A Practice for Everyday Life
A Practice for Everyday Life is a multidisciplinary studio for art direction, graphic design and type design based in London.
The studio collaborates with global brands, cultural institutions, and contemporary artists on a diverse range of projects.
Spanning art direction, brand identity, editorial design, exhibitions, digital, and type design.
The Hepworth Wakefield, Sheila Hicks: Off Grid book design, 2023. Photo: Ed Park
Inside the Company
Founded by Kirsty Carter and Emma Thomas in 2003 – the studio has since grown to a team of ten.
The studio's collaborative and investigative approach has enabled the studio to forge enduring relationships with a diverse range of clients.
Some of the names on the roster are the V&A, Tate, the Whitney Museum of American Art, Elle, and Birkenstock.
The team’s work has a global outreach – appearing in Aesop storefronts around the world and across the city of Venice for the 59th La Biennale di Venezia in 2022.
Type design via the APFEL Type Foundry makes up some of the studio’s services. It also develops publications, prints, and other design-focused products for the APFEL Shop.
JW Anderson, Women’s AW24 Invitation design, 2024. Photo: Ed Park
Mission and Values
The studio is driven by the belief that design should begin and end in dialogue – between the studio, its collaborators, and their audiences.
Design Museum, Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life exhibition graphics, 2021. Photo: Thomas Adank
Culture and Benefits
As a close-knit team, the studio believes the best design ideas emerge out of open and collaborative discussions amongst the team – with informal reviews at the heart of the studio culture.
This focus on collaboration also extends to cultural outings where the entire studio visits a gallery, house or paid exhibition together once a month. As well as monthly catered team lunches, informal social activities and birthday celebrations.
Entry-Level Opportunities
There are opportunities for mentoring and growth within the team – as junior members work closely alongside the studio’s more experienced designers, exchanging knowledge, and providing support.
The studio’s diverse portfolio enables the entire team to diversify their skills across a range of different contexts and collaborate with designers, makers, and manufacturers across a range of disciplines.
There is an ongoing internship scheme (at London Living Wage) that invites recent graduates to play an active role in the design process and gain experience.