Olivia Finds Inspiration Everywhere in Art & Design

For Level 3 Art & Design student Olivia Hensler, creativity has been part of life for as long as she can remember.

Surrounded by design books, art, and inspiration from a young age, she’s now studying at East Sussex College, developing her skills and preparing for a future in the creative industry.

“I’ve grown up in a family that’s very conscious of design. Our whole house is full of books about designers, design movements, and things like that,” she says. “From a young age, I was exposed to that world. I remember coming home from primary school and diving into a Bauhaus book.”

Her creative spark also comes from her grandfather, a fine artist whose studio Olivia visited as a child.

“Visiting my grandfather’s studio was always exciting. Now, as I step more into the creative world, it’s even more rewarding - he can see me exploring creativity in a similar way to him, and we have a really strong connection.”

Olivia finds inspiration everywhere, not just from people. “Sometimes it’s a song I listen to or someone I sit next to on the tube. Inspiration comes from everyday life, and I think that shows in my work.”

She also draws from contemporary creatives like Tatsuki Fujimoto, creator of Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, “His work is non-conforming, unique, and imaginative. It inspires me to make things that feel original and fresh.”

Her influences extend into music and film, too. “I admire Elijah Fox, a pianist, whose work inspires me to create pieces that interact with music. I also admire Gary Hust, a cinematographer. His documentary Helvetica - about the font Helvetica - is filmed so clearly and engagingly, which is exactly the kind of clarity I aim for in my own work.”

Olivia loves simplicity in design and finds inspiration in movements like Bauhaus and designers like Dieter Rams. “There’s confidence in knowing when to stop, in letting your work remain clear and uncluttered.”

She also enjoys filmmaking as a way to express emotion, “My short film Let’s Have Tea explores the social and cultural significance of tea,” says Olivia. “Sharing a cup of tea can create meaningful connection and conversation. I wanted to capture that, and encourage people to appreciate these everyday moments with family and friends.”

For Olivia, creativity is all around, and her studies at East Sussex College are helping her turn inspiration into art that speaks to the world.

“Working my way through different projects at college, I started to realise I was enjoying a lot of other things that were more graphic-centred. By the start of my second year, I did my first full graphic design project and I thought, yeah, this works. This is what I’m going to keep doing.”