A Creative Circle

CONNECTED – Reading’s digital alumni and supporter magazine – spoke to Reading graduate and current Head of Creative and Print Services, Hannah Milway, about her most memorable moments and her passion for all things design and typography.

Hannah’s creative flair started as a child. “I’d get in trouble at school for drawing pictures when I should have been practising my times tables,” she recalled.

It was pursuing this passion at college – studying history, art and film studies – that Hannah found love and met her now-husband. She said: “We both studied history and art, and ended up having our first date in Moscow during a history trip.”

After a year of dating, the time came to apply for university. “We both chose Reading and the rest is history,” Hannah shared.

While at Reading, it was the knowledge, skills and experiences she gained through her course in typography and graphic communication that set Hannah up for a career in design.

Hannah explained: “The course was fascinating and the quality of teaching and support we received was second to none.”

As well as enjoying her course, Hannah embraced all the other aspects of student life – from socialising with friends to joining the Canoe Club. However, two of her most memorable moments were from her summer placement and on a trip to Italy.

She explained: “I worked on the University’s first ever branding project during my summer placement. This involved developing templates, testing colours, writing up guidelines and designing early materials for colleagues in the new brand.

“I still use a lot of these skills to inform my design and conversations with clients today.”

Another core memory for Hannah was a trip to Italy as part of her master’s degree. She recalled: “We spent all day walking around the sites with our sketchbooks examining inscriptions and learning how these influenced typeface design. But the standout memory for me was walking up to the basilica of San Miniato al Monte. We arrived just as some monks started to sing a chorus inside. It was a truly magical moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

A special moment for within Hannah’s career was creating the winning design for the University’s 100th anniversary logo. She said: “I feel proud and happy. Not just because my design will be used to celebrate the centenary of my University, but also because it was the first creative project that I led with my team in my new role.

“My creative journey has come full circle. Mentoring junior team members – who were just like me when I graduated – and seeing them develop into fully-fledged designers is incredibly rewarding.”

Read more of Hannah’s story in CONNECTED. 

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