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.
Senior Designer, 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.
Visit Kinda’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Everything about Shillington from the studio environment, to the independence students were given when responding to a brief appealed to me.
Senior Designer, 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.
Visit Kinda’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Becky Dore
Designer, OnThree
Ana Perez
Founder of Anecdota Studio
Shireen Roy
Freelance Multidisciplinary Designer
Daniele Regan
Founder of Danibydsgn
Jeremy Somers
Founder and Creative Director, We Are Handsome
Darsh Seneviratne
Designer, Canva
Ximena Jimenez
Graphic Designer, The Multicultural Centre for Women's Health
Karina Aslikyan
Freelance Graphic Designer for Music
Ayesha Mansour
Freelance Designer, Aah Yes Studio
Georgia Latham
Designer & Strategist, Imagist
Mary Lin
Freelance Graphic Designer
Sophie Bo Schmidt
Freelance UX, Visual & Web Designer
Ben Thaler
Senior Brand Designer, Common
Liam Speranza
Art Director, THE CHARLES
Natalie Taylor
Designer, Mobkoi
Oyinkan Karunwi
Founder & Brand Strategist, Aseda Design Agency
Elizabeth Diffey
Freelance Graphic Designer, Kate McLeod
Rory Knibbs
Designer, The Midnight Club
Stephanie Halovanic
Writer, Pinterest
Eman Abdallah
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Mark Osmond
Lead Designer, Whalar
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Veronica Humphris
Digital Designer, Mapway
Benjamin Ngooi
Visual Designer, Great Wrap
Khadijah Adbul Nabi
Creative Director & Brand Strategist, Ya Khadijah
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Duzi Studio
Jamie Krups
Design & Communications Manager, BALNCE
Megan Dweck
Senior Design Lead, McKinsey & Company
Miwako Bishop
Regional Creative Director, The Great Room
Eleanor Robertson
Middleweight Designer, Here Design
Kylie Meller
Founder, duosista Web and Graphic Design
Babeth Olde Hanter
Desiger, Doop
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder, Helio Press
Anara Davletaliyeva
Product Designer, PLAYGROUND XYZ
Amy Sheehan
Design Director, Dotdash
Alexis Waller
Creative Director, For The People
Arnold Omanyo
Freelance Digital Designer
Kelly Hansen
Content Manager, Outreach
Stephen Grace
Senior Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Bea Sambalido
Co-Founder & Creative Director, Renegade Folk
Peta Harris
Graphic Designer, Macquarie University
Pete Conforto
Senior Designer, Canva
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Meg Walker
Freelance Digital Designer
Ina Estrada
Founder & Creative Director, Par Vous Designs