Hear straight from our graduates.
Shillington definitely was that platform that allowed me to get into the career I wanted in a short space of time. It’s a fantastic course to develop your skills.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Ben Peters
What does your typical day look like?
I’m currently freelancing as a graphic artist and working on a number of exciting brands in the fashion and health industries. I spend my time working between home, local cafes and a office space in Brunswick. I’m a strong believer in using your skills and opportunities to create the life you want to live, and for me that is a good balance between work and life. I usually jump on to the computer first thing in the morning; I find this takes the stress of the rest of the day. I’ll grab a coffee and head to the office where I meet with the rest of the team. We’ll prioritise what we want to achieve today and then knock it out. At night I work on developing my personal projects. For me this structure allows me to generate a income but also keeps me motivated as I know I have time to do the things outside of work that are getting me closer to my goals.
What do you love about design?
I love that there are no rules and you have the freedom to express yourself every day in so many ways. I get to express emotions and experiences through design that might be used on multiple products. I love it; every day you’re putting yourself into your work and the journey is so enjoyable and rewarding. Plus, you’re getting paid to do it!
When did you study at Shillington?
I studied at Shillington in 2012. I was blessed to have two incredible teachers, who both had really different styles but complimented the diversity of the industry. This style of study—an intensive three month course—was exactly what I was looking for and more beneficial to me than all my years at university.
What was your first job after graduation?
My first job after graduating was as an intern at Nana Judy, a local independently-owned street wear label. It was the dream opportunity for me, and two months in I was asked on full-time as their Graphic Designer. I learnt so much from this experience. Shillington’s learning structure helped prepare me for the fast-paced deadlines of the real world!
How did your experience at Shillington shape and influence your career?
Shillington provides a fantastic learning environment on so many levels. The fast-paced nature of the course ensures no two days are the same. It prepares you for the real world where jobs need to be finished in a matter of a few weeks or even a few days. Universities tend to drag out projects across a longer period of time which may allow you to develop your skills, but it doesn’t promote quick decision-making and concept development. Shillington allowed me to make sure my skills and knowledge of the Adobe programs where up-to-date. And if I’m being specific? My new knowledge of shortcuts and quick keys could possibly be the most beneficial thing I took from Shillington!
Any advice for someone trying to decide if they should sign up for the course?
It’s never an easy decision to take an alternate path than the majority. But usually, those who want it bad enough will find a way. Shillington definitely was that platform that allowed me to get into the career I wanted in a short space of time. It’s a fantastic course to develop your skills. The graphics industry is so broad. Whether you’re into food, fashion or travelling the globe, combining that with graphic design gives you the opportunity to create a life filled with passion and purpose! Melbourne has the most start-ups per capital in the world, you could be next. Live the dream!
Shillington definitely was that platform that allowed me to get into the career I wanted in a short space of time. It’s a fantastic course to develop your skills.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Ben Peters
What does your typical day look like?
I’m currently freelancing as a graphic artist and working on a number of exciting brands in the fashion and health industries. I spend my time working between home, local cafes and a office space in Brunswick. I’m a strong believer in using your skills and opportunities to create the life you want to live, and for me that is a good balance between work and life. I usually jump on to the computer first thing in the morning; I find this takes the stress of the rest of the day. I’ll grab a coffee and head to the office where I meet with the rest of the team. We’ll prioritise what we want to achieve today and then knock it out. At night I work on developing my personal projects. For me this structure allows me to generate a income but also keeps me motivated as I know I have time to do the things outside of work that are getting me closer to my goals.
What do you love about design?
I love that there are no rules and you have the freedom to express yourself every day in so many ways. I get to express emotions and experiences through design that might be used on multiple products. I love it; every day you’re putting yourself into your work and the journey is so enjoyable and rewarding. Plus, you’re getting paid to do it!
When did you study at Shillington?
I studied at Shillington in 2012. I was blessed to have two incredible teachers, who both had really different styles but complimented the diversity of the industry. This style of study—an intensive three month course—was exactly what I was looking for and more beneficial to me than all my years at university.
What was your first job after graduation?
My first job after graduating was as an intern at Nana Judy, a local independently-owned street wear label. It was the dream opportunity for me, and two months in I was asked on full-time as their Graphic Designer. I learnt so much from this experience. Shillington’s learning structure helped prepare me for the fast-paced deadlines of the real world!
