Jenna Law in the Spotlight

Jenna Law, whose story ‘Lead’ was published in issue 5 of Lucent Dreaming, plays with pixels, words and thoughts. She is an award winning designer with work published in leading design books and magazines. Constantly learning, she has recently attempted piano, sign language and marriage. We caught up with Jenna to ask about her relationship to art and creativity (and learnt quite a bit in the process!)

So, what inspired your piece ‘Lead’ and how did it find its way to Lucent Dreaming?

I am interested in the intimate dynamics between people who seem worlds apart. Those relationships which, from an outsider’s perspective, appear to make little sense, yet from an internal perspective they ultimately prove to be just the tonic for individual growth. Relationships are often about pivoting between undefined ‘roles’ and this story explores and somewhat tries to challenge what it means to be a ‘leader’… and a good friend.

What does writing and art mean to you?

Good writing and art is about exploring human psychology: what people think, feel and experience. I started my career in film and documentary making, telling stories in a visual format which then shifted towards digital and graphic design. In recent years I have shifted towards the ‘psychology of design’ where I help companies design better experiences for their customers. Lately I have found myself using other mediums to explore that psychology, such as writing and portrait drawing. Mainly I try to get away from my laptop and enjoy tactile work by hand. It’s important to have a creative outlet, no matter how small, because it helps calm and focus the mind and detach from the often hectic nonsense of everyday life.

What are you most excited about right now and what writing/creative projects are you currently working on?

To remain creative it to maintain a curiosity for the world; about anything and everything. That curiosity is the essential ingredient to interesting and authentic work. I make a point of always having at least 1-2 courses or classes running at any given time which feed my ideas.

Tell us about some of your favourite books or art you’ve experienced – of all time or more recently. Why are they favourites?

As a designer I am drawn to minimalism. Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” So in that sense I am drawn to writing that manages to balance big thoughts, with little text. A book that executes that beautifully is Julian Barnes’ “The Sense of an Ending“. A real masterclass in the essential.

What advice would you give those who want to do what you do?

There is so much good advice out there from those much more experienced than me. What I can share is what helped me to start. I signed up for a creative writing online courses, which allowed me to write from any location and at a time convenient for my lifestyle. Future Learn [www.futurelearn.com] have some great courses worth checking out.

Where can people see more of you and your work?

I have not been brave enough yet to publish more of my writing online, but you can find my design work and links to my other portoflios on my website: jenna-law.com