Hear straight from our graduates.
Be flexible, listen to the people around you and take responsibility for your work.
Freelance Visual Designer
Margherita Baldi
What type of work were you involved in prior to Shillington and what motivated you to study design at Shillington?
Before Shillington, I worked at a company in Berlin as a Graphic Designer while freelancing on the side. I started with digital design and then switched to print. I was mainly working with templates, and although it was a good learning process (especially about printing techniques, that I love) at some point I felt I needed a change.
Before this, I studied Fashion Marketing Communication in Florence, so I dove into Graphic Design with some self-taught skills to complement the knowledge and know-how in design that I gained throughout my studies. While in Berlin I realized I wanted to take a step back and do a full immersion in the graphic design world to improve my skills even further and to refine my visual style.
How did the course build your skill set?
The course wasn’t only useful from the design perspective, but you also learn many other things that are essential for a designer, such as having a process and planning for work. Learning while doing was what I liked the most. I lost my “fear of the unknown” and enjoyed practicing with the software while working on specific projects.
How has the Shillumni community helped you with your design career after graduation?
In many different ways. Manchester is a small city and I feel it’s easier to connect with people. If you work in the creative field, it can happen that you see the same faces at design events and this makes it easier to make connections and collaborations. I keep discovering ex-students who studied at Shillington years ago, and I’m still in contact with some of my classmates. I’m also collaborating with some of them for a couple of side projects—it’s nice to create something that mixes different styles and perspectives with people you know that you work well with.
When I was about to finish the course, my Shillo teachers suggested to me designers/studios to contact for a portfolio review or even just to meet them and ask for advice. They’ve been very helpful to me and that’s amazing that I’m still in contact with most of them!
I also find the Facebook Shillumni group very useful. Thanks to a post by Dina Shirin, Marketing & Communications assistant at Shillington New York, I got to know the photography collective, Foto Femme United, a 100% female group dedicated to empowering women in photography. I’m now working on their brand development. I love how design can connect you to amazing projects and people!
Tell us about some of your favourite design projects since you started working as a freelancer.
One of my favourite projects is definitely Sublunar Records. It’s an independent label focused on techno and club-oriented music, founded by two DJs and producers based in Florence. I have been taking care of the labels brand identity and design since its birth in 2017. I love combining my two passions for music and design and to have the chance to experiment. For their limited edition EPs, I designed a series of stamps, which make each EP a unique piece. I’m currently working on a new trilogy on vinyl that will be released next year, so keep your eyes peeled!
Another project I really like is Strive, an educational consultancy based in Berlin for kids and teenagers who want to study abroad. The aim was to do something engaging and cool for the kids that at the same time would inspire confidence in their parents. I’m very happy about the result, it’s something completely different from any other educational organization and it definitely catches your eye! I developed their brand identity and now, together with Studio Printmysoul, we are working on the website which will be live soon. I love freelancing because I’m having the chance to work on so many different projects from different fields like music, fashion, advertising, wellness, food, education, and events.
What advice can you provide to someone interested in the course?
Design is not only a job, but it’s also a passion that involves many aspects in a designer’s life, so if you’re really passionate about it, this is the right course for you.
While doing the course (and after), always have a curiosity to experiment with new things without stopping at the first idea because the possibilities are infinite! At the same time, remember that design is mainly about making decisions. Your teachers and classmates will give you precious feedback but in the end, you’re the one who decides what needs to be done. Be flexible, listen to the people around you and take responsibility for your work.
Visit Margherita’s website and follow her work on Instagram.
Rachel Urquhart
Founder, Pony Gold Studio
Lori Beth Kaye
Senior Product Designer, The Iconic
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
Keiran McCann
Graphic Designer, Victoria’s Secret
Emily Campos
UX Designer, Wix
Jaira Adlawan
Senior Visual Designer, Sephora
Ani Monteleone
Designer, The Wall Street Journal
Hamish Snow
Designer, Josephmark
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Gerald Torto
Strategist, Re Agency
Linda Gao
Designer, HBO
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Will Batrouney
Graphic Designer, Ignite Online
Sinead Murphy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bianca Oggiano
Designer, Design Haus Liberty
Christopher J Porter
Designer, I See Sea
Dominika Stanczyk
Designer, Open Water
Katie Lodge
Business Development Manager, Frost* collective
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Erin Gale
Designer, Target
Tiffany Yee
Designer, Forever 21
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Emma Ladlow
Designer, University of Nottingham Students' Union
Braden Floris
Designer, GoFundMe
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Halah El Kholy
In-House Designer, Brew Tea Co
Alexander Rog
Junior Designer, oOh!
