Former HND Visual Communication student Jenny McGibbon is using her artistic skills to help raise awareness of ME and how it affects sufferers on a day-to-day basis.
Jenny (25) from Balfron, returned to the Stirling Campus on Monday 24 February to finally display some of her artwork inspired by her college brief – her condition meant she was unable to show work at the end of year show in June 2019 – and also to give an inspirational lecture and ‘Express Yourself’ workshop to Foundation Apprenticeship school pupils and full-time graphic design students.
The freelance graphic designer – whose ‘This Thing They Call Recovery’ blog has more than 15,000 followers across the world – has struck a chord with ME sufferers and her eye-catching, insightful and inspirational artwork and designs has won here plaudits and commissions from across the globe.
Jenny, who also has a BA Fashion Branding degree from Glasgow Caledonian University, said: “I really enjoyed my HND Visual Communication course at Forth Valley College and it was unfortunate that I was not able to display my work at the end of year show…so I am delighted to be able to do so now.
“I have also been looking forward to speaking with the students and help them with a creative workshop.”
The inspirational graphic artist was unable to carry out traditional work experience placements like so many of her classmates at FVC because of her condition, but has managed to carve out a niche for herself as a freelance working from home.
She went on: “I started suffering from multiple health conditions at 16, but my ME didn't surface until I was 19.
“I started a blog while at university as I struggled to find particularly relatable information being a young person with the condition. It's on the rise with multiple young sufferers taking to the internet to share our stories, but six years ago I struggled. Even though ill health is a serious matter I believe there needs to be much more aimed at young people presented in a way that attracts them. Not all health content has to be daunting or solemn, and this is where my project is different.
“Now I have more than 15,000 followers from all over the world, I am on several social media platforms and I am talking about the good and the bad associated with the condition.
“As a chronic illness sufferer my experience fuels my work here at This Thing They Call Recovery. My aim is to provide approachable information to chronic illness sufferers and their loved ones, to promote and encourage honest conversation about different conditions, and help put an end to the taboo nature of ill health.
“With my graphic design skills learned from my FVC course I have carved out a niche for myself and have won commissions from brands such as Ohh Deer and a company in the USA which creates accessories for people with disabilities.
“My university degree gave me a theoretical knowledge of brands, but I always loved the visual side of things more and coming to Forth Valley College to study Visual Communication was the key for me. I don’t think I would become a freelance graphic designer, if I hadn’t come here.
“I am not trying to speak for everyone with a disability, as everyone is different, but it is great that others connect with my artwork and I hope I can help inspire others to find their own path to what they want to do. That’s one of the reasons I was delighted to come back and speak with the college students and show them my work.”
FVC Creative Industries Lecturer Kirsteen Wright, said: “It’s been amazing getting Jenny back into college to work with our students on a creative workshop and also to give a design talk on branding yourself within the design industry. What she has achieved in the last year with This Thing They Call Recovery is inspirational to our students and myself, not just as a design project but with the ethos of the work itself creating very powerful messages in a simple way, which also looks great.”
For more information visit Jenny’s website on https://www.thisthingtheycallrecovery.com/ For more information about NC and HND Graphic Design courses at Forth Valley College click here and here
PIC – caption: Year 2 Social Services Children and Young People FAs Alexander McBroom, Alisha McCallum, Katie Imrie, Louise Thompson pose with Jenny with her displayed art.
