Our
Students

Where do you work?
I recently completed an internship with a graphic design studio in Farringdon and will shortly be starting a new job as a Design Concept Assistant for New Look at their head office in London.

Did you feel confident about entering the design industry after you graduated?
I initially felt nervous. The reality of getting my work out there was daunting, especially as a fresh new graduate. However, after showing my portfolio to a few industry professionals, the feedback I was receiving was very positive and I realised that I had something good to offer. They all commented on the high standard of my portfolio!

What were you doing before the course?
I had previously studied Display Design at University of the Arts in London and also worked as an Arts College Assistant in a secondary school. I have always been interested in design and knew that I would eventually want to work in a design-orientated job.

Why did you decide to do the course?
Whilst at university I was lucky enough to do a placement working alongside the design team on a magazine and I absolutely loved it. Although I helped them to produce some article spreads, I was frustrated at the limited skills I had with using the Adobe Creative Suite software. This was when I realised I wanted to learn how to use them properly and also enhance the design skills that I had already gained at university. The intense nature of the course at Shillington meant that my skills developed really quickly along with my ability to work to tight deadlines.

What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
It was during my most recent job interview that I realised how much I talked about my time at Shillington! Particularly when it came to questions regarding communication, ideas development and working as part of a team. The course definitely enhanced my communication skills, which is essential in the design industry. Having to justify my design ideas to the teachers and my fellow students really made me think about what I was doing and why. Working as part of a team was another aspect to the course which not only built my confidence but made me realise how important it is to take other people’s opinions and suggestions into account when designing. It's hard to pinpoint one thing! The whole experience at Shillington was incredibly valuable. It's incredible how much I have learnt in such a short space of time and I've also made some great friends along the way too.

Where do you see yourself in 12 months?
I would like to think in 12 months from now I will be well on my way to becoming an established member of a design team!