Hear straight from our graduates.
The glowing reviews I read online, as well as my in-person visit, only made me more certain I was making the right decision. I think I learned more during my first week at Shillington than in all of my prior years of dabbling in design.
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Victoire Scherer
Victoire Scherer studied at Shillington New York
Why did you decide to study design? Why Shillington?
Before Shillington I worked as an Online Product Marketing Associate for Brilliant Earth, a sustainable fine jewelry company. And right before that I was studying Sustainable Business and Cultural Studies at McGill, in Montreal (my favorite city in the world).
I’ve been interested in all things design since I was pretty young—I remember watching HGTV makeover shows with my mom on weekends, and as a teenager my dream job oscillated between interior designer, architect, art teacher, and concept store owner (amongst others). My high school didn’t have a big focus on visual arts, but I was fortunate to have had two great art teachers there, who encouraged us to look for inspiration outside the classroom and collect our findings in visual diaries (just like we did at Shillington!).
At that point, I still had no idea graphic design was a thing, until my college friend Saj invited me to join the Design Cooperative at McGill. In this club, students taught other students the fundamentals of graphic design. What made the experience unique was that in addition to learning the basic design principles and how to use the software, we also spent time discussing the ethics involved in the design world, such as accessibility, cultural appropriation, gender norms, and diversity. As a Cultural Studies nerd with a strong moral compass, I love having to think about the greater implications of the work I put out.
I was able to apply my design skills at my first job, which is actually where I started seriously considering making graphic design my profession. Because I lacked a formal education in design, I didn’t have the confidence to apply for graphic designer positions without having a much bigger design skillset and a strong portfolio. I did some research online and found Shillington, which was the only 3-month full-time graphic design program offered in New York. I knew I didn’t want to spend two/four more years in school, plus an extra year to make up for my non-existent visual arts credits. I was also really drawn to the quality of the work produced by Shillington students, and to the fact that its curriculum is updated much more frequently than programs at design schools, which means everything that’s taught is relevant to the design job market. The glowing reviews I read online, as well as my in-person visit, only made me more certain I was making the right decision (and I did).
Where do you work now?
I work as a Junior Graphic Designer at Neoscape, a real estate marketing agency. As a member of our Design department, I get to work on creating branding, brochures, and other marketing materials for real estate brokers. I love handling multiple projects at once, especially since every project is different.
Coming out of Shillington, I knew I’d be happier at an agency rather than in-house, because I like working on a variety of brands rather than be limited to the same brand identity every day. I also knew I would thrive in an environment where I’d be surrounded by other designers, not just because I use others’ feedback to grow, but also because I enjoy the creative energy I find almost contagious in such environments. That meant that freelancing was not something I considered. I applied to mostly agencies, as well as to some in-house positions if they were for brands I respected. I must have sent my application to over fifty places, and interviewed with five or six (so don’t despair!).
The day I went in for my interview with Neoscape, I was actually still stalling on responding to an offer for an in-house position I wasn’t exactly excited about. I came into Neoscape with my portfolio, walking my interviewer (now supervisor) through it, and talked about my background and interests. I really appreciated the fact that the interview was interactive—I was able to flip through some of the company’s past projects, which made it feel like a genuinely two-sided interview where we got to know each other. We also had great chemistry, which is very important when working closely with someone. Coming out of the interview, I had a strong sense that Neoscape could be a place where I could grow and feel fulfilled, two things I value greatly. I received an offer after another round of interviews (a video call my cat decided to participate in), and gladly joined the team a few days later.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about Shillington’s fast-paced course?
If they’re skeptical that they can become a graphic designer in three months with no prior experience, I’d recommend looking at some of the portfolios of past Shillington students as evidence. I happened to have had some experience with Illustrator and Photoshop before the course, but that was not the case for the majority of my classmates. And they all produced incredible portfolios. For what it’s worth, I think I learned more during my first week at Shillington than in all of my prior years of dabbling in design. Eight hours a day, five days a week, for three months — that’s nearly 500 hours of being immersed in graphic design. And lectures represent only a small fraction of the course, as the majority of your time will be spent actually applying your new skills through projects, which I believe is the most effective way to learn and retain.
As for employers’ view of Shillington, many of the people I interviewed with had actually heard of Shillington before, and responded positively to it. Once I briefly explained that the course was essentially a condensed equivalent of a four-year graphic design degree, and underlined the fact that Shillington is a studio-based environment, my interviewees seemed more than satisfied. I’d say employers are more interested in the quality of your portfolio, in the thoroughness of your process, in your ability to speak about your work, and in your willingness to learn and grow, rather than in your degree.
