In conversation with with Matilda Lucy
About the book that influenced, a tour around South East London and how she plays
'In conversation' is the new series of the Playground newsletter, in which we invite friends, acquaintances, or people we admire to share what's on their creative minds and the act of being playful.
Happy summer, Playground readers! As we put the finishing touches on an upcoming exhibition we've created for a client for 3daysofdesign (visit it and meet us next week if in Copenhagen), we're thrilled to bring you a playful conversation with Matilda Lucy.
Matilda is a freelance growth and marketing strategist with a unique perspective on reimagining the way brands grow online. Not only she is a fun and humble soul, but also shares the best growth tips and insights via her Instagram and newsletter.
After years of working in Berlin and Lyon, she now lives in South East London. And, as she says herself — when not at her laptop, you can find her at the park with her toddler (very often), trying to shoot better film photos (quite often), and exploring other European cities (as often as possible).
Two curious facts about our connection to Matilda!
First, we (Auste & Matilda) have briefly worked in the same company, a unique design objects online store, in the content team nine years ago (!!!) in Berlin!
Secondly, she might have written something really personal for our magazine Issue 2, which is cooking in the background (I'm just dropping the first teaser over here 🤫).
Over to Matilda!
Matilda, what has been taking up the most of your mind lately?
How we can all be less reliant on a handful of social media platforms to grow ideas and build things online.
What is one subject you’ve been interested in recently that is completely unrelated to your area of work?
My TikTok FYP would say “groups of middle aged women going on mega cruises”. Not sure how I ended up on this side of the app but they look like they are having so much fun with the all you can eat buffets and bottomless wines. I can’t look away.
Where would you take us if we asked you to give us a one-day tour of your city?
I’d take you around my local area in South East London:
Toad Bakery for coffee & pastries
Nunhead cemetery for a walk in nature
D4100 pizza sat on the top of Telegraph Hill overlooking the city
Pints and potentially a dance at my local pub, Skehans
Snap a picture of your creative space / work desk right now! No cheating - do not tidy up.
I’m currently on a (nice and empty) train out of London for the weekend! So this is what I can see:
What is one book/film/podcast/any piece of media that truly influenced how you perceive creative work?
John Berger’s Ways of Seeing. It’s a classic for a reason! I first read it when I was at university and it’s impacted how I perceive creative work ever since.
If you had one extra day in a week - what would you use it on?
Being outside. Ideally in the mountains swimming in a lake.
What is the one failure you made in your career that you would be happy to repeat?
I prioritised where I wanted to live over the work I could do there in my 20s. It meant I had a slightly weird work trajectory but spent years living in Berlin and Lyon which I loved.
What are the ways you incorporate play into your daily work?
I work mostly online so it’s the offline parts of my day that feel the most like play. Meeting someone for a coffee, going to an exhibition, or leafing through new books or magazines.
One person you wish we interviewed for ‘In conversation’ in the future?
My friend Jane Walton who just launched the first print edition of Full. magazine!
You can follow Matilda further on her Instagram or subscribe to her Substack publication, Broken Growth.
Greetings from Auste & Playground team. Don’t forget to sneak peak on our Instagram for behind-the-scenes from 3daysofdesign next week!
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