Meet Ellen Adolfsson

The most exciting thing about Ellen Adolfsson's new position is learning about the abstract art of paper engineering.  "I didn't even know there was such a thing," says GROW participant Adolfsson, 45, who made a switch from being a graphic designer at Bonnier Carlsen in Stockholm to being a designer at Templar in Surrey, England. "This is a new way of thinking to me - books that fold out, things that pop-up off the pages and move. The 3D-aspect - all is new and fascinating!"

Originally from Sigtuna, an old town now part of suburban Stockholm, Adolfsson has worked for Bonnier Carlsen since 1999. After more than 10 years at Bonnier Carlsen, she decided she wanted to try a different work experience, and applied for GROW. "I was curious and in need of a change;" she says. "I also found it a great opportunity to get new input to the work I do back home." In Stockholm, she designs covers and layouts for children's books and sets up the documents for printing. "I also work with our catalogue," she says. At Templar, Adolfsson finds herself doing a variety of things. "I've made sketches for covers, spreads and worked on some pop-up books, making proofs and setting up dummies for the sales department," she says.

Adolfsson is very impressed with her new work environment, and welcomes the efficiency and smooth workflow at Templar. "It's great to have all functions in the same house. Sales department, marketing, designers, editors, repro and production." she says. That efficiency is all the more surprising since one of the biggest differences between the two offices is the complexity of products: "Templar makes pop-up books and a lot of very complex books like the Ology series," she says.

GROW allows Adolfsson to learn more than just paper engineering. "I have also learned how to approach a project from another angle: Try to design a layout without given images or texts. Try to make something out of nothing really! That is also different from how I usually work at Bonnier Carlsen."

But not everything Adolfsson takes back will be work-related. Some of her favorite memories so far have been the scenic lunch-time walks. "The surroundings are just fantastic around here. The countryside around Surrey is very beautiful. I've come to love England even more."