Visit Victoire’s website, check out her Instagram and read her blog.
The glowing reviews I read online, as well as my in-person visit, only made me more certain I was making the right decision. I think I learned more during my first week at Shillington than in all of my prior years of dabbling in design.
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Victoire Scherer
Victoire Scherer studied at Shillington New York
Why did you decide to study design? Why Shillington?
Before Shillington I worked as an Online Product Marketing Associate for Brilliant Earth, a sustainable fine jewelry company. And right before that I was studying Sustainable Business and Cultural Studies at McGill, in Montreal (my favorite city in the world).
I’ve been interested in all things design since I was pretty young—I remember watching HGTV makeover shows with my mom on weekends, and as a teenager my dream job oscillated between interior designer, architect, art teacher, and concept store owner (amongst others). My high school didn’t have a big focus on visual arts, but I was fortunate to have had two great art teachers there, who encouraged us to look for inspiration outside the classroom and collect our findings in visual diaries (just like we did at Shillington!).
At that point, I still had no idea graphic design was a thing, until my college friend Saj invited me to join the Design Cooperative at McGill. In this club, students taught other students the fundamentals of graphic design. What made the experience unique was that in addition to learning the basic design principles and how to use the software, we also spent time discussing the ethics involved in the design world, such as accessibility, cultural appropriation, gender norms, and diversity. As a Cultural Studies nerd with a strong moral compass, I love having to think about the greater implications of the work I put out.
I was able to apply my design skills at my first job, which is actually where I started seriously considering making graphic design my profession. Because I lacked a formal education in design, I didn’t have the confidence to apply for graphic designer positions without having a much bigger design skillset and a strong portfolio. I did some research online and found Shillington, which was the only 3-month full-time graphic design program offered in New York. I knew I didn’t want to spend two/four more years in school, plus an extra year to make up for my non-existent visual arts credits. I was also really drawn to the quality of the work produced by Shillington students, and to the fact that its curriculum is updated much more frequently than programs at design schools, which means everything that’s taught is relevant to the design job market. The glowing reviews I read online, as well as my in-person visit, only made me more certain I was making the right decision (and I did).
Where do you work now?
I work as a Junior Graphic Designer at Neoscape, a real estate marketing agency. As a member of our Design department, I get to work on creating branding, brochures, and other marketing materials for real estate brokers. I love handling multiple projects at once, especially since every project is different.
Coming out of Shillington, I knew I’d be happier at an agency rather than in-house, because I like working on a variety of brands rather than be limited to the same brand identity every day. I also knew I would thrive in an environment where I’d be surrounded by other designers, not just because I use others’ feedback to grow, but also because I enjoy the creative energy I find almost contagious in such environments. That meant that freelancing was not something I considered. I applied to mostly agencies, as well as to some in-house positions if they were for brands I respected. I must have sent my application to over fifty places, and interviewed with five or six (so don’t despair!).
The day I went in for my interview with Neoscape, I was actually still stalling on responding to an offer for an in-house position I wasn’t exactly excited about. I came into Neoscape with my portfolio, walking my interviewer (now supervisor) through it, and talked about my background and interests. I really appreciated the fact that the interview was interactive—I was able to flip through some of the company’s past projects, which made it feel like a genuinely two-sided interview where we got to know each other. We also had great chemistry, which is very important when working closely with someone. Coming out of the interview, I had a strong sense that Neoscape could be a place where I could grow and feel fulfilled, two things I value greatly. I received an offer after another round of interviews (a video call my cat decided to participate in), and gladly joined the team a few days later.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about Shillington’s fast-paced course?
If they’re skeptical that they can become a graphic designer in three months with no prior experience, I’d recommend looking at some of the portfolios of past Shillington students as evidence. I happened to have had some experience with Illustrator and Photoshop before the course, but that was not the case for the majority of my classmates. And they all produced incredible portfolios. For what it’s worth, I think I learned more during my first week at Shillington than in all of my prior years of dabbling in design. Eight hours a day, five days a week, for three months — that’s nearly 500 hours of being immersed in graphic design. And lectures represent only a small fraction of the course, as the majority of your time will be spent actually applying your new skills through projects, which I believe is the most effective way to learn and retain.
