Bringing the edgy, powerful & feminine into focus Becky Smith Creative Director & Founder of TWIN Magazine

Figure out who you are and what you want to achieve. Once you've found that, everything else will click into place

Over twenty years Becky Smith has become a renowned figure within the intertwining worlds of fashion and beauty.

Her edgy, powerful and feminine vision and keen eye for new talent has led to her becoming one of the London’s most sought-after creative directors, working with leading fashion magazines and major brands including Stella McCartney, Nike, Prada and Balenciaga among many many others.

In 2009, she founded Twin Magazine, a biannual hardback set up to showcase disobedient, rebellious and visionary creative voices through art and cultural features, and creative agency Twin Studio. Constantly breaking new ground, she’s recently turned her attention to visual art, with her new Surrey-based Gallery 13.

During this episode, Becky remembers how she got her foot in the door at i-D Magazine, the experience of working with top-tier talent (check out one of her favourite shoots, Michelle Yeoh x La Mer) and reveals how she tells the difference between a good photographer and a great one.

Prepare for a no-nonsense masterclass in decision-making within a high-pressure environment, getting noticed in a crowded industry and why being able to execute your vision, from moodboard to reality, is essential.

Follow Gallery 13 and @Twin.studio

EPISODE INSIGHTS

How to get noticed in a saturated industry
Why you should trust and follow your gut instincts
Applying a ‘less is more’ approach to choosing projects
Why nurturing creativity has its own rewards
Advice for photographers trying to break into the industry

Thoughts on the episode? Drop us a DM @creativebloodworld

EPISODE CREDITS

Hosted by Laura Conway
Produced and mixed by Scenery Studios
Show music by Ben Tarrant-Brown
Video by Nicola Collins

Becky Loves

visit: JR

"I was mesmerised by this light show performance for so long! It was a magical spectacle. It’s so amazing to have something IRL that takes amazing teamwork to pull this off. He’s a great creative mind!"

read: Berlin by Hedi Slimane

"This was iconic to me when I first started out as an art director. Not only did he introduce an androgynous skinny silhouette to the world, but also the black and white images of his surroundings, his friends and the ordinary places where unglamorous lives are led in the German capital"

visit: Noble Rot

"I've enjoyed many a beautiful lunch and dinner in their establishments (Lambs Conduit is my fave). Especially, the storytelling from the staff about their extensive wine list! Not only great food and drink – but a great magazine too, featuring cool and distinctive illustrators like Jose Mendez"

read: Isolated Heroes by Raf Simons and David Sims

"This is a really rare book that I’m lucky to have! I love how Simons and Sims sidestepped established male models and cast from the streets of Antwerp. The styling and, more than anything, the haircuts redefined menswear as a direct product of street culture. It’s an inspired book. Simons was heavily influenced by Joy Division and Kraftwerk and their stylistic legacy. It remains fresh and poignant to this day!"