majority of my childhood with my mums’ side of the family, as a Showman on the dizzy lights of the fairground, moving from town to town building up and pulling down hooplas and machines, a journey in creativity and craftsmanship that has seen me through to becoming a Graphic Designer, working with the worlds biggest brands and winning some of the industry’s most prestigious awards.

From the outside this journey seems somewhat glamourous but as the expression goes ‘It’s not all bright lights and candy floss’. In fact, it’s been a huge struggle, a constant fight of proving people wrong and being left behind, from teachers refusing to have me in a classroom to the ‘P’ word being banded about in a job interview like there’s no tomorrow. The prejudice I have encountered has been heartbreaking and I cannot begin to imagine what life has been like for other travellers less fortunate than myself.

But let’s not wallow in self-pity or turn this into a sob story because for every door that has been slammed shut another has slowly creaked open and it’s these small breaks of light can turn into huge solar glares of opportunity. That’s what we should focus on, the people out there bravely opening these doors, open-minded teachers and employers, they do exist. Yes, there are a few bad apples but I can assure you that this mindset is becoming a thing of the past.

For example, the creative industry alone has changed dramatically in the past ten to fifteen years, yes there is still an imbalance in race and gender, but the tide is changing and large companies are generating waves of opportunities for diverse cultures like ours. The world is waking up and I think 2020’s movements are a testament to this, it’s now a case of where not when.

I have no doubt in my mind that once this article is shared my life will most likely change again and people will treat me differently, unfortunately, this is nothing new to me. It’s the inspirational people who have given me their trust and faith up until now that has inspired me to write this letter to younger Travellers. These people do exist, they are out there. They are the ones that give me hope for the future.

You can check Brinley's work here: https://www.brinleyclarkdesign.com/