Week 4: More That Meets the Eye

Wow! We've officially had this blog for a whole month now! I hope I haven't bored you too much, and a huge welcome to July, the official month of summer and supermarkets mysteriously running out of ice lollies just when you need them most.

As we get closer to the summer holidays, here's to sunshine, new adventures, and another week of my usual rambling. Let's get into it!

The Unwritten Rules of Society:

I think it’s fair to say that, as human beings, we need a few rules to help society run smoothly. Whether it’s waiting your turn in a queue, saying 'thank you,' or not standing directly in front of train doors before people have even got off, these little social conventions help us all get through the day with a bit less chaos.

But what happens when people don’t follow them?

Picture this: you’ve had a long, exhausting day, you finally get on the train, settle into your seat, and look forward to a peaceful journey home. Then, out of nowhere, someone decides it’s the perfect time to watch videos on full volume with absolutely no headphones in sight. Suddenly, your relaxing journey has turned into an unexpected front-row seat to someone else’s Instagram feed.

These unwritten rules exist to create a sense of peace, fairness, and respect between people. They help build mutual understanding, protect individuals from chaos, and encourage us to consider others in our actions. In simple terms, they exist so we don’t accidentally make everyday life more stressful than it already is.

What I find really interesting, though, is that these unwritten rules vary quite a lot across different countries and cultures. For example, in the UK, saying 'please' and 'thank you' is basically a survival skill (and trust me, if you forget, people will remember). There’s also the classic 'good morning' in every office, which is often said on autopilot while everyone slowly wakes up.

But this doesn’t apply everywhere. For instance, when I travelled to Dubai, I noticed that people were generally more reserved in public spaces, and the overall social atmosphere felt quite different from what I was used to in the UK. It really made me realise how 'normal' is actually just what you’re used to.

And I think that’s the funny part: there isn’t one universal rulebook for how to behave, even though we all kind of assume there is. We’re all just walking around trying not to break invisible rules we didn’t even know existed five minutes ago.

So maybe the real rule of society is simple: try your best, respect people and please, for the love of everyone on the train, use headphones.

The Student Work-Life Balance:

Now that I've completed three years at university, I think it's safe to say that every student has had to juggle what feels like a thousand different things. And trust me, I've definitely had my fair share of that.

Trying to balance university, work, and a personal life can feel like spinning plates while someone keeps handing you more. Some weeks you feel like you've got everything under control, and other weeks you're just hoping you've remembered to eat lunch (which is why I always kept emergency snacks on standby student survival essential).

So this week, I wanted to talk about something that doesn't always get spoken about enough: being a working student. It can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. So grab a drink, get comfortable, and let me tell you about my experience.

Before I begin, I just want to say that everyone's journey is different. What worked (or didn't work) for me won't necessarily be the same for someone else. The reason I'm sharing this isn't that I think I have all the answers, but because if someone reading this is trying to balance work and university at the same time, I want you to know you're definitely not alone.

My story starts in first year. I'd already been working in the same job since college, so when I started university, I didn't just become a student; I became a student with a very full diary.

My dream had always been to graduate, wear the cap and gown, proudly hold my graduation teddy, and somehow avoid tripping on stage. But I also loved my job, and I really wanted to continue to share my passion.

I worked teaching young people creative skills, and honestly, it was one of the best jobs I've ever had. Every day was different; I got to be creative, and I met some amazing people and taught some of the kindest and funniest children. The downside? Long hours, lots of planning, and a schedule that somehow managed to get busier every single week.

Somehow, first year worked out. I had an amazing team around me, plenty of support, and although life was hectic, I felt like I had everything under control.

Then my second year arrived.

Let's just say the second year humbled me.

My routine became wake up early, travel to university, attend lectures, travel straight to work, finish late, get home, plan for the next day, sleep and then do it all again. Looking back now, I'm honestly surprised I knew what day of the week it was.

I kept telling myself I could handle it because I didn't want to let anyone down. I wanted to be the perfect student, the perfect employee, and somehow still have enough energy left to be a functioning human being.

Spoiler alert: that's not how life works.

Eventually, I realised I wasn't just tired; I was exhausted. I wasn't enjoying university the way I wanted to, and I wasn't giving myself the chance to reach my full potential because I was constantly rushing from one responsibility to the next.

The biggest question I had to ask myself was simple: Am I actually happy?

And if I'm being honest, the answer was no.

So when third year came around, I knew something had to change. As difficult as it was, I made the decision to leave my job and put my full focus into my final year at university.

It wasn't because I stopped loving the job, and I still think it was one of the best experiences I've had. It was because I finally realised that sometimes you have to choose what's best for you, even when it's difficult. If there's one thing I've learned, it's that you can't pour from an empty cup.

Being a working student taught me resilience, organisation, and independence. But it also taught me one of the biggest lessons of all: looking after yourself isn't a weakness; it's one of the smartest decisions you can make, as I continue to keep teaching myself this slowly.

NEW COLUMN FROM THIS MONTH!

Design Talk: My Weekly Tea ☕

Design Talk: My Weekly Tea - First Spill: What’s Up With Fonts?

Welcome to my new monthly section, Design Talk: My Weekly Tea ☕! This is where I'll be sharing my thoughts on different areas of graphic design, from fonts and colour palettes to branding and layouts.