How did your experience at Shillington shape and influence your career?
Shillington provides a fantastic learning environment on so many levels. The fast-paced nature of the course ensures no two days are the same. It prepares you for the real world where jobs need to be finished in a matter of a few weeks or even a few days. Universities tend to drag out projects across a longer period of time which may allow you to develop your skills, but it doesn’t promote quick decision-making and concept development. Shillington allowed me to make sure my skills and knowledge of the Adobe programs where up-to-date. And if I’m being specific? My new knowledge of shortcuts and quick keys could possibly be the most beneficial thing I took from Shillington!
Any advice for someone trying to decide if they should sign up for the course?
It’s never an easy decision to take an alternate path than the majority. But usually, those who want it bad enough will find a way. Shillington definitely was that platform that allowed me to get into the career I wanted in a short space of time. It’s a fantastic course to develop your skills. The graphics industry is so broad. Whether you’re into food, fashion or travelling the globe, combining that with graphic design gives you the opportunity to create a life filled with passion and purpose! Melbourne has the most start-ups per capital in the world, you could be next. Live the dream!
Robyn M-C
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Stevens
Freelance Graphic Designer/ Junior Designer at NRMA
Ayesha Mansour
Freelance Designer, Aah Yes Studio
Georgia Latham
Intern at Imagist
Natasha Michels
Designer at Nine Publishing and Creative Director at Sweaty City magazine
Mary Lin
Graphic Designer, Colette Werden
Carla Zimbler
VJ and Designer, Tszuj
Wyatt Welles
Freelance Graphic Designer
Sophie Bo Schmidt
Senior UX Consultant at PeakXD
Sivim Ly
Junior Graphic Designer at Loeffler Randall
Ben Thaler
Junior Designer at Common
Liam Speranza
Associate Design Manager at Tushy
Em Storey
Junior Designer, NU Creative
Natalie Taylor
Designer, Mobkoi
Ella Caseley
Winner of the Shillington x Champion Agency Scholarship
Oyinkan Karunwi
Founder at Aseda Design Agency
Sylvan Hillebrand
Midweight Creative at HarrimanSteel
Maria Vazquez
Freelance Designer and Art Director
Alessandra Conti
Designer, RAPP
Elizabeth Diffey
Freelance Graphic Designer, Spotify
Majo Crespo
Co-Founder and Strategic Designer, Facético
Lorenzo Mengolini
UX Designer, AKQA
Abbey Swinn
Designer, Frost*collective
Angeline Chan
Communications Specialist, The University of Melbourne
Julia Hoolahan
Art Director, Home Beautiful
Seyi Ogunlade
Freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer
Rory Knibbs
Designer, The Midnight Club
Jess Goodall
Digital Designer, Pistachio Design
Stephanie Halovanic
Creative Producer, &Walsh
Megan Voo
UX/UI & Content Designer, Ignite Online
Gerald Torto
Strategist, Re Agency
Eman Abdallah
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Ariana Villegas
Designer, Simplecast
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
Johanna Hagenauer
Brand / Product Designer, Rexlabs
Kris Klein
Experience Design + Videography at AKQA
Emily Campos
UX Designer, Wix
Rawin Keo
Lead Graphic Designer, Dermalogica
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Vanessa Bertagnole
Graphic Multimedia Designer, Surf Life Saving Queensland
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Arwa Al-Salam
Designer, Human Appeal
Benny Hinman
Designer, Frost*collective
Em Stokes
Junior Designer, MOO
Veronica Humphris
Digital Designer, Mapway
Leila Bartholet
Designer, Chandelier
Jared Worthington
Designer at Media Playground
Alexandra Francis
Designer, Flow Creative
Benjamin Ngooi
Graphic Designer, Cox Architecture
Sophie Lord
Creative Director, Hello May
Khadijah Adbul Nabi
Freelance Graphic Designer
Frankie Young
Founder, Studio Neubau
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Amy Forsyth
Graphic Designer, Alfresco Emporium
Jaira Adlawan
Senior Visual Designer, Sephora
Jamie Krups
Creative at Stab Magazine
Keiran McCann
Graphic Designer, Victoria’s Secret
Greg Bemis
Creative, Nike
Anastasiia Vinnichenko
Designer, ToyFight
Lori Beth Kaye
Senior Product Designer, The Iconic
Megan Dweck
Visual Designer, McKinsey & Company
