When Creative Opps member Memika Bickle talks about design, it’s never just about visuals — it’s about connection. A Graphic Design student at Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, she explores how interaction and storytelling can be used to engage communities and create memorable experiences. Her practice spans illustration, digital design, and interactive installations, all grounded in the belief that design is most powerful when it works with — not just for — communities. Get to know Memika through our interview below.
Part 1
Who are you, and how would you describe your creative practice? Hi, I’m Memika, a graphic design student at UAL, Central Saint Martins. I like to explore methods of design that can be used alongside interaction and storytelling to engage communities and create memorable experiences.
What drew you to this field? Since childhood, I’ve been interested in illustrating digitally, which led me to choose graphic design for A-levels. Back then, I didn’t fully know what graphic design entailed, but I quickly came to enjoy the communication aspect — creating art with a purpose. Studying Graphic Communication Design at UAL opened my eyes to the range of creative media that could be used to communicate ideas. It pushed me to experiment across disciplines, challenge myself, and discover which mediums best represent my ideas to different audiences.
What’s something you’re working on right now that excites you? I’m currently developing my portfolio website to showcase my design work. I’ve been summarising recent projects — including a cooking app I designed this summer during the European Innovation Academy study abroad programme. My focus is on making sure each project communicates clearly, while the site as a whole represents my style in a unique and memorable way.
Who or what is inspiring you lately? Recently I’ve been really inspired by interactive installations created with TouchDesigner. I’ve seen some incredible work shared on their Instagram, which has motivated me to learn the programme. This September, I’ll be taking a sandwich year to study creative computing, where I hope to develop skills in coding and TouchDesigner so I can create my own interactive installations.
What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Whenever you feel stuck, go out into the world — visit museums, exhibitions, cultural spaces, or even just walk through your neighbourhood. Inspiration often comes from paying attention to small details, which give you new perspectives.
Apply to creative opportunities and events. There’s so much out there, especially in London. Even if something doesn’t feel directly related to your field, if you’re curious, apply! You never know what it could lead to. I often check sites like Creative Lives in Progress, Barbican, V&A, Livingproof.world, and Somerset House.
What does community mean to you in your work or creative life? Community has been a crucial support system for me. Being part of multiple communities has shaped how I see the world and what I want my designs to communicate. My own background — being both British and Japanese — is vital to my identity and influences my creative interests.
For designers to successfully reach their audiences, I believe it’s essential to work with communities, not in isolation. Designing in this way helps reduce personal biases and ensures the work truly resonates.
What does it mean to be a Creative Opps Member? Being a Creative Opps member has allowed me to explore my creative interests beyond my university course. For example, I produced and presented an interactive workshop on designing with community in mind. That experience taught me the value of trying opportunities I’m curious about — they give me a wider perspective of the industry and help me grow as a designer.
I’m also grateful to be part of a network of creatives from across the UK, whose work and stories inspire me every day.
Anything else you’d like to add? I’d love to connect with creatives from around the world — especially those interested in graphic design, illustration, museum and exhibition design, film, and creative computing.
Part 2: Key Takeaways from Memika’s Journey
Design as connection. For Memika, design is never just about how something looks — it’s about how it feels, how it communicates, and how it connects with people. She approaches her practice through storytelling and interaction, aiming to create experiences that are not only visually engaging but also memorable and meaningful for the communities they reach.
Art with a purpose. Her path into graphic design began with digital illustration, but what kept her hooked was the realisation that design could communicate ideas and serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. She values design as a tool for problem-solving and connection, a way to translate abstract concepts into visuals that resonate.
Experimentation as growth. At Central Saint Martins, Memika has been pushed to experiment widely — from traditional design methods to new media and technology. That process of exploration has been key to her growth, helping her discover the mediums that best represent her ideas. It has also shown her the importance of versatility in design, and the confidence to keep challenging herself with unfamiliar tools and approaches.
Inspiration from interaction. Lately, interactive installations have been sparking her imagination, especially those made with TouchDesigner. These works have opened up new possibilities for what design can be — not static, but alive, responsive, and participatory. Her upcoming sandwich year in Creative Computing reflects this shift, as she prepares to dive into coding and software to create installations that bring audiences into the heart of the work.
Community as foundation. For Memika, community is more than support — it’s a foundation. Her multicultural identity, being both British and Japanese, shapes the way she sees the world and what she wants her design to communicate. She believes that successful design comes from working with communities, reducing personal biases and ensuring the work truly reflects and engages the people it’s for.
Creative Opps as catalyst. Membership at Creative Opps has given her space to explore interests beyond her university course. From producing and presenting a workshop on community-centred design to connecting with peers across the UK, Memika has discovered the value of saying yes to opportunities — even when they’re unexpected. These experiences have broadened her perspective, enriched her practice, and deepened her confidence as a designer.
Connect with Memika:
Instagram: @memikadesigns / LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/memika-bickle