To start off 2019 we have a brand new Meet The Team with one of our latest additions, Ali, who has now been with us for just over six months. Ali graduated last year from Nottingham Trent University with a BA in Product Design and since joining us his focus has been on the Waitrose & Partners rollout.
So let’s get started!
Tea or coffee?
I’m definitely more of a tea person. I started drinking it in my final year of university and now I drink it all the time! If I'm really tired though, I have to have a coffee to get my day started.
Favourite YouTube video
It’s called “Tell Me When”. It’s a short video of a man next to a statue with his sister taking a photo. The brother wants the photo with a silly face and every time he pulls one the sister says ‘tell me when’. It just cracks me up every time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0WbrtVqSY
Favourite animated film?
It has to be Storks. It may not be Toy Story but it's a really fun film that has me in tears when I watch it. It is definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it before.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
I got into Strictly Come Dancing this year because of my girlfriend. I really didn't think I would enjoy it but it got to the point where I couldn't wait until Saturday to see Joe and Dianne on the dance floor. I’m disappointed Joe didn't win, but Stacey and Kevin are worthy champions.
Can you remember what it was that made you want to get into this field?
It started at school. I always preferred the creative subjects over the academic ones. I wasn’t bad at them, I just found the creative classes much more enjoyable. When I was looking at potential university courses Product Design really interested me as it was creative while still having an academic side. My course at Nottingham Trent University also didn’t involve any exams which was a real plus for me.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
It has to be the site visits. I enjoy the change of scenery from the office, it also gives me the opportunity to meet our clients and build relationships with them.
When are you most creative?
It’s probably when I am discussing work with others and bouncing ideas off of them. I also find listening to music helps, it allows me to zone out of distractions around me and focus on my work. Recently I have been listening to a lot of classical music, as it doesn’t have lyrics, it helps to reduce distractions further.
What’s your favourite board game?
It’s called Frustration. It’s a chasing game that has dice fixed in the centre which you push down to operate while moving your coloured pieces around the board.
Who’s your celebrity doppelganger?
I’ve been mistaken for Kevin de Bruyne before. I'm not a big football fan and I only know of him because a guy came up to me in a pub and called me Kevin. I had to Google who he was as I had no idea what the guy was going on about!
What have you achieved that you're most proud of?
I won a photography competition which was then put up in the Turner Contemporary in Margate. It was for my Art AS level. I wrapped my lounge and my brother on a chair in sheets and then got a good shot. It was originally part of my development work but I liked it so much it became my final piece and it won me an award.
Finally, can you draw us a self-portrait, please?