Hear straight from our graduates.
My best friend suggested creating a GoFundMe campaign to collect the money necessary to enroll. The campaign ended up paying for 1/3 of the fees.
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Eman Abdallah
Eman Abdallah studied at Shillington New York
Why did you decide to study design? Why Shillington?
The way I was introduced to design at first kind of gave me a bad representation but while I was studying studio arts, I realized that we were incorporating most, if not all, of the design principles. Surprisingly, studying art is what made me see design in a new light and fall in love with it!
When I moved to New York, I was looking at different workshops and courses that could teach me more about graphic design. I wanted methodology (design theory, typography, design principles, etc.) as well as practical experience of how designers work in the real world (briefs, deadlines, client feedback, etc). I ended up going to a Shillington info session and realized how tailored it was for my personality; being an extrovert who mostly learns by interacting with other people, having conversations about the subject matter and loves challenges.
To fund your studies at Shillington, you started a GoFundMe campaign. Tell us more about that! Why did people donate, and any tips for other people considering launching a GoFundMe effort?
When I found out about Shillington, I realized that it was way beyond my financial means to pay for and it was kind of disheartening but I was determined to do it. My best friend suggested creating a GoFundMe campaign to collect the money necessary to enroll. The campaign ended up paying for 1/3 of the fees.
I think people felt that my story is honest and that I shared it with an open heart and that is why they donated. I also think that people believe in someone who believes in themselves and is clear about their objectives. That’s really the kind of approach I took when I created my campaign. A few tips from my experience:
- You literally have nothing to lose, only to gain. I think this motto is overused and abused but in my case, it was literally all I needed to hear. I knew I could fail (raise zero money and not be able to enroll) and I guess that was equal to not trying at all. My curiosity and determination to learn graphic design in New York (what I consider to be the capital of this field in the world) surpassed my fear though.
- Reach out to people personally. Sharing the link on your social profiles is not enough. Reach out to people you know who have a higher chance of helping you financially; friends who have a stable income, family friends, relatives, etc. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know to both donate as well as put the word out there; designers in your city, your favorite artists, your teachers from high school, etc.
- People love feeling appreciated. Think of a special way to thank the people who will donate to your campaign and watch the difference this will make! I personally promised an original design piece to each person who donates to my campaign.
Visit Eman’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
My best friend suggested creating a GoFundMe campaign to collect the money necessary to enroll. The campaign ended up paying for 1/3 of the fees.
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Eman Abdallah
Eman Abdallah studied at Shillington New York
Why did you decide to study design? Why Shillington?
The way I was introduced to design at first kind of gave me a bad representation but while I was studying studio arts, I realized that we were incorporating most, if not all, of the design principles. Surprisingly, studying art is what made me see design in a new light and fall in love with it!
When I moved to New York, I was looking at different workshops and courses that could teach me more about graphic design. I wanted methodology (design theory, typography, design principles, etc.) as well as practical experience of how designers work in the real world (briefs, deadlines, client feedback, etc). I ended up going to a Shillington info session and realized how tailored it was for my personality; being an extrovert who mostly learns by interacting with other people, having conversations about the subject matter and loves challenges.
To fund your studies at Shillington, you started a GoFundMe campaign. Tell us more about that! Why did people donate, and any tips for other people considering launching a GoFundMe effort?
When I found out about Shillington, I realized that it was way beyond my financial means to pay for and it was kind of disheartening but I was determined to do it. My best friend suggested creating a GoFundMe campaign to collect the money necessary to enroll. The campaign ended up paying for 1/3 of the fees.
I think people felt that my story is honest and that I shared it with an open heart and that is why they donated. I also think that people believe in someone who believes in themselves and is clear about their objectives. That’s really the kind of approach I took when I created my campaign. A few tips from my experience:
- You literally have nothing to lose, only to gain. I think this motto is overused and abused but in my case, it was literally all I needed to hear. I knew I could fail (raise zero money and not be able to enroll) and I guess that was equal to not trying at all. My curiosity and determination to learn graphic design in New York (what I consider to be the capital of this field in the world) surpassed my fear though.
- Reach out to people personally. Sharing the link on your social profiles is not enough. Reach out to people you know who have a higher chance of helping you financially; friends who have a stable income, family friends, relatives, etc. Also, don’t be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know to both donate as well as put the word out there; designers in your city, your favorite artists, your teachers from high school, etc.
- People love feeling appreciated. Think of a special way to thank the people who will donate to your campaign and watch the difference this will make! I personally promised an original design piece to each person who donates to my campaign.
Visit Eman’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
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