Advice to Sink in Slowly

Poster project Advice to Sink in Slowly has recently launched a inspiring Kickstarter to expand across the U.K.

Conceived by John Standbury at University College Falmouth back in 2006, Advice to Sink in Slowly distributes inspiring illustrated posters designed by graduates to first year students.

Featuring inspirational quotes such as “Do What You Love” and “Don’t Be Afraid” the idea is to encourage, support and nurture students with advice and words of wisdom to help them survive their first few weeks at University.

Offering some brilliant rewards including an exclusive t-shirt collab with sustainable clothing brand Howies, their new Kickstarter campaign hopes to provide posters for every creative undergraduate in the coming years.

Inkygoodness editor-in-chief Adam Clarke sat down with John to find out more about the inspiration behind the project and what you can do to help.

'Chase Your Own Tale' poster designed by

“Chase your own tale” by Gray318, litho print on Cyclus offset, 42 cm x 59.4 cm.

For those that don’t know, can you tell us about Advice to Sink in Slowly and where the original idea came from?

The idea came from a conversation with a friend who mentioned that she often asked her grandmother for advice and wisdom; something I had never done, but regretted. It made me realise that probably everyone has a piece of advice they wish they could share, pass on, and help make a difference to someones thinking and life. From there Advice To Sink in Slowly was born; though in a way I was equally inspired by being surrounded by ambitious, creative people in a small town, and wanting to be a part of bringing their work to wider audiences, while also creating a project of my own that I could be proud of. I remember the feeling of the cogs connecting.

 

Everyone has a piece of advice they wish they could share, pass on, and help make a difference to someones thinking and life.

John Stanbury, Advice to Sink in Slowly

We know the project has been running on and off since 2006 – how has it evolved over the last nine years?

It’s never had a stable funding source so it’s been a case of trying to evolve and find the best way to proceed. But in that time, we have sent out 8,000 posters in partnership with various universities throughout the UK, and 1,497 independently through our website. And to date, in total, there have been almost 100 posters designed for the project. It means having the momentum to keep going…to be able to say to potential sponsors, universities, and funding bodies, look what we’ve achieved and what we’ve got the potential to continue doing. We’ve sent out 3.500 free posters to new students this year and with a little help we can give out more posters next year, and the year after that.

We’ve sent out 3.500 free posters to new students this year and with a little help we can give out more posters next year, and the year after that.

John Standbury, Advice to Sink in Slowly
'Always with Honour' poster designed by

‘Always with Honour’ poster designed by

How has the Kickstarter been going so far?

Frankly it’s been wonderful. Whether it reaches the target or not the feeling of people backing the project will outweigh any feeling of regret at not meeting the target. But we’re at almost 50% with 2 weeks to go, so our target is definitely within reach. Hopefully we can really push during these last 2 weeks and get there…even if it’s with just a second to spare!

Sounds great! What do you hope new students will take away from the Advice posters they receive?

Although I’m really proud of the advice contained within the posters, a big aspect of the project is the genuine sincerity behind them – it’s a generous attempt to meaningfully affect those early anxious moments each student experiences when settling into student life. My biggest hope is that, whether the advice feels relevant or not, students will feel a small connection to the person who designed their poster and through that connection feel a wider sense of community and belonging that helps them survive their first few days and weeks at University.

 

Sticker set designed by Ben Javens

The posters are a great way to pass on advice and offer reassurance (with just a quick glance perhaps) when you need it most. Add in some eye-catching art from a leading illustrator and you have something that students will not only want to keep, but will no doubt go back to again and again.

Mark Sinclair, Creative Review

The Kickstarter rewards must have been a lot of fun to put together – are there any that you’re particularly excited about producing?

I’m excited about them all, but the fact that Howies (a clothing company based in Wales) are supporting the project is just wonderful. They have chosen 4 great designs to turn into t-shirts, exclusive to our Kickstarter campaign. I love the idea that someone might go to their first day at University wearing Temujin Dorian’s “How to make friends in your first term” t-shirt (below).

Temujin Dorian x Howies “How to make friends in your first term” t-shirt

Temujin Dorian x Howies “How to make friends in your first term” t-shirt

Have you given any thought to how the project develop beyond Kickstarter?

My dream is that the project could become a national project, that can support and be a part of each students first days at university. How will this happen? I’m not sure yet, but hopefully this Kickstarter campaign will help me get one step closer!

advicetosinkinslowly.net

To support John, and be a part of the brilliant Advice to Sink in Slowly project, visit the Kickstarter campaign here.

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Posted on Sep 1st, 15 by | Twitter: @lisahassell

Founder & director of Inkygoodness, Lisa is a published writer and arts journalist, focusing on creative business, graphic art and illustration and design education. Her words regularly appear in Computer Arts, Creative Bloq, Digital Arts and IdN.

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