Hear straight from our graduates.
If you want to be pushed and be constantly inspired, NYC is the place for you.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
What was your motivation behind coming to New York to study?
I was enticed by the whole idea of studying in the city I’ve always wanted to live in. I feel that New York is a huge source of inspiration. You see it all around you. This city is very competitive and I wanted to be in a place that will push you to grow even more.
You entered the U.S. on an M-1 Visa to study with Shillington. How was your experience obtaining the visa?
It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It was very quick and Shillington was very helpful in giving us a list of requirements and expectations. The key is to start early though, just in case you may have any last minute fixes in your requirements.
Do you feel your New York experience influenced your design style and/or approach?
Definitely. You’re constantly exposed to a lot of things and it changes your perception which in turn, affects your style. With all the clutter around, I feel that my design has become more streamlined and focused.
What were some of the best examples of design you encountered while in New York?
Personally I’d say the best examples of design can be seen in a lot of buildings and the establishments in West Village, Soho and Williamsburg. You see it in the materials they use, the lights, the walls and the furniture. What’s great about this city is that you see all types of authentic and grounded design. You see it everywhere.
What advice would you give to someone considering New York as an option for study in the creative field?
Do it! If you want to be pushed and be constantly inspired, NYC is the place for you.
Visit Bea’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Caitlin Clancy
Designer, The New York Times
Miwako Suzuki
Integrated Creative Director
Rachel Urquhart
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Lauren Koste
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Eman Abdallah
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Lori Beth Kaye
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Anastasiia Vinnichenko
Designer, Tile Creative
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Keiran McCann
Graphic Designer, Victoria’s Secret
Emily Campos
UX Designer, Wix
Jaira Adlawan
Senior Visual Designer, Sephora
Ani Monteleone
Designer, The Wall Street Journal
Hamish Snow
Designer, Josephmark
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Gerald Torto
Strategist, Re Agency
Linda Gao
Designer, HBO
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Will Batrouney
Graphic Designer, Ignite Online
Sinead Murphy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bianca Oggiano
Designer, Design Haus Liberty
Christopher J Porter
Designer, I See Sea
Dominika Stanczyk
Designer, Open Water
Katie Lodge
Business Development Manager, Frost* collective
Vanessa Bertagnole
Graphic Multimedia Designer, Surf Life Saving Queensland
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
Yarron Frauenfelder
Design Director
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Erin Gale
Designer, Target
Tiffany Yee
Designer, Forever 21
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Emma Ladlow
Designer, University of Nottingham Students' Union
Braden Floris
Designer, GoFundMe
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Halah El Kholy
In-House Designer, Brew Tea Co
Alexander Rog
Junior Designer, oOh!
Jessica Bakker
Junior Graphic Designer, Beyond Communications
Bianca Chu
Senior Designer, eBay
Tally Thompson
Graphic Designer, Awesome Creative
Greg Bemis
Creative, Nike
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Tahmena Lutfi
Digital Designer, Qantas and Jetstar Hotels
Meredith Wallis
Designer, King & Partners
Miranda Mayne
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lindsay Koffler
Graphic Designer, Refinery29
Bobby Hendry
Designer, Brilliant Logic
Anika George
Designer, AKQA
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Lily Moore
Designer at Sotheby’s
Liana Modolo
UX Designer, Rex Software
Victoire Scherer
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Mikel McCavana
Designer, Moment
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Alexander Wu-Kim
Concept Creative, ANDPEOPLE Australia
Kirsten McColl
Designer, WH-O
Nicole Rogers
Designer, Birchbox
Frankie Young
Founder, Studio Neubau
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Jackson Todd
Art Director, Van Der Zwaag
Dawn Moloney
Founder, A Making Life
Caroline Keefe
Freelance, Nickelodeon
Sophie Lord
Creative Director, Hello May
Ocki Magill
Founder, Letter Bug Studios
Andy Vargas
Designer, Bitâcora
Moshe Bien
Designer, Nucleus
Crystal Lin
Designer, DNA Design
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Jing Ong
Designer, Autumn
Paul and Amoni Liddell
Graphic Designers, Westpac CX and Feel
Eleanor Rogers
Letterpress Printer, Chapel Press
Andy Tharagonnet
Designer, ThumbsUp
Erin Donati
Founder, Harley Quinn & Co.
Ben Peters
Freelance Graphic Designer
Brad Holten
Designer, Big Idea
Natalia Baker
Freelance Graphic Designer
Guy Pittard
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
If you want to be pushed and be constantly inspired, NYC is the place for you.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
What was your motivation behind coming to New York to study?
I was enticed by the whole idea of studying in the city I’ve always wanted to live in. I feel that New York is a huge source of inspiration. You see it all around you. This city is very competitive and I wanted to be in a place that will push you to grow even more.
You entered the U.S. on an M-1 Visa to study with Shillington. How was your experience obtaining the visa?
It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. It was very quick and Shillington was very helpful in giving us a list of requirements and expectations. The key is to start early though, just in case you may have any last minute fixes in your requirements.
Do you feel your New York experience influenced your design style and/or approach?
Definitely. You’re constantly exposed to a lot of things and it changes your perception which in turn, affects your style. With all the clutter around, I feel that my design has become more streamlined and focused.
What were some of the best examples of design you encountered while in New York?
Personally I’d say the best examples of design can be seen in a lot of buildings and the establishments in West Village, Soho and Williamsburg. You see it in the materials they use, the lights, the walls and the furniture. What’s great about this city is that you see all types of authentic and grounded design. You see it everywhere.
What advice would you give to someone considering New York as an option for study in the creative field?
Do it! If you want to be pushed and be constantly inspired, NYC is the place for you.
Visit Bea’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Oceane Combeau
Designer, Fernand et Firmin
Charly Tudor
Graphic Designer, Holdens
Anna Mullin
Illustrator, Sneaky Racoon
Theo Witrylak
Visual Designer, EPAM
Stephanie Antill
Founder, St Clement Creative
Paul McKie and Myles Sharpe
Directors, Autumn
Pete Conforto
Designer, For The People
Nicol Reid
Founder, Little Creative
David Scott
Designer, The Mix
James Birks
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Jane Durlacher
Graphic Designer, Paper Stone Scissors
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Romayne Gadelrab
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
Founder, frank wo
Roo Cassels
Designer, Big Fish
Vanessa Burgess
Graphic Designer, Tritium
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Molly Sitter
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Cari Sekendur
Art Director, LMNOP Creative
Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic Designer
Tim Jones
Brand Experience Director, venturethree
Carla Scotto
Freelance Graphic Designer
Meg Walker
Designer, Milkshake
Christina Capetola
Designer at Wayfair
Louise Hamer
Design Lead, We Are Empire
Ina Estrada
Founder, Par Vous Designs
Chrystal Christie
Photographer/Graphic Designer, One Round Entertainment
Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Sam Jacobs
Senior Designer, Time Inc.
Sean Raynor
Designer, Watermark Studio
Irina Manning
UX Designer, Manning Labs
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual Designer
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home