Our
Students

Where do you work?
Nae-Design in Sydney.   

What is your role?
Creative Director for graphic and web design. I've positioned our studio as an 'end-to-end' creative provider for brand & identity.

What do you love about being a designer?
To see my design coming into life and become part of people's everyday experiences.

When did you graduate from Shillington?
August 2010.

What area were you working in before the course?
I was a Postdoctorate in Neuroscience and Stem Cell Research.

Did you have any design experience before the course?
None, although I wasn't bad with Photoshop's pen tool.

Why did you decide to study at Shillington?
I've always had an ongoing passion for art and design but had little opportunity to express through my science career. My conference presentations were becoming a bit too 'creative', so I decided to take a year off to give my latent talents an opportunity to flourish. I found Shillington's full-time course offered the kind of training I was looking for.

What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
Design is a solution and not an art: creativity requires discipline. This was the best advice I had during the course and still use it in practice.

How did you find the environment, facilities and teaching?
Lee and Karlee's teaching and mentoring was amazing, and the IT facilities were top notch.

You completed an internship at The Creative Method. Tell us more about that.
The Creative Method is a hub of talented designers and amazing brand and identity projects! Best part was to be part of the great team and see all the work for their signature design like Guzman Y Gomez. I was lucky to have a generous guidance from Tony, the Creative Director, and was part of the branding for FoneKing now open at the Centrepoint Westfield.

How long did it take you to secure a graphic design role after your internship?
After my internship at TCM I knew I had to have my own studio, and launched Nae-Design six months later.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?
We are currently re-branding the landmark Hurstville Ritz Hotel. It's an exciting project that includes logo, website, stationery, t-shirts and signage.

Where do you see yourself 12 months from now?
I would like Nae-Design to become a prominent part of Sydney's graphic and web design community. We will continue building our relationships with local clients and expand beyond.

Any advice for aspiring designers out there?
Have a vision and be ambitious!  Plan where you want to be in 3 months, 1 year and 10 years time.