Learn from designers with industry expertise.
Design is such an effective means to make optimism tangible, to realize a better and more inspiring world.
Graphic Design Teacher
Online
Rony Mikhael
Rony Mikhael is an independent creative director, designer and brand strategist. His work has impacted everything from local coffee shops to enterprise fashion brands, audacious tech start-ups to international big pharma. After years in agency world, he now consults with start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small-medium-sized businesses to design visual, physical, and ultimately, visceral brand (i.e. human) experiences.
What do you love about design?
Design is such an effective means to make optimism tangible, to realize a better and more inspiring world. Wielding the power of design constantly turns problems into opportunities and provides actionable steps to creating a more delightful future—I love that.
Why do you teach?
I teach because I remember what it felt like to finally find that thing in life that truly got me excited to “show up” every day (design). I love helping others discover the rich life that a profession in design can offer; through all the different things one learns about as a designer (from ice cream to heart surgery and everything in between) and how that then shapes one’s thinking, empathy, and outlook on life. Teaching also keeps me on my toes to keep learning and growing to not get stagnant.
Tell us about your design career outside of Shillington.
My design career really started back when I was 16 with my first company (a music event production company). Over time that evolved into a more focused career in the creative industry, spanning the disciplines of graphic design, brand strategy and identity design, UI and UX design, advertising, copywriting, video production, motion graphics, music production, lettering, illustration, packaging, editorial design, environmental design, and product design. I’ve spent a decade helping build up a number of agencies and now work independently consulting with purpose-driven entrepreneurs and start-ups to bring thoughtful design and creative expressions to the internal and external manifestations of those brands.
What or who are you loving right now?
My curiosities have been reinvigorated by other design and related disciplines as of late. Seeing the new developments in sustainable and gorgeous architecture constantly has me in awe. Working with industrial designers and people who make more tangible artifacts is super inspiring and I constantly anticipate what things are coming out of the likes of Muuto, Norm Architects, and Futudesign. I’m currently loving the illustration work of Luis Mendo and other contributors to Monocle magazine. A lot of studios out of Europe and Scandinavia have been really impressive as well. Shops like Skinn, Bold, Kuudes, Werklig, Studio.Build. Of course there are studios I’m constantly following on this side of the pond like Locomotive, Instrument, Collins, Kati Forner. There’s honestly a lot to admire in this industry, smaller shops who are doing massive work; it’s an ever-growing roster of inspiration.
If you were a typeface, what would you be?
What’s your favourite blog?
The InVision blog Inside Design is pretty great for trends in digital, while Brand New gives me a nice update on what’s fresh in the identity space, and of course, BP&O is always a lovely dive.. In lieu of blogs, I’ve found myself drifting more into podcasts, notably A Change of Brand, How Brands Are Built, How I Built This, Design Mind, Fearless, IOFA, Clever, and Monocle on Design.
Design is such an effective means to make optimism tangible, to realize a better and more inspiring world.
Graphic Design Teacher
Online
Rony Mikhael
Rony Mikhael is an independent creative director, designer and brand strategist. His work has impacted everything from local coffee shops to enterprise fashion brands, audacious tech start-ups to international big pharma. After years in agency world, he now consults with start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small-medium-sized businesses to design visual, physical, and ultimately, visceral brand (i.e. human) experiences.
What do you love about design?
Design is such an effective means to make optimism tangible, to realize a better and more inspiring world. Wielding the power of design constantly turns problems into opportunities and provides actionable steps to creating a more delightful future—I love that.
Why do you teach?
I teach because I remember what it felt like to finally find that thing in life that truly got me excited to “show up” every day (design). I love helping others discover the rich life that a profession in design can offer; through all the different things one learns about as a designer (from ice cream to heart surgery and everything in between) and how that then shapes one’s thinking, empathy, and outlook on life. Teaching also keeps me on my toes to keep learning and growing to not get stagnant.
Tell us about your design career outside of Shillington.
