Art Director, Warner Bros Discovery

Linda Gao

What were you up to before Shillington?

I was working in project management for various advertising and media agencies. As much as I liked the companies I worked for, I always felt like I was on the wrong side of the team, and gravitated towards the creative side.

Why did you decide to go back to school for design, after already getting a university degree?

I had been interested in art and design since I was a kid but never considered pursuing it as a higher education, nor did I understand what Graphic Design is really about. Only after graduating from college and working in the agency world-I realized it’s something that I want to pursue more seriously. 

I chose Shillington because it offered the exact type of classes I was looking for. At the time I wanted to find a program that taught the ins and outs of design without having to commit to a 4 year degree. The 3 months full time course at Shillington seemed ideal. I was impressed by their student portfolios and after attending an Info Session, I knew it was the right choice for me. 

Who were your Shillington teachers and what were the biggest lessons they taught you?

I had Holly, Sumayya, Dailey and Matt as my teachers. They were all wonderful. The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is that often times when you’re stuck on a design or can’t seem to move forward, it’s best to take a step back and look at the big picture instead of changing minor things here and there. Sometimes you need to change something drastic—whether in scale, hierarchy or color—to really make an impact. 

What would you say to someone who’s thinking about studying at Shillington?

I’d say if you’re passionate about design and are willing to put in the work, definitely do it. I loved my class and my classmates (some of them are still my close design friends today) and I now can’t imagine doing anything else as a career. Shillington really prepares you with all the skills you need to enter the workplace afterwards.

However it does take a lot of hard work and determination. It’s very fast paced and stressful at times and you have to love the process as much as the results. If you can do that then you’ll come out with an awesome portfolio.

Visit Linda’s website and read her full interview on the blog.