Don't Be Afraid

Rosie Hilder discovers the power of fear and self-doubt at OFFSET Dublin

- Rosie Hilder

Self-doubt isn’t a concept you’d necessarily associate with the speakers of an internationally renowned conference like OFFSET Dublin. But it’s one that came up again and again over the course of the three-day creative event.

After stating she was sure her invitation to talk at OFFSET was a mistake, children’s book illustrator Beatrice Alemagna made another confession: “My work can be described in one word: struggle. My childhood struggle, the struggle against myself, struggle against my working methods.”

Alemagna went on to talk about how drawing competitions with her sister propelled her to improve her technique, and how she believes that children’s literature can be art. “In children’s books, at least the good ones, we find the fundamental concepts of life, such as comforts, nightmare, anarchy, adventures and prejudices,” she explained.

“I’m afraid every day when I’m working on something,” said Stephen Doyle of New York agency Doyle Partners, as he described his continual quest to create new and exciting work. “I really try to work over my head. If you push yourself into unfamiliar territory, you’ll have so much fun, but it’s really scary.”