Creative Lives: Anna Lomax, creative director, set designer and art director

This week we chat to multitalented, London-based creative Anna Lomax. Combining work as a creative director, set designer and art director, she’s learnt to swap hats according to project. Creating striking, colour-rich visuals for editorial and commercial clients, she is often responsible for both creative concept and production. She talks us through her path – from a rocky start at university to expanding a network niche list of specialist makers. Studying illustration at university, it took a while for Anna to find a course that suited her, dropping out of Camberwell in London after her first year to start at Brighton. Here she was able to take her illustration work far beyond drawing, and soon discovered a line of work that truly appealed to her. And thanks to a group visit to Ron Nordsworthy’s studio in New York, Anna’s eyes were opened to the world of art direction. Working from her studio in East London, Anna surrounds herself with things that inspire her – from posters to trinkets – as something of an avid collector. She reflects on early jobs where her technical know-how was still limited, and how a promotions job for Topshop became a springboard for her career. This episode of Creative Lives was was presented by Indi Davies and the editor was Ivor Manly. Lecture in Progress is made possible with the support of a number of brand patrons – they include GF Smith, Squarespace and The Paul Smith Foundation. Check out lectureinprogress.com for more details.