Hi Everyone! Looking for advice for about moving from Canada, and looking to practice Art/Creative direction in London UK in 2020. Thanks!

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  • Hey Michael, I echo Daniel point, UK and Canada culture does have a lot in common. I feel the best way to explore is to visit the creative spots London has to offer and immerse yourself in them.

    Locations you can visit:-
    - Shoreditch
    - Brick Lane
    - Brixton
    - Camden Town

    Even visit commercial sports like oxford circus where you will see art direction from popular brands. Niketown, for example, has an experiential space where you are surrounded by-products and engage with activities that occur there. Hope this helps.
  • Being Canadian you’ll have some advantages over others who hope immigrant to the U.K. and London specifically.

    That said, we all do have a lot in common:

    • finding out about new neighborhoods
    • navigating big and small cultural differences in the workplace
    • navigating them outside of the workplace too
    • setting up new bank accounts
    • etc.

    An advance visit is a great way to start exploring some of that stuff. The rest you’ll earn over time with experience. And having conversations with other people in similar situations.

    Coming from NYC there were a lot of things I had to adapt to:
    • client feedback was more direct in NYC. Here it was obtuse and passive.
    • in NYC you can run to a bodega at 3am and get bacon and toothpaste or whatever. Here things actually close!
    • in NYC you’ll work yourself ragged doing 18 hour days. Here people actually have a better work/life balance.
  • Hey Daniel! Any help, thoughts, or experiences are more than appreciated. I'm planning on visiting London this coming fall to get a lay of the land, and hopefully, do some studio visits!
  • Hey Michael. /wave

    I moved to London 7 years ago from NYC. Not quite Canada but I might still have some useful tips and tricks. Let me know if you’re interested in that different but related POV.

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