My design career really started back when I was 16 with my first company (a music event production company). Over time that evolved into a more focused career in the creative industry, spanning the disciplines of graphic design, brand strategy and identity design, UI and UX design, advertising, copywriting, video production, motion graphics, music production, lettering, illustration, packaging, editorial design, environmental design, and product design. I’ve spent a decade helping build up a number of agencies and now work independently consulting with purpose-driven entrepreneurs and start-ups to bring thoughtful design and creative expressions to the internal and external manifestations of those brands.
What or who are you loving right now?
My curiosities have been reinvigorated by other design and related disciplines as of late. Seeing the new developments in sustainable and gorgeous architecture constantly has me in awe. Working with industrial designers and people who make more tangible artifacts is super inspiring and I constantly anticipate what things are coming out of the likes of Muuto, Norm Architects, and Futudesign. I’m currently loving the illustration work of Luis Mendo and other contributors to Monocle magazine. A lot of studios out of Europe and Scandinavia have been really impressive as well. Shops like Skinn, Bold, Kuudes, Werklig, Studio.Build. Of course there are studios I’m constantly following on this side of the pond like Locomotive, Instrument, Collins, Kati Forner. There’s honestly a lot to admire in this industry, smaller shops who are doing massive work; it’s an ever-growing roster of inspiration.
If you were a typeface, what would you be?
What’s your favourite blog?
The InVision blog Inside Design is pretty great for trends in digital, while Brand New gives me a nice update on what’s fresh in the identity space, and of course, BP&O is always a lovely dive.. In lieu of blogs, I’ve found myself drifting more into podcasts, notably A Change of Brand, How Brands Are Built, How I Built This, Design Mind, Fearless, IOFA, Clever, and Monocle on Design.
Andrew Shillington
Founder & Managing Director, United Kingdom
Anthony Wood
Managing Director, Global
Clare Terry
Director, Australia
Natalia Zuluaga
DesignOps & Teacher, Global
John Palowski
Head of Course Content, Global
Chris Norman
Head of Online, Global
Cathy Sison
Head, New York
Jack Trotman
Head, United Kingdom
Clay Allison
Head of Experience, Global
Alex Daley
Experience Manager, United States
Ella Shillington
Experience Manager, Australia
Meg Bathard
Experience Assistant, United Kingdom
Andy Dion
Experience Assistant, United States
Sara Mazzoni
Head of Marketing—Mat Leave, Global
Laura Carrick
Marketing & Communications Specialist, Global
Oli Stevenson
Marketing & Communications Lead, Global
Eden Lim
Marketing & Communications Assistant, Australia
George Simkin
Lead Teacher, United Kingdom
Kim Melvin
Lead Teacher, New York
Dahlia Ishak
Lead Teacher, Online
Nick Bailey
Graphic Design Teacher, Brisbane
Nick Smith
Course Content Creator, Global
Shrenik Ganatra
Course Content Creator & Teacher, New York
Annette Dennis
Lead Teacher, Online
Rich Tucker
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Spencer Harrison
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Amy Prus
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Maja Cule
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Andy Judd
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Wayne Smith
Graphic Design Teacher, Melbourne
Dan Wilson
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Justin Carey
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Adam Busby
Graphic Design Teacher, Brisbane
Marssaié Jordan
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Bonnie Eichelberger
Graphic Design Teacher, Melbourne
Dave Bird
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Alessia Mazzarella
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Hilary Archer
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Laura Moore
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Tina Victoria Afshar
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Mitch Reyes
Graphic Design Teacher, Brisbane
Olivia Chen
Graphic Design Teacher, Sydney
Mags Straatman
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Elena Passeggi
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Anastasia Lihou
Graphic Design Teacher, Brisbane
Sam Jacobs
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Rachel Broaders
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Missy Dempsey
Graphic Design Teacher, Sydney
Alexandra Lunn
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Benny Hinman
Graphic Design Teacher, Sydney
Tim King
Graphic Design Teacher, Sydney
Kym Rohman
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Céline Bouichou
Graphic Design Teacher, London
Thiago Eichner
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Rony Mikhael
Graphic Design Teacher, Online
Tessa Canon
Graphic Design Teacher, New York
Nathan Millard
Graphic Design Teacher, Melbourne
Jaimee-Lee Field
Graphic Design Teacher, Sydney
Emily Comfort
Graphic Design Teacher, Online