Hear straight from our graduates.
Choosing to study at Shillington was a gut instinct and spring-boarded my career.
Illustrator, Sneaky Racoon
Anna Mullin
Where do you work?
I design and illustrate under the name Sneaky Raccoon. I specialise in the areas of bespoke illustration with a focus on animals and nature, identity design, typography and unique characters including custom vinyl toys for both commercial commissions and private collections.
Why did you choose Shillington?
I enrolled at Shillington because I’d had such a bad experience at University, doing a subject that I had become disinterested in and regretted losing four years of my life to, which I could never regain. Shillington offered everything I wanted and was used to while studying previously.
Fast-paced, hard work, real-time briefs, concentrated, and to be completely honest—the teachers want you to succeed. It was nice to have deadlines and a strict schedule to adhere to, which was perfect for my way of working. Choosing to restudy at Shillington was a gut instinct and spring-boarded my career.
What is your proudest career achievement to date?
Proudest career moment? I think it was beating two larger design industry agencies to the Monsoon Trust charity identity which I designed with Rob and Jon atSawdust. Sometimes the underdog does win.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a graduate about to enter the industry?
Advice for juniors going into industry—be positive. There is a lot to learn and adapt to when you first start out. There will be days when you can’t find the right solution or when the work might not be interesting, but just remember that it’s all experience, both good and bad. If you have a good day, that’s excellent—smile. If it’s a bad day, just remember not to be too hard on yourself, breathe and know that tomorrow is a new day. Being a designer can be challenging at times, but remember that you are not on your own.
You can ask your peers if you don’t know how to do something, don’t be embarrassed. Working with a team means there is room for honesty when you work hard and they know and understand that you’re trying your best. Explore—you’ll find what you love the most by experimenting and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Finally, good luck—it’s something that you make for yourself.
Visit Anna’s website and read her interview on the blog.
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Choosing to study at Shillington was a gut instinct and spring-boarded my career.
Illustrator, Sneaky Racoon
Anna Mullin
Where do you work?
I design and illustrate under the name Sneaky Raccoon. I specialise in the areas of bespoke illustration with a focus on animals and nature, identity design, typography and unique characters including custom vinyl toys for both commercial commissions and private collections.
Why did you choose Shillington?
I enrolled at Shillington because I’d had such a bad experience at University, doing a subject that I had become disinterested in and regretted losing four years of my life to, which I could never regain. Shillington offered everything I wanted and was used to while studying previously.
Fast-paced, hard work, real-time briefs, concentrated, and to be completely honest—the teachers want you to succeed. It was nice to have deadlines and a strict schedule to adhere to, which was perfect for my way of working. Choosing to restudy at Shillington was a gut instinct and spring-boarded my career.
What is your proudest career achievement to date?
Proudest career moment? I think it was beating two larger design industry agencies to the Monsoon Trust charity identity which I designed with Rob and Jon atSawdust. Sometimes the underdog does win.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a graduate about to enter the industry?
Advice for juniors going into industry—be positive. There is a lot to learn and adapt to when you first start out. There will be days when you can’t find the right solution or when the work might not be interesting, but just remember that it’s all experience, both good and bad. If you have a good day, that’s excellent—smile. If it’s a bad day, just remember not to be too hard on yourself, breathe and know that tomorrow is a new day. Being a designer can be challenging at times, but remember that you are not on your own.
You can ask your peers if you don’t know how to do something, don’t be embarrassed. Working with a team means there is room for honesty when you work hard and they know and understand that you’re trying your best. Explore—you’ll find what you love the most by experimenting and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Finally, good luck—it’s something that you make for yourself.
Visit Anna’s website and read her interview on the blog.
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