KATHY FORSYTH
Welcome Kathy to our Friday Feature family. Kathy Forsyth is one-half of Amazing Dyslexics, the co-authors of ‘The Bigger Picture Book of Amazing Dyslexics and The Jobs They Do’ & ‘The Illustrated Guide to Dyslexia and Its Amazing People.’
Kathy graduated from Westminster in Graphic Communication Design. Her first creative job was as a fashion photographers assistant, after her short stint in fashion she spent seven wonderful years working with Sebastian Conran, also an amazing dyslexic, in the Amazing Dyslexics latest book Sebastian says “In the design industry it's actually a stigma if you’re not a dyslexic.”
Later Kathy worked at Conran & Partners, a multidisciplinary design studio founded by Sir Terence Conran. She now works at Youmeus, a London based design consultancy, providing colour, material and lifestyle mapping to inform product and brand experience opportunities.
Here is how Kathy answered our signature questions:
How would you describe your relationship to dyslexia in a sentence, word, image or even a dance move?
‘Sensorial Experiences’ printed words are irrelevant when all your senses are on fire!
How does Dyslexia influence your work and/or personal life?
‘The House of Dyslexics’... all 4 of us! My husband is head of design at Nokia phones, Fin (daughter) is studying womenswear at CSM, and Sonny (18) is still exploring his options!
We’ve all been on our individual dyslexia (rollercoaster) journeys, we recognise our strengths and know what we are challenged with. I’m so lucky to have worked in jobs I love, most of the people I work with are dyslexic and lovely, the joys of working within the creative industries. I love working with images, colour, textures and straplines, anything that requires a good amount of text I struggle with, I’m very happy to hand that over to a wordsmith! I like to communicate through visuals, the fewer words the better for me.
I was chosen to design the college anniversary diploma awards certificate, that particular year, I was so honoured and probably the first time I felt 'good enough.'
Screen printed onto copper, 1990. (still waiting for it to oxidise and turn green!)
Is there an item that best represents, aids or embraces your dyslexia? If so, can you explain it or share an image of it?
For the past 15 years I’ve purchase the same black moleskin diary. I treat them more like sketch books using coloured pencils and typography to enter important dates I need to remember.
I always write in a soft pencil, I can rub out the mistakes (there are always many!)
Looking back over the pages, you can tell the mood I’m in by the handwriting, when I’m stressed or anxious the handwriting is erratic, mixing upper and lower case together and the spelling is notably bad
What advice would you give to your future self?
Don't let anyone derail you, you are good enough. Dream BIG! x
Love what you do-Do what you love (stolen from the very fabulous Holly Tucker, MBE notonthehighstreet founder, also dyslexic!))
