Hear straight from our graduates.
If you want to learn up-to-date technical skills, ideation techniques, theory and key principles of design in a deadline-driven environment that feels like a design studio, Shillington is the place.
Designer, The New York Times
Caitlin Clancy
You previously studied art and design but decided to upskill at Shillington 7 years later. What made you return and why did you choose Shillington?
After spending nearly two years living in Belgium, I wanted to upskill in digital design, brush up on the Adobe creative software and work on a new portfolio that would give me the confidence to get back into the graphic design industry. Shillington had been on my radar for some time so there was no question about where I would choose to study.
I had first heard about Shillington in my final year of art school and considered enrolling after graduation. Manchester School of Art was a great experience for teaching conceptual thinking, visual experimentation, traditional print techniques and historical, social and cultural contextualisation but at the time I experienced a lot of self doubt and felt like my limited technical skills and conceptual portfolio weren’t enough to get into industry.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your time at Shillington?
The early starts. I like to get up early but being on top form creatively from 8.ooam—5.oopm, day in and day out for three months was a challenge and required a lot of energy and focus. Living in East London, I found my daily walks to and from Shillington helped to give me headspace and keep me inspired. Taking pictures of colours, shapes, patterns, architecture, graffiti, posters or shopfronts on the way in could all inspire a creative response to the daily briefs. In hindsight, I am so grateful for this challenge as, in my current role, I am often required to come up with an idea, design inspiration or suggest an illustration, photography or animation approach in an instant.
Did you make any meaningful connections with teachers or fellow students during the course? Have you encountered any fellow Shillumni since graduation?
Yes, there was such a good vibe between the students and the teachers during the course (shout out Andy, Amy, Fiona and Hilary). We have a WhatsApp group where we keep in touch and meet for catch ups occasionally. It’s cool to exchange experiences and hear how everyone is getting on in industry as we have shared this intense experience and witnessed how hard we all worked and progressed during the course.
What would you say to someone who is sceptical about the Shillington course?
If you want a course that teaches you up-to-date technical skills alongside ideation techniques, theory and key principles of graphic design in a deadline driven environment that feels like a design studio, Shillington is the place. You will leave with a polished portfolio and be ready for any industry briefs.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Be industrious. Put all your energy and focus into it. Embrace not knowing everything. Share your ideas with the teachers and fellow students no matter how silly, support each other and have fun. It’s also important to keep a mood board of art and design that inspires you and take full advantage of the Shillington library which is filled with plenty of informative and inspiring design reference books and independent magazine publications.
Visit Caitlin’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
If you want to learn up-to-date technical skills, ideation techniques, theory and key principles of design in a deadline-driven environment that feels like a design studio, Shillington is the place.
Designer, The New York Times
Caitlin Clancy
You previously studied art and design but decided to upskill at Shillington 7 years later. What made you return and why did you choose Shillington?
After spending nearly two years living in Belgium, I wanted to upskill in digital design, brush up on the Adobe creative software and work on a new portfolio that would give me the confidence to get back into the graphic design industry. Shillington had been on my radar for some time so there was no question about where I would choose to study.
I had first heard about Shillington in my final year of art school and considered enrolling after graduation. Manchester School of Art was a great experience for teaching conceptual thinking, visual experimentation, traditional print techniques and historical, social and cultural contextualisation but at the time I experienced a lot of self doubt and felt like my limited technical skills and conceptual portfolio weren’t enough to get into industry.
What was the biggest challenge you faced during your time at Shillington?
The early starts. I like to get up early but being on top form creatively from 8.ooam—5.oopm, day in and day out for three months was a challenge and required a lot of energy and focus. Living in East London, I found my daily walks to and from Shillington helped to give me headspace and keep me inspired. Taking pictures of colours, shapes, patterns, architecture, graffiti, posters or shopfronts on the way in could all inspire a creative response to the daily briefs. In hindsight, I am so grateful for this challenge as, in my current role, I am often required to come up with an idea, design inspiration or suggest an illustration, photography or animation approach in an instant.
Did you make any meaningful connections with teachers or fellow students during the course? Have you encountered any fellow Shillumni since graduation?
Yes, there was such a good vibe between the students and the teachers during the course (shout out Andy, Amy, Fiona and Hilary). We have a WhatsApp group where we keep in touch and meet for catch ups occasionally. It’s cool to exchange experiences and hear how everyone is getting on in industry as we have shared this intense experience and witnessed how hard we all worked and progressed during the course.
What would you say to someone who is sceptical about the Shillington course?
If you want a course that teaches you up-to-date technical skills alongside ideation techniques, theory and key principles of graphic design in a deadline driven environment that feels like a design studio, Shillington is the place. You will leave with a polished portfolio and be ready for any industry briefs.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Be industrious. Put all your energy and focus into it. Embrace not knowing everything. Share your ideas with the teachers and fellow students no matter how silly, support each other and have fun. It’s also important to keep a mood board of art and design that inspires you and take full advantage of the Shillington library which is filled with plenty of informative and inspiring design reference books and independent magazine publications.
Visit Caitlin’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Becky Dore
Designer at OnThree
Ana Perez
Founder of Anecdota Studio
Shireen Roy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Daniele Regan
Founder of Danibydsgn
Jeremy Somers
Founder and Creative Director of We Are Handsome
Darsh Seneviratne
Designer at Canva
Ximena Jimenez
Web Designer at Blackmagic Design
Karina Aslikyan
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Stevens
Freelance Graphic Designer/ Junior Designer at NRMA
Ayesha Mansour
Freelance Designer, Aah Yes Studio
Georgia Latham
Intern at Imagist
Mary Lin
Graphic Designer, Colette Werden
Sophie Bo Schmidt
Senior UX Consultant at PeakXD
Ben Thaler
Junior Designer at Common
Liam Speranza
Associate Design Manager at Tushy
Natalie Taylor
Designer, Mobkoi
Oyinkan Karunwi
Founder at Aseda Design Agency
Elizabeth Diffey
Freelance Graphic Designer, Spotify
Julia Hoolahan
Art Director, Home Beautiful
Rory Knibbs
Designer, The Midnight Club
Stephanie Halovanic
Creative Producer, &Walsh
Eman Abdallah
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Veronica Humphris
Digital Designer, Mapway
Benjamin Ngooi
Graphic Designer, Cox Architecture
Khadijah Adbul Nabi
Freelance Graphic Designer
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Jamie Krups
Creative at Stab Magazine
Megan Dweck
Visual Designer, McKinsey & Company
Miwako Suzuki
Integrated Creative Director
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Kylie Meller
Founder, duosista Web and Graphic Design
Babeth Olde Hanter
Junior Art Director, SOV
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Peta Harris
Graphic Designer, Macquarie University
Pete Conforto
Designer, For The People
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Meg Walker
Designer, Milkshake
Ina Estrada
Founder, Par Vous Designs
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home