Hear straight from our graduates.
Then it hit me—why don’t I just pursue what makes me happy and pave myself a career in design?
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Molly Sitter
Before Shillington you worked in media and advertising. Why did you want to make a career change?
Back at University I chose a degree that I felt was valuable, multifaceted, and what I thought would be creative — a BA in Business, with a specialization in marketing. I had ideas of possibly going into media and advertising because those industries appeared to be fun and maybe a little glamorous. After graduation, I soon found that at an agency they stretch the definition of “creativity” (unless you are are solely in a creative position) to include how to best communicate with audiences through reading and interpreting data creatively. However, my strengths were always more visually creative and consistently I struggled in my first jobs within the media industry. In addition, I was not excited to go to work every day nor had I had aspirations to work my way up to higher positions along this career path. That’s when I realized I needed to change my focus to one where I could use my creative skills to then find a career I found enjoyable and highly rewarding.
Why did you decide to study design? And why Shillington?
After moving to NYC and traveling more often, I found myself making friends with many people in the design industry. I enjoyed spending time with people I could relate to, but at the end of the day I was envious of their career opportunities. Then it hit me—why don’t I just pursue what makes me happy and pave myself a career in design?
I battled back and forth on whether this would be the right career change. Could I afford it? This would be the right time to do it, while I’m still young and not too deep into a career. But, I can’t afford spending another two years of my life in school, in addition to what it would cost. I could do small late night courses, but will that prepare me for a career in design? What if I don’t get a job afterwards? During my research I stumbled across Shillington and thought this could be the answer. However, it seemed too good to be true. I needed to learn more and as soon as I could, I attended an Information Session in addition to a Graduate Panel. Not only was I overwhelmingly impressed and had all my questions answered, I immediately applied to Shillington the next week.
Now you work in-house at a creative agency. Tell us how you landed the role! Did you feel confident with your Shillington portfolio?
I was incredibly lucky right after graduation. I had not applied to any jobs, yet I was sought out after seeing my portfolio created at Shillington. I had known the founders of the company that I work at for two years, right after I moved to NYC. During my time at Shillington,we were playing with the idea of an internship after I graduated. I wasn’t too thrilled with this idea because I needed a full time paid position to be able to survive in the city. However, soon after graduation my current bosses saw my portfolio and all that I have learned during my experience at Shillington, they soon was offered a full-time in-house position.
What advice would you give to a Shillington student on day one?
On Day One, don’t get too overwhelmed right away. The teachers, and how the course is designed, will set you up for success. Surprisingly in three months (this still shocks me), you will learn all the programs and become a confident designer in the real world… even though on the first day it seems like an impossible task.
Visit Molly’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Lori Beth Kaye
Senior Product Designer, The Iconic
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
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
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
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
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
Art Director, Apple Inc.
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
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
Then it hit me—why don’t I just pursue what makes me happy and pave myself a career in design?
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Molly Sitter
Before Shillington you worked in media and advertising. Why did you want to make a career change?
Back at University I chose a degree that I felt was valuable, multifaceted, and what I thought would be creative — a BA in Business, with a specialization in marketing. I had ideas of possibly going into media and advertising because those industries appeared to be fun and maybe a little glamorous. After graduation, I soon found that at an agency they stretch the definition of “creativity” (unless you are are solely in a creative position) to include how to best communicate with audiences through reading and interpreting data creatively. However, my strengths were always more visually creative and consistently I struggled in my first jobs within the media industry. In addition, I was not excited to go to work every day nor had I had aspirations to work my way up to higher positions along this career path. That’s when I realized I needed to change my focus to one where I could use my creative skills to then find a career I found enjoyable and highly rewarding.
Why did you decide to study design? And why Shillington?
After moving to NYC and traveling more often, I found myself making friends with many people in the design industry. I enjoyed spending time with people I could relate to, but at the end of the day I was envious of their career opportunities. Then it hit me—why don’t I just pursue what makes me happy and pave myself a career in design?
I battled back and forth on whether this would be the right career change. Could I afford it? This would be the right time to do it, while I’m still young and not too deep into a career. But, I can’t afford spending another two years of my life in school, in addition to what it would cost. I could do small late night courses, but will that prepare me for a career in design? What if I don’t get a job afterwards? During my research I stumbled across Shillington and thought this could be the answer. However, it seemed too good to be true. I needed to learn more and as soon as I could, I attended an Information Session in addition to a Graduate Panel. Not only was I overwhelmingly impressed and had all my questions answered, I immediately applied to Shillington the next week.
Now you work in-house at a creative agency. Tell us how you landed the role! Did you feel confident with your Shillington portfolio?
I was incredibly lucky right after graduation. I had not applied to any jobs, yet I was sought out after seeing my portfolio created at Shillington. I had known the founders of the company that I work at for two years, right after I moved to NYC. During my time at Shillington,we were playing with the idea of an internship after I graduated. I wasn’t too thrilled with this idea because I needed a full time paid position to be able to survive in the city. However, soon after graduation my current bosses saw my portfolio and all that I have learned during my experience at Shillington, they soon was offered a full-time in-house position.
What advice would you give to a Shillington student on day one?
On Day One, don’t get too overwhelmed right away. The teachers, and how the course is designed, will set you up for success. Surprisingly in three months (this still shocks me), you will learn all the programs and become a confident designer in the real world… even though on the first day it seems like an impossible task.
Visit Molly’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
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