Just Graduated: Jess Sprunger

Before Shillington graduate Jess Spruger was a metalsmith in Portland, crafting jewellery for small businesses. While it was, in many ways, her dream job, the demands of production work left her creatively drained and missing the joy of making for herself. Looking for a new skill that could reignite her creativity and support her broader artistic practice, Jess discovered graphic design and found the perfect next chapter at Shillington.

In this interview, Jess shares what it was like to take the leap from jewellery to design, how Shillington’s full-time course challenged and supported her, and why community (both in the classroom and beyond) has been central to her growth.

Hello again Jess! It's been just under 5 months since your graduation day!

What was your life like before Shillington? What were you doing, dreaming about, or even struggling with creatively? 

Prior to Shillington I worked as a metalsmith fabricating jewellery for small businesses here in Portland. In many ways it was my dream job and I loved the tactile nature of the work but I was feeling burnt out by production work physically and mentally. I missed making jewellery just for fun and having the energy to explore designs without considering the bottom line. I knew that learning a new skill would bring back some of that creative energy I was missing. I landed on graphic design as a good skill to add to my repertoire that would allow space for and support my other art practices. 

Did you always want to be a designer, or did something spark that shift? 

I’ve always been a designer but the medium has shifted over time. This is my first foray into digital design. I got the idea for graphic design when considering a career shift but I didn’t want to start my own business at the moment as I wasn’t ready to let go of working creatively. Graphic design felt like a fun and exciting challenge that would be a huge skill asset to have if I ever do start my own business. 

What made you take the leap into Shillington's full-time course, and why in January 2025?

I did some self study to see if graphic design would be a good fit and quickly realized that I don't know what I don't know. I knew that I would learn best with the live instruction and external accountability that Shillington offers. The most helpful part of the course was getting feedback every day and hearing the feedback that others got as well. Shillington accelerated the pace at which I gained knowledge. 

Were there any fears or doubts you had before starting? And if so, how did you push through them? 

Imposter syndrome! But really I did prep and research before the course to make sure that graphic design was something I wanted to invest in and stick with. I met a Shillington alumni by chance here in Portland (Hi Roman!) at a Design event and asked her all of my questions about Shillington and if it was a scam…its not! I also took some basic Adobe suite courses to get familiar with the programs. That was helpful when starting the course to have some base knowledge going in. 

Jess's Brochure Editorial Shillington project, Make Believe.

How would you describe your teachers in 3 words? Any standout moments or lessons they gave you? 

Simon was such a fun, talented, and supportive teacher. His easygoing approach to design instilled a confidence in our class and reminded us that sometimes it's ok to get weird and have fun because that's where the good ideas originate. 

What role did your classmates play in your journey? Any lasting friendships or moments of solidarity? 

My classmates were the best part of Shillington! Our group got lucky that we all got along really well, we enjoyed collaborating, offering feedback and advice to each other. We just had a Zoom call the other day to catch up and see how everyone is doing post portfolio and graduation. We're planning on keeping up a monthly meeting to check in on job searches and whatever we're working on. I feel lucky that we developed our own design community from this class.

Shillington is known for its fast-paced, real-world approach. How did that challenge or excite you? Proudest moment during the course? 

The quick pace was definitely a challenge especially during portfolio time. And I don’t know if it was the proudest moment but there was a day when I was working in Figma and it finally clicked how to create a button. That felt monumental after struggling for a few days. 

If you could go back and give your past self advice before starting the course, what would you say? 

Organize your files! I wish I had more of an idea how intense portfolio time would be. I would have spent more time polishing things up throughout the course rather than saying “I’ll fix that up in portfolio time” at the end of each project. 

Jess's Brand Identity Start-Up Shillington project, Outside In.

How has your perspective on design changed since graduating? 

I feel more comfortable “failing” than when I started. What I previously thought of as failure is just iterating on an idea until you land on one that works for the brief and does the best job telling the story. Shillington helped me identify the moments in the process when I need to reach out for feedback (early and often) before the end when you are too attached to your designs. 

What areas of design are you hungry to explore more? (Branding, UX/UI, Motion, Type, etc.) 

I just want to practice, practice, practice! The dream now is to land on a team full of talented people who are willing to mentor and share their knowledge. I’m keen to work on more branding projects and packaging design. 

Any dream clients or projects you’d love to work on next? 

I would love to work on restaurant branding or within the food and beverage space. I love baking and thinking about people's interaction with food and how it can bring a sense of comfort. I grew up in a family that said I love you with food and baked goods and would love the chance to communicate that feeling in a design project. 

How are you approaching your next step – job hunt, freelancing, passion projects? 

I’m in the middle of job hunting at the moment and taking on freelance work in the meantime. I’m working on a branding project for my friend's flower farm and I can't wait to share what we come up with. I am very much a community connection person so I’ve been attending lots of networking events and meeting up with other designers as much as possible. I’m also telling any and everyone I meet that I’m job searching because you never know who will be a connecting point. 

What does being part of the Shillington community mean to you? 

Shillington is the beginning of my design community. These are the people who I will reach out to and recommend when I get the chance. There is a shared camaraderie of having gone through the same experience and having a shared language of process. 

How has this experience changed you, creatively or personally? 

I loved getting the chance to finally use all of my pop/internet culture knowledge! That and I got a lot of creative energy from being in a room with other talented designers brainstorming ideas and giving feedback. 

Any advice for someone thinking about taking the course, but feeling unsure? 

Like most things in life you get out of this what you put into it. There is no magic wand to becoming a good designer but Shillington provides the framework, the support for you to do good work and then come out with practical experience. 

What's one thing you'd tell the design industry about non-traditional routes like Shillington? 

People who are choosing to take this time and money to invest in themselves are committed to doing good work. You can teach design but it's harder to teach drive and passion both of which Shillington grads have. 

A big thanks to Jess for sharing her story and insights! From Metalsmithing to graphic design, her journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to pivot creatively and find a new source of energy and inspiration.

You can see more of Jess’s work on her website: jess-sprunger.com.

Feeling inspired by Jess’s journey? Learn more about how you can kickstart your own design career at Shillington’s graphic design course.