James Freebairn
Junior Graphic Designer, Dark Mofo
Irina Manning
UX Designer, Manning Labs
Shannon Gordon
Designer, R/GA
Sinead Murphy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Koste
Freelance Designer and Craft Beer Specialist
Ani Monteleone
Designer, The Wall Street Journal
Caitlin Clancy
Designer, The New York Times
Miwako Suzuki
Integrated Creative Director
Linda Gao
Designer, HBO
Rachel Urquhart
Founder, Pony Gold Studio
Will Batrouney
Graphic Designer, Ignite Online
Ellie Pinney
Freelance Designer
Katie Lodge
Business Development Manager, Frost* collective
Joseph Lebus
Designer, Made Thought
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Hamish Snow
Product Designer, Rexlabs
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Estefi Panizza
Junior Designer, Design Bridge
Erin Gale
Designer, Target
Kylie Meller
Founder, duosista Web and Graphic Design
Yarron Frauenfelder
Design Director
Bianca Chu
Senior Designer, eBay
Bianca Oggiano
Designer, FutureBrand
Alexander Rog
Junior Designer, oOh!
Christopher J Porter
Designer, I See Sea
Babeth Olde Hanter
Junior Art Director, SOV
Chrystal Christie
Photographer/Graphic Designer, One Round Entertainment
Tally Thompson
Graphic Designer, Awesome Creative
Dominika Stanczyk
Designer, Open Water
Lindsay Koffler
Graphic Designer, Refinery29
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Lily Moore
Designer at Sotheby’s
Braden Floris
Designer, GoFundMe
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Tahmena Lutfi
Digital Designer, Qantas and Jetstar Hotels
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Tiffany Yee
Designer, Forever 21
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Emma Ladlow
Designer, University of Nottingham Students' Union
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Halah El Kholy
In-House Designer, Brew Tea Co
Jess White
Junior Graphic Designer, Just Media Design
Bobby Hendry
Designer, Brilliant Logic
Jessica Bakker
Junior Graphic Designer, Beyond Communications
Lauren Dannenberg
Designer, Mary's Group
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Dawn Moloney
Founder, A Making Life
Miranda Mayne
Freelance Graphic Designer
Caroline Keefe
Freelance, Nickelodeon
Paul and Amoni Liddell
Graphic Designers, Westpac CX and Feel
Meredith Wallis
Designer, King & Partners
Ocki Magill
Founder, Letter Bug Studios
Victoire Scherer
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Anika George
Designer, AKQA
Liana Modolo
UX Designer, Rex Software
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Mikel McCavana
Designer, Moment
Alexander Wu-Kim
Concept Creative, ANDPEOPLE Australia
Jing Ong
Designer, Autumn
Kirsten McColl
Designer, WH-O
Nicole Rogers
Designer, Birchbox
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Erin Donati
Founder, Harley Quinn & Co.
Jackson Todd
Art Director, Van Der Zwaag
Andy Vargas
Designer, Bitâcora
Moshe Bien
Designer, Nucleus
Crystal Lin
Designer, DNA Design
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Eleanor Rogers
Letterpress Printer, Chapel Press
Andy Tharagonnet
Designer, ThumbsUp
Ben Peters
Freelance Graphic Designer
Brad Holten
Designer, Big Idea
Natalia Baker
Freelance Graphic Designer
Molly Sitter
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Guy Pittard
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Peta Harris
Graphic Designer, Macquarie University
Oceane Combeau
Designer, Fernand et Firmin
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
Roo Cassels
Designer, Big Fish
Nicol Reid
Founder, Little Creative
James Birks
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
David Scott
Designer, The Mix
Jane Durlacher
Graphic Designer, Paper Stone Scissors
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
Founder, frank wo
Sean Raynor
Designer, Watermark Studio
Vanessa Burgess
Graphic Designer, Tritium
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Cari Sekendur
Art Director, LMNOP Creative
Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic Designer
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual 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
Sam Jacobs
Senior Designer, Time Inc.
Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home
Charly Tudor
Graphic Designer, Holdens
Lola Irwanto
Graphic Designer, Princess Polly