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
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.
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
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
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.
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
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home