Just Graduated: Marta Cignetti

From education innovator to emerging designer: Marta Cignetti’s leap into creativity.

Sometimes, a career shift isn’t sparked by dissatisfaction, it’s sparked by discovery. For Marta, the decision to move into design came not from discontent, but from a growing recognition of where her energy came alive: in the creative moments tucked between project briefs and layout experiments.

Before joining Shillington, Marta worked at an international organisation, developing educational tools and content that empowered classrooms around the world. It was rewarding, meaningful work but over time, the tasks that demanded creative thinking and visual expression began to stand out. A first encounter with InDesign to layout a team publication lit a spark that never quite faded. What followed was a deep reflection on her next step and a brave decision to pursue a lifelong love for creativity more seriously.

In this interview, Marta shares what it was like to take the plunge into Shillington’s full-time course, the doubts she overcame and the community that carried her through. From childhood memories of drawing in Microsoft Paint with her dad to moments of solidarity in the Figma comments section, her story is a testament to how creativity often calls to us long before we choose to answer.

Read on to learn how Marta found the courage to pivot, and how Shillington helped her build the foundation for a brand new chapter in design.

Welcome back to Shillington, Marta! It's been 2 months since you graduated from our full-time course with a new portfolio.

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

Before starting at Shillington, I was working at an international organisation as part of a team that carried out projects related to education and educational innovation. For example, among other things, we helped develop content for an international large-scale assessment, as well as interactive learning and assessment materials to support the teaching of 21st-century competencies in the classroom. I really enjoyed my time there. The work itself was very stimulating, as I got to work on several different projects, and the team was wonderful, full of incredible colleagues who taught me a lot and whom I look up to.

With my contract coming to an end, I started thinking about where I wanted to go next. I realised that the tasks I had enjoyed the most were those that required creativity: coming up with ideas for the interactive content, creating mock-ups to visualise those ideas, and so on. At one point, I was also asked to create the layout for one of the team’s publications. It was my first time using InDesign, so completing the layout was both challenging and rewarding and it left me wanting to take on more tasks of the same nature. I think this experience, coupled with a lifelong passion for and admiration of anything creative, helped me realise that I wanted to develop the skills needed to enter a more creative field of work, such as graphic design. A bit of research later, I discovered Shillington and after a lot of consideration, I decided to go for it.

Marta's Shillington branding project for a Vancouver-based paint store, Tone.

Had you ever thought about design or being a designer before that?

I haven’t always dreamed of becoming a designer. In fact, there was a time when I wanted to be a biologist, then a journalist and eventually decided I wanted to work in an international organisation (which I actually ended up doing). My studies had very little to do with graphic design, or with any other creative field, really. Still, I feel that creativity has always been an important part of my life, in many small but personally meaningful ways.

To begin with, I think my family includes many creative people, and they’ve always been some of my personal “creative heroes.” For example, one of my grandfathers used to paint, carve wood, make wire sculptures, and even designed the labels for his own wine, all self-taught. I also have very fond childhood memories of drawing in Microsoft Paint with my father. We would often recreate characters from Winnie the Pooh, and I remember how we’d sometimes have to reeeeeally zoom in to find the missing pixels that were making the fill bucket tool fail (something I amusingly experienced again years later while using Procreate).

“Discovering” manga and anime in my early teens felt like opening the door to a whole new universe of artistic expression. I was amazed by the stories I read and watched, how they were told, and the sheer variety of drawing styles. Manga further fuelled my passion for drawing, while anime led me to develop a deep admiration for the medium of animation. Over time, I also began paying more attention to the designs I saw on book covers, posters, and other products, and started to imagine what it would be like to create something similar. These are just a few examples, but they’ve all contributed to a quiet, growing feeling that part of me has always wanted creativity to be part of what I’d do “when I grew up.”

That said, it’s still a bit hard to pinpoint exactly what made me want to become a designer. Perhaps the final push came from seeing how my creativity was valued in my last workplace. So, when I had the chance, I decided to finally try and embrace that side of me as more than just a hobby.

So what made you take the leap into Shillington's full-time course, and why now?

I decided to take the full-time course instead of the part-time one because I wanted to fully commit and immerse myself in graphic design. The timing felt right, almost like a “now-or-never” moment. My previous contract had just ended, I didn’t yet have a new job. I had come to the realisation that I wanted to pursue a more creative career. At the same time, I knew I wasn’t yet ready to apply for positions in the field: I didn’t have a portfolio, and I lacked many of the fundamental skills and knowledge. If I wanted to give this path a serious try, I needed to bridge that gap.

For a while, I considered using online resources and studying on my own. However, I really wanted to learn from experienced professionals who could provide structure and feedback, and I was also hoping to meet and interact with other creative people during the learning process. I looked into university programs as well, but in the end, I wasn’t sure about starting another bachelor’s degree. Shillington felt like a strong alternative. A good balance between self-study and formal education, which was one of the key reasons I ultimately chose it.

Were there any fears or doubts you had before starting? How did you push through them?

To be completely honest, I was initially unsure about the course’s three-month timeline. While I liked the idea of a fast-paced, full-immersion experience (that kind of format tends to work well for me when learning something new), it still felt like a very short time to acquire so many new skills. I was a bit worried it might not be fully worth the investment. I was also doubting myself since I had no background in graphic design, I wondered whether I’d be able to keep up with the course and complete the assignments to a good standard and on time.

I decided to book a call with one of the Shillington representatives, and I really appreciated that they didn’t dismiss my concerns. Instead, they shared their honest perspective and helped me better understand what I could realistically expect from the course as someone with no prior experience in the field.

