Hear straight from our graduates.
Everything about Shillington from the studio environment, to the independence students were given when responding to a brief appealed to me.
Designer at Billion Dollar Boy
Kinda Savarino
Why did you pick Shillington to start your design career? What was it about our course?
The quality of work coming out of Shillington caught my eye. I was really impressed by the designs and wanted to learn how to do that for myself. I was also drawn to the way Shillington approached teaching. Everything from the studio environment, to the independence students were given when responding to a brief appealed to me.
What have you been up to since graduation? How has your life changed after Shillington?
Designing! I got myself an internship shortly after graduation and from there went on to Leo Burnett where I worked with clients such as McDonald’s, Kellogg’s and the NSPCC. I was also lucky enough to work on a campaign that won a Silver Epica during my time there. After Leo Burnett, I joined Billion Dollar Boy, where I’ve been able to expand my skill set to include animation and AR development.
Although I design everyday for work, I try to ensure I’m also designing for me. This is why I set up an archive for LGBTQ+ design, which highlights queer expression, politics and pride through design and typography.
I also love the odd illustration collaboration and have worked with GLAAD, The Dolly Effect (organised by fellow Shillington London graduates Charlotte Carnegie-Brown and Ella Donald, aka Duzi Studio) and Life on Hold. Life on Hold was particularly exciting as I got to remix an original piece by German illustrator Yeye Weller.
Can you remember your favourite brief from the course? We’d love to hear about your processes and outcomes.
The zoo icons brief has to be my favourite. It’s not as glamorous as some of the other briefs (handmade, I’m looking at you), but I loved the process behind it.
Iconography is about reducing something complicated into a few lines or shapes, while maintaining universal recognition. It is at its core what design is all about. I created four animal icons which ended up becoming part of a broader project for London Zoo.
Did you make any meaningful connections with teachers or fellow students during the course?
Alongside learning design, I met my girlfriend at Shillington, as well as a flatmate and some amazing fellow designers and teachers who I keep in touch with. Our class was really close-knit and it’s been really lovely keeping in touch with people. I reckon for 1 out of every 3 design events I go to, I usually bump into someone from Shillington, which is a lovely surprise!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Follow the filing system to a tee! You’ll thank me later.
Everything about Shillington from the studio environment, to the independence students were given when responding to a brief appealed to me.
Designer at Billion Dollar Boy
Kinda Savarino
Why did you pick Shillington to start your design career? What was it about our course?
The quality of work coming out of Shillington caught my eye. I was really impressed by the designs and wanted to learn how to do that for myself. I was also drawn to the way Shillington approached teaching. Everything from the studio environment, to the independence students were given when responding to a brief appealed to me.
What have you been up to since graduation? How has your life changed after Shillington?
Designing! I got myself an internship shortly after graduation and from there went on to Leo Burnett where I worked with clients such as McDonald’s, Kellogg’s and the NSPCC. I was also lucky enough to work on a campaign that won a Silver Epica during my time there. After Leo Burnett, I joined Billion Dollar Boy, where I’ve been able to expand my skill set to include animation and AR development.
Although I design everyday for work, I try to ensure I’m also designing for me. This is why I set up an archive for LGBTQ+ design, which highlights queer expression, politics and pride through design and typography.
I also love the odd illustration collaboration and have worked with GLAAD, The Dolly Effect (organised by fellow Shillington London graduates Charlotte Carnegie-Brown and Ella Donald, aka Duzi Studio) and Life on Hold. Life on Hold was particularly exciting as I got to remix an original piece by German illustrator Yeye Weller.
Can you remember your favourite brief from the course? We’d love to hear about your processes and outcomes.
The zoo icons brief has to be my favourite. It’s not as glamorous as some of the other briefs (handmade, I’m looking at you), but I loved the process behind it.
Iconography is about reducing something complicated into a few lines or shapes, while maintaining universal recognition. It is at its core what design is all about. I created four animal icons which ended up becoming part of a broader project for London Zoo.
Did you make any meaningful connections with teachers or fellow students during the course?
Alongside learning design, I met my girlfriend at Shillington, as well as a flatmate and some amazing fellow designers and teachers who I keep in touch with. Our class was really close-knit and it’s been really lovely keeping in touch with people. I reckon for 1 out of every 3 design events I go to, I usually bump into someone from Shillington, which is a lovely surprise!
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Follow the filing system to a tee! You’ll thank me later.
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