Hear straight from our graduates.
I’ve been nicknamed ‘Speedy Gonzales’ and ‘Lightning Lin’ at work. I owe it to Shillington for that.
Associate Director of Product Design, Bank of New Zealand
Crystal Lin
What do you love about being a designer?
I love adding my personal touch and personality to the world in the form of design. And having the privilege of being a channel for people to voice their ideas through me—for example, a client has an idea, but doesn’t have know how to express it or make it tangible, so the designer is given the responsibility and the reigns to execute and help the client out in this way.
What area were you working in before the course?
Classical Music. I had just graduated from university studying a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Performance Viola and Voice.
What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
The ability to work with speed. Time is money! Shillington really emphasised the reality of working to a deadline. Getting brief and having to hand in the design at the end of the same day is not uncommon in the industry. I’ve been nicknamed ‘Speedy Gonzales’ and ‘Lightning Lin’ at work. I owe it to Shillington for that.
Also, the importance of process, building an idea up from the base. Every step of the design process is vital in getting the final product. Research, brainstorming, concepting, developing, refining. And also just persevering! There will be times you get creative block but you just have to forge your way through.
How did you find the college environment, facilities and teaching?
It was like being at home! Like being part of a new family. You’re with the other students for hours every day so you become a tight-knit group. Our facilities were pristine, and having the college in a modern building where other corporate businesses are only heightened the sense of professionalism and design-in-the-working-world feel.
I could rave about the teachers forever, they were awesome. Their experiences of the design industry meant the content of the course was up-to-date. They treated us as professionals, as if they were the art directors and we were junior designers in a massive studio. We were pushed to design our best and not to settle for anything less. We were recognised for our individual styles that came through our design work, but also guided and supported throughout the course.
I’ve been nicknamed ‘Speedy Gonzales’ and ‘Lightning Lin’ at work. I owe it to Shillington for that.
Associate Director of Product Design, Bank of New Zealand
Crystal Lin
What do you love about being a designer?
I love adding my personal touch and personality to the world in the form of design. And having the privilege of being a channel for people to voice their ideas through me—for example, a client has an idea, but doesn’t have know how to express it or make it tangible, so the designer is given the responsibility and the reigns to execute and help the client out in this way.
What area were you working in before the course?
Classical Music. I had just graduated from university studying a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Performance Viola and Voice.
What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
The ability to work with speed. Time is money! Shillington really emphasised the reality of working to a deadline. Getting brief and having to hand in the design at the end of the same day is not uncommon in the industry. I’ve been nicknamed ‘Speedy Gonzales’ and ‘Lightning Lin’ at work. I owe it to Shillington for that.
Also, the importance of process, building an idea up from the base. Every step of the design process is vital in getting the final product. Research, brainstorming, concepting, developing, refining. And also just persevering! There will be times you get creative block but you just have to forge your way through.
How did you find the college environment, facilities and teaching?
It was like being at home! Like being part of a new family. You’re with the other students for hours every day so you become a tight-knit group. Our facilities were pristine, and having the college in a modern building where other corporate businesses are only heightened the sense of professionalism and design-in-the-working-world feel.
I could rave about the teachers forever, they were awesome. Their experiences of the design industry meant the content of the course was up-to-date. They treated us as professionals, as if they were the art directors and we were junior designers in a massive studio. We were pushed to design our best and not to settle for anything less. We were recognised for our individual styles that came through our design work, but also guided and supported throughout the course.
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