Hear straight from our graduates.
The class runs like a studio environment which is really formative and truly prepares you as much as possible for the work environment.
Freelance Designer
Emma Ladlow
What were you up to before Shillington?
I was actually working in Fashion, internationally. I spent a lot of time in New York but have also worked in Stockholm and Sri Lanka. I was originally working with women’s fashion design which meant I already had some Adobe skills on a few of the programs and colour theory knowledge and an instinct for design. My work began to encompass graphic design by chance; a small company needed some help with look-book, website and point of sale graphics and I jumped at chance. I actually really enjoyed working on those items and my interest in fashion was more about surface pattern and print graphics than garment silhouettes at this point, so I decided to enrol at Shillington to pursue graphic design further.
What do you do now?
I’m a Graphic Designer at the University of Nottingham Students’ Union and I accept freelance work occasionally. I began as a freelance contractor and have now been here around 9 months. I oversee all printed collateral that the S.U. produces and have worked on some really exciting projects involving large-scale signage, way finding, art direction of a website and also weigh in on web, digital and social assets.
Why do you love working as a Graphic Designer?
I love working with colour and inspiration all day and feel so lucky to have a job that involves seeking out art and trends and layouts. I also find it really refreshing that the industry is so big—clients and projects have the potential to range from web work to print media to signage, stationery, branding or logo projects and that variety makes me excited about what’s ahead!
What would you say to someone considering studying at Shillington?
I genuinely really valued Shillington and miss it very much! My class cohort were fantastic and also you have a network of contacts upon entering the industry; I still keep in touch with old classmates and it’s great to support each other. The level of teaching was really excellent because the tutors are working industry professionals and so their experience is really relevant and on-trend. The class runs like a studio environment which is really formative and truly prepares you as much as possible for the work environment—just go for it!
Visit Emma’s Instagram and read her full interview on the blog.
The class runs like a studio environment which is really formative and truly prepares you as much as possible for the work environment.
Freelance Designer
Emma Ladlow
What were you up to before Shillington?
I was actually working in Fashion, internationally. I spent a lot of time in New York but have also worked in Stockholm and Sri Lanka. I was originally working with women’s fashion design which meant I already had some Adobe skills on a few of the programs and colour theory knowledge and an instinct for design. My work began to encompass graphic design by chance; a small company needed some help with look-book, website and point of sale graphics and I jumped at chance. I actually really enjoyed working on those items and my interest in fashion was more about surface pattern and print graphics than garment silhouettes at this point, so I decided to enrol at Shillington to pursue graphic design further.
What do you do now?
I’m a Graphic Designer at the University of Nottingham Students’ Union and I accept freelance work occasionally. I began as a freelance contractor and have now been here around 9 months. I oversee all printed collateral that the S.U. produces and have worked on some really exciting projects involving large-scale signage, way finding, art direction of a website and also weigh in on web, digital and social assets.
Why do you love working as a Graphic Designer?
I love working with colour and inspiration all day and feel so lucky to have a job that involves seeking out art and trends and layouts. I also find it really refreshing that the industry is so big—clients and projects have the potential to range from web work to print media to signage, stationery, branding or logo projects and that variety makes me excited about what’s ahead!
What would you say to someone considering studying at Shillington?
I genuinely really valued Shillington and miss it very much! My class cohort were fantastic and also you have a network of contacts upon entering the industry; I still keep in touch with old classmates and it’s great to support each other. The level of teaching was really excellent because the tutors are working industry professionals and so their experience is really relevant and on-trend. The class runs like a studio environment which is really formative and truly prepares you as much as possible for the work environment—just go for it!
Visit Emma’s Instagram and read her full interview on the blog.
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