Lydia Gerakaki GMD While working at Landor London, we had this new a daily “habit” at the studio, which was checking the Coronavirus cases in China. From very early on, we were examining the data every morning - when we got to the office, after lunch and before the end of the day. I remember the whole studio being surprised by how fast the cases were going up. Gradually the “habit” changed and instead of looking at the number of cases we started spotting the countries on the map that the virus was reaching. Up until that moment the epidemic felt so distant to us. But then people started feeling threatened; they were thinking of their families all around the world; some colleagues were coming from countries like Italy or Spain, that were very badly affected and all of a sudden it wasn’t so distant anymore. Covid-19 managed to affect everyone. As expected, our office closed down, like every other. The timing was really unfortunate, as Landor was moving offices at the very same weekend that the measures were enforced, so nobody got to see the new office in Knightsbridge. And while these changes were happening, I decided that it was best for me to travel back home, to Greece, where the measures were enforced faster and the predictions were saying the crisis would be dealt unexpectedly well (we all know modern Greece isn’t famous for dealing with crisis). So there I was, fleeing the country that I have been living in for the last three years, without getting to say goodbye to anything or anyone and not even knowing for how long – could be worse, but still not ideal. It took me the whole 14 days of my self-isolation - obligatory due to travelling – to adapt to the new reality and find a routine. But even then I felt like the world was moving too fast and too slow, simultaneously. On the one hand, everything was at freeze: nothing was open, everyone was forced to stay at home and practically be inactive. On the other hand, I observed the creative world online being on fire (!) I couldn’t catch up. Online exhibitions, seminars, workshops, open calls, short courses for free, software tutorials for free, Instagram challenges and so on and so forth. I COULDN’T CATCH UP and I started having fear of missing out! Fear that there’s so much going on, so many opportunities – and for free! - that I needed to be a part of. My instant reaction was to try to get involved in as many opportunities as I possibly could, but that didn’t really go very well, as I can only focus on so many things at once and get an outcome I am satisfied with. So I started setting priorities, as I normally do. PRIORITY #1 D&AD NEW BLOOD AWARDS FINALLY!!!! To be honest, I am almost feeling grateful at the Coronavirus for the extension of the New Blood Awards. I have been wanting to submit a project for this competition since the beginning of the DPS year, but I always let life get in my way. One internship after the other, I never felt like I had enough time to dedicate to it, so this was a sign – it was my last chance. And I didn’t think twice, I just grabbed it. Within two weeks, I managed to choose a brief, analyse it, brainstorm ideas, start working on them, get feedback, and submit my project. I went for the Durex brief, which was about disabilities and sexuality – a subject I feel really passionate about. My idea was inspired by the eroticism of the Greek sculptures, which are amputated and with distorted features. Hence, I created a movement to celebrated disabled bodies as equally erotic as anyone else’s and as ecstatic as the Greek sculptures. I named the movement #EquallyErotic, from the Greek word ‘Eros’ which connoted both love and sexual desire. PRIORITY #2 Be part of an open call for designers As I already mentioned, the creative industry responded so well and so much to the pandemic that studios and designers all over the world were looking for young talent. And I did have this one complaint from myself this year- that I rarely do something spontaneous and fast just to respond to the news, as a designer. So again, this crisis allowed me to get involved in something new and exciting. I saw this initiative on Instagram, by a creative studio in Germany called studio Othertypes. In these chaotic times, they invited people to create a poster wall together, without getting too close to each other. The theme and medium were open (photography, illustration, typography etc.) and so I couldn’t resist. I submitted black and white photography with the title DIVE: a symbol of summer and a representation of the liberty and escape from the daily routine, which at the same time shows how the pandemic has turned everything upside down, including this sense of freedom. My poster is now printed and up in the streets in Hamburg and I just feel so blessed that I didn’t let this opportunity pass me by. Greece is now finally released from the measures and life is slowly going back to the way it used to be. Shops are re-opening, people are finally going out. And this gets me thinking of the things I have learned and the things I have achieved during this weird period of time and I can’t help but feel very positive about it. I am aware that our new life will never be the same that it was before, but having seen how fast everything and everyone adapted to the changes, I feel optimistic and positive that we have used this time and this situation to our advantage. Particularly the creative industry has set a great example and once again has proven that this is why creative people are best at solving problems.
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