What do you do for a living?
My full-time role is in Communications and Partnerships with the wonderful Studio Lutalica CIC. They’re a not-for-profit design studio working (incredibly hard) to uplift both women and the LGBTQ+ community.
If you identify as either (as well as folk from other underrepresented communities) and you’re looking to work with a collaborative, lived experience-led design studio, Studio Lutalica is for you.
What does that mean day-to-day?
Last year, I moved from London to a small town by the sea not far from Edinburgh which has been a BIG shift in rhythm day-to-day… Thankfully, it’s mostly been a very good thing. That, and my role at the studio is fully remote and four days a week which has been hugely beneficial in terms of work-life balance (or at least it would have been if I wasn’t currently working on my own magazine).
What that actually looks like working day-wise is a lot of time spent staring at a MacBook. I tend to spend one day in-person with the rest of the Scotland-based team at a hub in Edinburgh’s West End, two days at a (really lovely) community co-working space right by my flat, and one day working from home.
What do you love about magazines?
Their ability to catch your attention – visually, physically, even olfactorily (had to Google that one). I also love how, more broadly, they capture moments of time in culture.
I worked alongside Jeremy Leslie at magCulture in London for several years and, at times, we could genuinely observe the magazines shapeshift in response to events taking place out in the wider world, especially during 2020. Magazines are mirrors.
Tell us one thing not many people know about you?
I recently took a wax ring carving workshop at Leith Jewellery Studios here in Edinburgh and I think I might have to start a new career as a silversmith?
Where can we connect with you?
I have a Kickstarter live for the first issue of Tell Me How You Really Feel. It features 12 original essays by queer writers from across the UK – some well-known published authors, some totally brand new to writing for print.
In a nutshell, the idea behind the magazine is to explore BIG human-shaped themes from queer perspectives. You can read more and support it by pre-ordering a copy here or follow us on Instagram @tellmemagazine (I’m on @wordsbydanielle).