Jessica Bakker
Junior Graphic Designer, Beyond Communications
Bianca Chu
Senior Designer, eBay
Tally Thompson
Graphic Designer, Awesome Creative
Greg Bemis
Creative, Nike
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Tahmena Lutfi
Digital Designer, Qantas and Jetstar Hotels
Meredith Wallis
Designer, King & Partners
Miranda Mayne
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lindsay Koffler
Graphic Designer, Refinery29
Bobby Hendry
Designer, Brilliant Logic
Anika George
Designer, AKQA
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Lily Moore
Designer at Sotheby’s
Liana Modolo
UX Designer, Rex Software
Victoire Scherer
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Mikel McCavana
Designer, Moment
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Alexander Wu-Kim
Concept Creative, ANDPEOPLE Australia
Kirsten McColl
Designer, WH-O
Nicole Rogers
Designer, Birchbox
Frankie Young
Founder, Studio Neubau
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Jackson Todd
Art Director, Van Der Zwaag
Dawn Moloney
Founder, A Making Life
Caroline Keefe
Freelance, Nickelodeon
Sophie Lord
Creative Director, Hello May
Ocki Magill
Founder, Letter Bug Studios
Andy Vargas
Designer, Bitâcora
Moshe Bien
Designer, Nucleus
Crystal Lin
Designer, DNA Design
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Jing Ong
Designer, Autumn
Paul and Amoni Liddell
Graphic Designers, Westpac CX and Feel
Eleanor Rogers
Letterpress Printer, Chapel Press
Andy Tharagonnet
Designer, ThumbsUp
Erin Donati
Founder, Harley Quinn & Co.
Ben Peters
Freelance Graphic Designer
Brad Holten
Designer, Big Idea
Natalia Baker
Freelance Graphic Designer
Guy Pittard
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Oceane Combeau
Designer, Fernand et Firmin
Charly Tudor
Graphic Designer, Holdens
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
Nicol Reid
Founder, Little Creative
David Scott
Designer, The Mix
James Birks
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Jane Durlacher
Graphic Designer, Paper Stone Scissors
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Romayne Gadelrab
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
Founder, frank wo
Roo Cassels
Designer, Big Fish
Vanessa Burgess
Graphic Designer, Tritium
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Molly Sitter
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Cari Sekendur
Art Director, LMNOP Creative
Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic 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
Chrystal Christie
Photographer/Graphic Designer, One Round Entertainment
Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Sam Jacobs
Senior Designer, Time Inc.
Sean Raynor
Designer, Watermark Studio
Irina Manning
UX Designer, Manning Labs
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual Designer
Be flexible, listen to the people around you and take responsibility for your work.
Freelance Visual Designer
Margherita Baldi
What type of work were you involved in prior to Shillington and what motivated you to study design at Shillington?
Before Shillington, I worked at a company in Berlin as a Graphic Designer while freelancing on the side. I started with digital design and then switched to print. I was mainly working with templates, and although it was a good learning process (especially about printing techniques, that I love) at some point I felt I needed a change.
Before this, I studied Fashion Marketing Communication in Florence, so I dove into Graphic Design with some self-taught skills to complement the knowledge and know-how in design that I gained throughout my studies. While in Berlin I realized I wanted to take a step back and do a full immersion in the graphic design world to improve my skills even further and to refine my visual style.
How did the course build your skill set?
The course wasn’t only useful from the design perspective, but you also learn many other things that are essential for a designer, such as having a process and planning for work. Learning while doing was what I liked the most. I lost my “fear of the unknown” and enjoyed practicing with the software while working on specific projects.
How has the Shillumni community helped you with your design career after graduation?
In many different ways. Manchester is a small city and I feel it’s easier to connect with people. If you work in the creative field, it can happen that you see the same faces at design events and this makes it easier to make connections and collaborations. I keep discovering ex-students who studied at Shillington years ago, and I’m still in contact with some of my classmates. I’m also collaborating with some of them for a couple of side projects—it’s nice to create something that mixes different styles and perspectives with people you know that you work well with.
When I was about to finish the course, my Shillo teachers suggested to me designers/studios to contact for a portfolio review or even just to meet them and ask for advice. They’ve been very helpful to me and that’s amazing that I’m still in contact with most of them!
I also find the Facebook Shillumni group very useful. Thanks to a post by Dina Shirin, Marketing & Communications assistant at Shillington New York, I got to know the photography collective, Foto Femme United, a 100% female group dedicated to empowering women in photography. I’m now working on their brand development. I love how design can connect you to amazing projects and people!
Tell us about some of your favourite design projects since you started working as a freelancer.
One of my favourite projects is definitely Sublunar Records. It’s an independent label focused on techno and club-oriented music, founded by two DJs and producers based in Florence. I have been taking care of the labels brand identity and design since its birth in 2017. I love combining my two passions for music and design and to have the chance to experiment. For their limited edition EPs, I designed a series of stamps, which make each EP a unique piece. I’m currently working on a new trilogy on vinyl that will be released next year, so keep your eyes peeled!
Another project I really like is Strive, an educational consultancy based in Berlin for kids and teenagers who want to study abroad. The aim was to do something engaging and cool for the kids that at the same time would inspire confidence in their parents. I’m very happy about the result, it’s something completely different from any other educational organization and it definitely catches your eye! I developed their brand identity and now, together with Studio Printmysoul, we are working on the website which will be live soon. I love freelancing because I’m having the chance to work on so many different projects from different fields like music, fashion, advertising, wellness, food, education, and events.
What advice can you provide to someone interested in the course?
Design is not only a job, but it’s also a passion that involves many aspects in a designer’s life, so if you’re really passionate about it, this is the right course for you.
While doing the course (and after), always have a curiosity to experiment with new things without stopping at the first idea because the possibilities are infinite! At the same time, remember that design is mainly about making decisions. Your teachers and classmates will give you precious feedback but in the end, you’re the one who decides what needs to be done. Be flexible, listen to the people around you and take responsibility for your work.
Visit Margherita’s website and follow her work on Instagram.
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home