As for employers’ view of Shillington, many of the people I interviewed with had actually heard of Shillington before, and responded positively to it. Once I briefly explained that the course was essentially a condensed equivalent of a four-year graphic design degree, and underlined the fact that Shillington is a studio-based environment, my interviewees seemed more than satisfied. I’d say employers are more interested in the quality of your portfolio, in the thoroughness of your process, in your ability to speak about your work, and in your willingness to learn and grow, rather than in your degree.
Visit Victoire’s website, check out her Instagram and read her blog.
Vanessa Castiglione
eCommerce Designer at PepsiCo Foods Canada
Rob Key
Founder of Studio Change and Change Space
Carl McBride
Junior Designer at Toyfight
Melody Yee
Lead Designer at
The Daily Edited
Darsh Seneviratne
Designer at Canva
Matt McKay
Designer at Kensa Creative
Ximena Jimenez
Web Designer at Blackmagic Design
Kinda Savarino
Designer at Billion Dollar Boy
Chantel Charchalis
Marketing and Content Creator at The Dog Mum
Tom Noon
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Danger Koste
Studio Manager at The Design Kids
Karina Aslikyan
Freelance Graphic Designer
Robyn M-C
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Stevens
Freelance Graphic Designer/ Junior Designer at NRMA
Karen Liang
Learning Experience Designer at Standards Australia
Ayesha Mansour
Freelance Designer, Aah Yes Studio
Anna Dai
Freelance Graphic Designer
Georgia Latham
Intern at Imagist
Natasha Michels
Designer at Nine Publishing and Creative Director at Sweaty City magazine
Mary Lin
Graphic Designer, Colette Werden
Carla Zimbler
VJ and Designer, Tszuj
Wyatt Welles
Freelance Graphic Designer
Laura Welch
Enviromental Designer at Sundance Film Festival
Sophie Bo Schmidt
Senior UX Consultant at PeakXD
Sivim Ly
Junior Graphic Designer at Loeffler Randall
Ben Thaler
Junior Designer at Common
Rosylvia Wang
Design and Brand Officer at Historic Houses UK
Liam Speranza
Associate Design Manager at Tushy
Em Storey
Junior Designer, NU Creative
Natalie Taylor
Designer, Mobkoi
Ella Caseley
Winner of the Shillington x Champion Agency Scholarship
Oyinkan Karunwi
Founder at Aseda Design Agency
Sylvan Hillebrand
Midweight Creative at HarrimanSteel
Maria Vazquez
Freelance Designer and Art Director
Alessandra Conti
Designer, RAPP
Elizabeth Diffey
Freelance Graphic Designer, Spotify
Majo Crespo
Co-Founder and Strategic Designer, Facético
Lorenzo Mengolini
UX Designer, AKQA
Abbey Swinn
Designer, Frost*collective
Angeline Chan
Communications Specialist, The University of Melbourne
Julia Hoolahan
Art Director, Home Beautiful
Seyi Ogunlade
Freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer
Rory Knibbs
Designer, The Midnight Club
Jess Goodall
Digital Designer, Pistachio Design
Stephanie Halovanic
Creative Producer, &Walsh
Megan Voo
UX/UI & Content Designer, Ignite Online
Gerald Torto
Strategist, Re Agency
Eman Abdallah
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Ariana Villegas
Designer, Simplecast
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
Johanna Hagenauer
Brand / Product Designer, Rexlabs
Kris Klein
Experience Design + Videography at AKQA
Emily Campos
UX Designer, Wix
Rawin Keo
Lead Graphic Designer, Dermalogica
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Vanessa Bertagnole
Graphic Multimedia Designer, Surf Life Saving Queensland
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Arwa Al-Salam
Designer, Human Appeal
Benny Hinman
Designer, Frost*collective
Em Stokes
Junior Designer, MOO
Veronica Humphris
Digital Designer, Mapway
Leila Bartholet
Designer, Chandelier
Jared Worthington
Designer at Media Playground
Alexandra Francis
Designer, Flow Creative
Benjamin Ngooi
Graphic Designer, Cox Architecture
Sophie Lord
Creative Director, Hello May
Khadijah Adbul Nabi
Freelance Graphic Designer
Frankie Young
Founder, Studio Neubau
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Amy Forsyth
Graphic Designer, Alfresco Emporium
Jaira Adlawan
Senior Visual Designer, Sephora
Jamie Krups
Creative at Stab Magazine
Keiran McCann
Graphic Designer, Victoria’s Secret
Greg Bemis
Creative, Nike
Anastasiia Vinnichenko
Designer, ToyFight
Lori Beth Kaye
Senior Product Designer, The Iconic
Megan Dweck
