Hear straight from our graduates.
To be recognised by AGDA was encouraging especially considering prior to Shillington I had no previous experience working within a digital context. To have that award recognition has been really useful when applying for jobs and meeting potential employers.
Junior Graphic Designer, Dark Mofo
James Freebairn
What were you doing before Shillington?
Prior to Shillington I had studied graphic design at university but after graduating I lacked confidence in myself and ended up working in retail for a couple of years before realising that I didn’t want to regret not pursuing my passion.
I researched into what courses were on offer and wasn’t really able to find anything suitable in New Zealand. Having expanded my search across the Tasman I discovered Shillington’s 3-month intensive and saw that there was a campus in Melbourne and jumped at the chance. What really appealed to me about the course was the amount of briefs that students undertook within the 3-months of study and the fact that the end of the course I was going to graduate with a portfolio.
39 Shillington projects were recognised as AGDA Awards Finalists in 2018, and you got some serious recognition! How did it feel to receive a distinction for both your Friendly Faces App and Rapoi Branding?
To be recognised by AGDA was encouraging especially considering prior to Shillington I had no previous experience working within a digital context. To have that award recognition has been really useful when applying for jobs and meeting potential employers.
Any tips for fresh design graduates on the job hunt?
The one piece of advice I do have is one that regularly gets handed out time after time to fresh graduates and it’s so true. Put yourself out there and start engaging with the design community. Every opportunity that has come my way has been the result of a relationship that I have made and maintained. I’d highly recommend getting along to the following meet-ups which happen on a regular basis, TDK Tuesdays, AGDA After-hours and Dames and Dumplings. Attending workshops, talks and exhibition openings are also a great way to meet like-minded people.
It can be hard putting yourself out there and meeting new people but do what I did and get a buddy and a go to events together. Luckily for me I had Zoe Crook an awesome designer and an all round brilliant person who was also one of my Shillo classmates and together we found the task of putting ourselves out there a lot less daunting.
Visit James’s Behance profile and read his full interview on the blog.
To be recognised by AGDA was encouraging especially considering prior to Shillington I had no previous experience working within a digital context. To have that award recognition has been really useful when applying for jobs and meeting potential employers.
Junior Graphic Designer, Dark Mofo
James Freebairn
What were you doing before Shillington?
Prior to Shillington I had studied graphic design at university but after graduating I lacked confidence in myself and ended up working in retail for a couple of years before realising that I didn’t want to regret not pursuing my passion.
I researched into what courses were on offer and wasn’t really able to find anything suitable in New Zealand. Having expanded my search across the Tasman I discovered Shillington’s 3-month intensive and saw that there was a campus in Melbourne and jumped at the chance. What really appealed to me about the course was the amount of briefs that students undertook within the 3-months of study and the fact that the end of the course I was going to graduate with a portfolio.
39 Shillington projects were recognised as AGDA Awards Finalists in 2018, and you got some serious recognition! How did it feel to receive a distinction for both your Friendly Faces App and Rapoi Branding?
To be recognised by AGDA was encouraging especially considering prior to Shillington I had no previous experience working within a digital context. To have that award recognition has been really useful when applying for jobs and meeting potential employers.
Any tips for fresh design graduates on the job hunt?
The one piece of advice I do have is one that regularly gets handed out time after time to fresh graduates and it’s so true. Put yourself out there and start engaging with the design community. Every opportunity that has come my way has been the result of a relationship that I have made and maintained. I’d highly recommend getting along to the following meet-ups which happen on a regular basis, TDK Tuesdays, AGDA After-hours and Dames and Dumplings. Attending workshops, talks and exhibition openings are also a great way to meet like-minded people.
It can be hard putting yourself out there and meeting new people but do what I did and get a buddy and a go to events together. Luckily for me I had Zoe Crook an awesome designer and an all round brilliant person who was also one of my Shillo classmates and together we found the task of putting ourselves out there a lot less daunting.
Visit James’s Behance profile and read his full interview on the blog.
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