Everything I talk about will be based on my own experience as a designer, what I've learned throughout my journey, and, most importantly, design principles and evidence, not just personal opinion. Whether you're a fellow designer or simply curious about why certain designs work so well, I hope you'll find something interesting along the way.

This week, I'll be talking about one of my favourite fundamentals of graphic design: typefaces and the important role they play in creating visually engaging designs.

A typeface is a collection of letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation marks that share a consistent design style. In graphic design, however, it is much more than just choosing a font. A typeface helps set the tone, tell a story, and communicate a brand's personality. Whether it's used in a logo, poster, website, or social media post, the right typeface can completely change how a design is perceived.

That's why designers spend so much time choosing the right one; typography isn't just about making words look good; it's about making people feel something.

Many important qualities make typefaces such a powerful tool in design. This includes their overall aesthetic, which helps set the tone of the message (for example, making it feel elegant or bold), the shape and structure of the letters, and finally, readability so that the text can be seen and understood by the audience. These elements all work together to ensure the message is not only seen, but also felt and understood.

But why are typefaces important in the graphic design industry? Well, let me set the scene for you.

Imagine you're walking through a perfume shop full of different brands all trying to get your attention. You don't have time to read everything, so instead, your eyes quickly scan what stands out. Some perfumes look modern and sleek, others feel playful and fun, and some immediately feel trustworthy and professional.

Before you've even properly read the words, the typeface has already done its job.

A typeface has the power to draw people in even before they fully engage with a product. In fact, many people don’t even realise just how influential typography can be.

A bold, clean font can increase a brand’s sense of trust and likability, making it feel more professional and reliable at first glance. On the other hand, a poorly chosen typeface can do the opposite. It can confuse the message, make a design feel unprofessional, and weaken the overall brand image, sometimes even affecting sales, regardless of how good the product itself actually is.

This is why typography is such a crucial part of design. It quietly shapes how people feel about a brand before they’ve even read a single word. Therefore, as designers, we need to be aware of this and use it intentionally to our advantage, making thoughtful choices that strengthen the message and improve how it is received.

As a designer myself, I aim to use typefaces that match both the aesthetic and the purpose of a project. For example, when creating something for children, I tend to use more playful and creative fonts. After all, it’s hard to imagine a child feeling excited by a set of instructions written in Times New Roman compared to something more fun and approachable like Comic Sans.

A good font doesn’t just look nice; it helps the design connect with the people it’s meant for, which we must acknowledge and use to our advantage as designers.

Weekly Funny Moment Of The Week:

This week's funny moment has basically been me vs. flies, and let me tell you, the flies are currently winning.

This heatwave has been bad enough, but somehow the flies in my house have decided it's the perfect holiday destination. They keep inviting themselves in without permission, and getting them back out is somehow an Olympic sport.

Now, I'm a pretty calm and friendly person, so I didn't exactly want to hurt the poor little thing. I thought I'd be kind and allow it to leave on its own. So I opened the window, waited patiently, and watched as it flew literally everywhere except outside.

At this point, I think we've entered the roommate stage of our relationship. It's been here so long I'm half expecting it to start paying rent.

Aisha’s Tiny but Mighty Weekly Advice Section: Showing Gratitude

I think it's refreshing to take a step back and remember just how many blessings we have in our everyday lives. So often, we get caught up in busy routines that we forget to appreciate the little things, like taking a deep breath, enjoying a good meal, spending time with the people we love, or simply waking up to a brand new day.

For me, gratitude isn't just about appreciating the big milestones; it's about recognising the small moments that we often take for granted. Sometimes, those little moments are the ones that end up meaning the most.

This isn't meant to be a religious or philosophical talk. It's simply about taking a moment to notice the little joys in everyday life, the warm cup of tea in the morning, a message from a friend, a beautiful sunset, or even finally finding your phone after searching the whole house. Life can get so busy that we forget to appreciate these small moments, but they often bring us the greatest happiness.

Taking just a few seconds each day to appreciate these moments can make a real difference. As human beings, we spend so much time working, studying, and thinking about what's next that we rarely give ourselves a chance to simply pause and breathe. Slowing down doesn't mean you're falling behind; it simply means you're taking the time to appreciate the life you're living right now.

Gratitude can also be shown through the smallest actions. A simple 'thank you,' a smile, or letting someone know you appreciate what they've done can brighten their day more than you realise. Kindness and gratitude often go hand in hand, and neither of them costs a thing.

So, if there's one message I'd like you to take away this week, it's this: don't forget to be thankful. Appreciate the big moments, celebrate the small ones, and never underestimate how much a little gratitude can mean to yourself and to those around you.

End Of Blog Sign-Off:

This week has definitely been a quieter one for me, which has actually given me a chance to properly enjoy the football World Cup matches. Congratulations to England for progressing to the Round of 16; I’m hoping for a strong win against Mexico next!

On the motorsport side, it’s also Race Week at Silverstone, which is always exciting. I’m really hoping for a home victory for Lewis Hamilton, and a strong performance from Charles Leclerc as well. Fingers crossed for a great weekend of racing all round (also super hyped for the LEGO race)!

Until then, whatever you will be doing this weekend, I hope you do somthing nice and fun!

Until Next Week

Aisha.