Visual Designer, McKinsey & Company
James Freebairn
Junior Graphic Designer, Dark Mofo
Irina Manning
UX Designer, Manning Labs
Shannon Gordon
Designer, R/GA
Sinead Murphy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Koste
Freelance Designer and Craft Beer Specialist
Ani Monteleone
Designer, The Wall Street Journal
Caitlin Clancy
Designer, The New York Times
Miwako Suzuki
Integrated Creative Director
Linda Gao
Designer, HBO
Rachel Urquhart
Founder, Pony Gold Studio
Will Batrouney
Graphic Designer, Ignite Online
Ellie Pinney
Freelance Designer
Katie Lodge
Business Development Manager, Frost* collective
Joseph Lebus
Designer, Made Thought
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Hamish Snow
Product Designer, Rexlabs
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Estefi Panizza
Junior Designer, Design Bridge
Erin Gale
Designer, Target
Kylie Meller
Founder, duosista Web and Graphic Design
Yarron Frauenfelder
Design Director
Bianca Chu
Senior Designer, eBay
Bianca Oggiano
Designer, FutureBrand
Alexander Rog
Junior Designer, oOh!
Christopher J Porter
Designer, I See Sea
Babeth Olde Hanter
Junior Art Director, SOV
Chrystal Christie
Photographer/Graphic Designer, One Round Entertainment
Tally Thompson
Graphic Designer, Awesome Creative
Dominika Stanczyk
Designer, Open Water
Lindsay Koffler
Graphic Designer, Refinery29
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Lily Moore
Designer at Sotheby’s
Braden Floris
Designer, GoFundMe
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Tahmena Lutfi
Digital Designer, Qantas and Jetstar Hotels
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Tiffany Yee
Designer, Forever 21
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Emma Ladlow
Designer, University of Nottingham Students' Union
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Halah El Kholy
In-House Designer, Brew Tea Co
Jess White
Junior Graphic Designer, Just Media Design
Bobby Hendry
Designer, Brilliant Logic
Jessica Bakker
Junior Graphic Designer, Beyond Communications
Lauren Dannenberg
Designer, Mary's Group
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Dawn Moloney
Founder, A Making Life
Miranda Mayne
Freelance Graphic Designer
Caroline Keefe
Freelance, Nickelodeon
Paul and Amoni Liddell
Graphic Designers, Westpac CX and Feel
Meredith Wallis
Designer, King & Partners
Ocki Magill
Founder, Letter Bug Studios
Victoire Scherer
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Anika George
Designer, AKQA
Liana Modolo
UX Designer, Rex Software
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Mikel McCavana
Designer, Moment
Alexander Wu-Kim
Concept Creative, ANDPEOPLE Australia
Jing Ong
Designer, Autumn
Kirsten McColl
Designer, WH-O
Nicole Rogers
Designer, Birchbox
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Erin Donati
Founder, Harley Quinn & Co.
Jackson Todd
Art Director, Van Der Zwaag
Andy Vargas
Designer, Bitâcora
Moshe Bien
Designer, Nucleus
Crystal Lin
Designer, DNA Design
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Eleanor Rogers
Letterpress Printer, Chapel Press
Andy Tharagonnet
Designer, ThumbsUp
Ben Peters
Freelance Graphic Designer
Brad Holten
Designer, Big Idea
Natalia Baker
Freelance Graphic Designer
Molly Sitter
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Guy Pittard
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Peta Harris
Graphic Designer, Macquarie University
Oceane Combeau
Designer, Fernand et Firmin
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
Roo Cassels
Designer, Big Fish
Nicol Reid
Founder, Little Creative
James Birks
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
David Scott
Designer, The Mix
Jane Durlacher
Graphic Designer, Paper Stone Scissors
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
Founder, frank wo
Sean Raynor
Designer, Watermark Studio
Vanessa Burgess
Graphic Designer, Tritium
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Cari Sekendur
Art Director, LMNOP Creative
Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic Designer
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual 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
Sam Jacobs
Senior Designer, Time Inc.
Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home
Charly Tudor
Graphic Designer, Holdens
Lola Irwanto
Graphic Designer, Princess Polly