Hear straight from our graduates.
I’ll describe my feelings at the beginning, middle and end of the course: Excited. Exhausted. Euphoric!
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Ulrika Johnson
Prior to Shillington you were working in an entirely different career as a legal counsel. Tell us why you decided to change careers and take the plunge to study design.
From the age of 6 years old, art was my favorite subject in school. But oddly enough, I never considered art as something I could pursue as a profession, perhaps because no adult ever introduced or supported the idea of being an “artist.” Even though I’ve always spent most of my spare time on painting and crafts, it wasn’t until I began working as a lawyer that it really hit me. I finally had a career—but was it me? I didn’t decide to shift professions overnight. In fact, it happened very gradually over the course of 7 years as a lawyer. I felt a growing, and soon an overwhelming, need to express my creativity. It just came to a point where I realized that I invested all my emotional energy and passion into my “hobby” instead of my job. There was no alternative except to turn my hobby into my career.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about the Shillington course?
If s/he is questioning whether or not you can truly become a graphic designer in three months, my classmates and I are living proof of that. If you have a genuine desire to become a graphic designer and if you are ready to dedicate three months of your life to Shillington, focusing your energy on each project, you too can do it! I will always be amazed by how well the Shillington program was planned, thought through and up-to-date.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Ask teachers about and research upcoming design contests for which you could qualify. I didn’t think about it nor did I know of any design contests in advance. So I really regret missing a few deadlines, since contests are an amazing opportunity to shine and showcase your work. Give everything, never give up, be curious and ask questions. I asked a ton of questions, and I also received a lot of valuable answers.
Visit Ulrika’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
I’ll describe my feelings at the beginning, middle and end of the course: Excited. Exhausted. Euphoric!
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Ulrika Johnson
Prior to Shillington you were working in an entirely different career as a legal counsel. Tell us why you decided to change careers and take the plunge to study design.
From the age of 6 years old, art was my favorite subject in school. But oddly enough, I never considered art as something I could pursue as a profession, perhaps because no adult ever introduced or supported the idea of being an “artist.” Even though I’ve always spent most of my spare time on painting and crafts, it wasn’t until I began working as a lawyer that it really hit me. I finally had a career—but was it me? I didn’t decide to shift professions overnight. In fact, it happened very gradually over the course of 7 years as a lawyer. I felt a growing, and soon an overwhelming, need to express my creativity. It just came to a point where I realized that I invested all my emotional energy and passion into my “hobby” instead of my job. There was no alternative except to turn my hobby into my career.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about the Shillington course?
If s/he is questioning whether or not you can truly become a graphic designer in three months, my classmates and I are living proof of that. If you have a genuine desire to become a graphic designer and if you are ready to dedicate three months of your life to Shillington, focusing your energy on each project, you too can do it! I will always be amazed by how well the Shillington program was planned, thought through and up-to-date.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Ask teachers about and research upcoming design contests for which you could qualify. I didn’t think about it nor did I know of any design contests in advance. So I really regret missing a few deadlines, since contests are an amazing opportunity to shine and showcase your work. Give everything, never give up, be curious and ask questions. I asked a ton of questions, and I also received a lot of valuable answers.
Visit Ulrika’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
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Lori Beth Kaye
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Shannon Gordon
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Will Batrouney
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Katie Lodge
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Jordan Demetriou
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Emily Somers
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Kylie Meller
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Amee Wilson
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Anara Davletaliyeva
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Tiffany Yee
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Amy Sheehan
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Emma Ladlow
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Alexis Waller
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Halah El Kholy
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Jess White
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Bobby Hendry
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Jessica Bakker
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Lauren Dannenberg
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Arnold Omanyo
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Dawn Moloney
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Miranda Mayne
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Caroline Keefe
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Paul and Amoni Liddell
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Meredith Wallis
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Ocki Magill
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Victoire Scherer
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Anika George
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Liana Modolo
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Kelly Hansen
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Mikel McCavana
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Alexander Wu-Kim
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Jing Ong
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Kirsten McColl
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Nicole Rogers
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Pooja Dharia
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Erin Donati
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Jackson Todd
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Andy Vargas
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Moshe Bien
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Crystal Lin
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Stephen Grace
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Eleanor Rogers
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Ben Peters
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Brad Holten
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Natalia Baker
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Molly Sitter
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Guy Pittard
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Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Peta Harris
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Oceane Combeau
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Anna Mullin
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Theo Witrylak
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Stephanie Antill
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Paul McKie and Myles Sharpe
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Pete Conforto
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Roo Cassels
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Nicol Reid
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James Birks
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David Scott
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Jane Durlacher
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Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
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Sean Raynor
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Vanessa Burgess
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Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
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Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic Designer
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual Designer
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Carla Scotto
Freelance Graphic Designer
Meg Walker
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Christina Capetola
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Louise Hamer
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Sam Jacobs
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Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Henriette van Baren
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Charly Tudor
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Lola Irwanto
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