By that point, I had been considering enrolling for a while, and I think that conversation gave me the final push I needed to make my decision. Within the first couple of weeks of the course, most of my remaining doubts had been eased thanks to the supportive teachers and classmates, as well as the progress we were already making.

Looking back, I believe I made the right decision in taking the course. I’m happy with how the course helped me build a solid foundation of skills and knowledge, and how it taught me to approach and develop briefs in a thoughtful and structured way.

Marta's Shillington Packaging project for a sustainable soap brand, Rinds & All.

Let’s talk about those first few weeks, what surprised you most about the course?

I really appreciated how, from the very beginning, we were introduced to theoretical concepts and then immediately encouraged to apply them, with class-wide feedback to guide us. I think this combination of theory and hands-on practice helped us gain a stronger understanding of the fundamentals while also becoming familiar with the graphic design software we were using.

Another really positive surprise was the teachers themselves, Carl and Katie (and Chloe and Sonia!) were fantastic. They took the time to help us whenever we ran into issues with the programs and were supportive and engaging from day one.

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

If I had to describe them in three words, I’d choose supportive, engaging, and inspiring.

Throughout the course they helped us build not only our skills but also our confidence as designers, all while remaining objective and giving us constructive feedback to improve our work. In that sense, it’s hard for me to point to one specific standout moment, they were just consistently great and made the classes fun and enjoyable. Lessons never felt boring or overwhelming, quite the opposite in fact.

If I had to choose one moment, though, I’d probably pick portfolio time. Carl was my supervisor, and he really supported me through rough patches and helped me believe more in my own designs. Something I truly appreciated and will carry with me.

When the course came to an end, it felt almost unreal that we wouldn’t be seeing them again or receiving any more lectures or briefs from them. Saying goodbye to the class and the teachers was quite difficult, and it definitely made me wish the course had lasted longer.

Let's talk about your classmates, any lasting friendships or moments of solidarity?

Just as I had great teachers, I also had an amazing group of classmates. The classes were always fun, thanks in large part to them. It was so nice to chat during design time, solve problems together, exchange perspectives on the briefs, share struggles and support one another during more intense moments. One small but meaningful thing I loved was how, at some point, we started leaving messages of encouragement on each other’s designs in Figma. It was uplifting to hype each other up and to see what everyone appreciated about one another’s work.

It was wonderful to watch everyone’s skills grow over time, and fascinating to see the different takes on the shared briefs. More than once, I found myself really admiring my classmates’ designs and thinking, “I wish I had thought of that!” in the best possible way.

I think both the teachers and my classmates played a huge role in how enjoyable and inspiring the course turned out to be, and I’m really glad I chose this path rather than studying on my own.

Marta's Poster and Brochure Design for a museum exhibition on the cultural significance of play and toys, Make Believe.

What was your proudest moment during the course?

Overall, I was really happy to see that I was able to keep up with the pace of the course and complete all the assignments on time, even the ones I found most challenging. I could genuinely feel myself improving as the course progressed, which was very satisfying on a personal level.

I was also genuinely proud of how some of my designs turned out, particularly the packaging project and the rebranding ones. I'm usually quite self-critical, so those moments felt especially meaningful to me.

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

I think I’d tell myself to have fewer doubts about enrolling because the course will be worth it. You’ll learn a lot, meet great people, and have fun along the way.

I’d also remind myself not to underestimate how much time it takes to come up with ideas, refine them, and actually bring them to life. In other words, manage your time well. And remember: things won’t always turn out the way you imagined on the first try and that’s okay. It’s part of the learning process, so just keep going and keep trying!

How has your perspective on design changed since graduating?

I feel that I’m now better equipped to understand why certain designs work so well and why they catch your eye. More broadly, the course has made me even more aware of how design is embedded in everyday life, often in ways we don’t consciously notice or think about.

Before taking the course, when I came across a beautiful book cover in a bookstore or a striking poster in the subway, I would mostly just appreciate the aesthetics. I knew I liked it, but couldn’t really explain why, beyond it matching my personal taste. Now, I find myself paying closer attention to the “technical” aspects of design as well: the alignment, the colour choices, the imagery, the typography, and so on. I’ve also become more curious about the process behind a finished design—what inspired it, what alternatives were explored and discarded before arriving at the final version, and the thinking behind those decisions.

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

To be completely honest, I’d love to explore all areas of design or at least as many as possible!

Shillington gave me (and all of my classmates) the opportunity to gain experience across several areas of design and build a solid foundation of fundamental skills. But I know there’s still so much to learn in this field. For now, I’d like to try a bit of everything to keep growing, improving, and discovering what I’m best suited for and most passionate about.

And finally, how are you approaching your next step? Job hunt, freelancing, passion projects?

At the moment, I’m building up the courage to reach out to my dream studios. I left Shillington with a strong portfolio and a solid set of skills, but impostor syndrome is a tough challenge to overcome.

In the meantime, I’m working part-time and revisiting a few projects that were “commissioned” by my brother and some friends before I started at Shillington. I’m curious to see how these evolve now, and I hope to integrate them into my portfolio once they’re complete!

Huge thanks to Marta for sharing her thoughtful reflections and inspiring journey into the world of graphic design. It’s always a privilege to hear how our graduates find their creative voice and we can’t wait to see where her talent takes her next.

Want to see more of Marta’s work? Visit her portfolio here.

Feeling inspired to make your own creative leap? Shillington’s full-time graphic design course kicks off this September—designed to take you from beginner to job-ready in just three months. Learn more and apply on our website..