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It’s Your Future: Shyrah

By MetStudios

09 January 2025

Shyrah is studying BA (Hons) Games Art & Technology at MetStudios Brighton.

Growing up in a family that played a lot of games, Shyrah developed a love for character design from a young age. Join us as Shyrah shares her experiences and passion for her craft, reflecting on how her love of drawing has shaped her career goals and her aspirations for the future.

My Inspiration

My father is my greatest inspiration – he’s a musician, and it was through his love of music that I fell in love with character design. Playing games at home gave me a bit of a sneak peek into how designs can vary from game to game, and how that can make players feel. I wanted to achieve something like that, where I can have an impact on others in a positive way.

Finding Peace Through Art

When I am drawing, I feel at peace. It puts me at ease because there is no pressure. Whatever emotions I’m feeling before I sit down to draw can just be poured into my art. I can make whatever I like and it’s my own; what I do is unique to me and no one else can replicate that in the same way.

I’m definitely a visual person, which is probably why I lean towards character design. I like to challenge myself to make something as human as possible, and imperfection is what pulls me in and inspires me.

On a personal level, my craft reminds me of how far I’ve come and it proves to me that, if I really want to do something, if I put in the time and effort, then the results will come through. It doesn’t always come easily, but that’s why I enjoy it so much, seeing myself improve over time.

Brighton’s Creative Freedom

Moving to Brighton for my degree was game changing for me. Where I’m from originally, people wouldn’t generally step outside the box and, if you did, it wasn’t really comfortable as you’d be judged harshly for it. But in Brighton, everyone’s themselves, so you don’t stand out in a negative way – you can be yourself in any way that you’d like.

This city makes me feel free to do what I want, gives me the courage to be myself because, when I look around, I see other people that are doing the same. Even if they’re scared or nervous, they’re still free to do it nonetheless.

There’s a lot of great street art in Brighton. Around every corner, you see little details everywhere, parts of other people that they’ve left behind in their art. It really lights up the city, in my opinion, because you can always see sparks of creation from others that you don’t know, and it makes you want to do the same.

Life at MetStudios

I love the support we get from our lecturers at MetStudios. They are so experienced and they’re here to help us. They’re funny, they’re fun to be around and they encourage us a lot.

The facilities are really high tech so if you’re a student who can’t necessarily afford to get the best spec kit, that’s not something you need to worry about here at all.

As for the course, I like that it’s very hands on. I get to do a lot of practical work and focus completely on what I want to specialise in.

At the moment, I’m working on some concept art and character designs with a sci-fi, high-tech theme, but since that theme can be a bit boring on its own, I’m injecting my own culture into it. I’m from Jamaica, and we’re quite prideful and we like to wear flashy garments and bright colours. So, I decided to add those aspects to my design, and modernising it in a way. It’s quite fun right now.

If I hadn’t found this course at MetStudios, and if I didn’t have my career goals in mind, then I’d probably feel very empty. Without my art, I don’t think I would have the passion that I do today, and I wouldn’t be ‘me’. I am a creative person and that’s a lot of my identity. It’d be like losing half of myself.

My advice for someone at the beginning of their creative journey would be not to take yourself too seriously, or you can fall into the trap of wanting to be perfect. And that’s impossible. Let yourself be imperfect and just draw what comes to your mind without thinking of others. Create for yourself and that will help you gain the courage to make that first step.