Hear straight from our graduates.
Shillington was the best learning experience I’ve had by far. It’s intense. It demands a lot from you but you get so much from it. It’s engaging, supportive, practical and inspiring. The curriculum is extensive, the teaching excellent and you’re with a fantastic group of students that become true friends.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Jane Durlacher
What were you up to before Shillington? Why did you decide to study design?
I lived in London for 10 years. Worked producing commercials there. Back in Melbourne I did a Graphic Design Diploma at RMIT then studied for my Bachelor of Education. I wrangled primary school kids for five years then escaped into marketing. I was finally focusing on graphic design in that role but then our whole team got retrenched.
Being retrenched was fantastic. Well, initially it sucked but it gave me the space to look up and question what I really wanted to be spending my time doing. Since I can remember I’ve got a buzz from looking at good graphic design: book and record covers, magazine layouts, packaging, labels, film credits, advertising. I’ve got boxes of cut outs, flyers and shopping bags. I’ve been known to buy products for their packaging rather than the contents. Graphic Design was still my dream job.
Why Shillington?
I’d had the Shillington site bookmarked for about a year and up popped a notification for an Information Session so I took that as a sign and went along. Hearing the teachers explain the process (professional and structured), seeing the work produced (engaging and inspiring) and talking to two current students (passionate and enthusiastic) convinced me to sign up for the full time course.
Who were your Shillington teachers and what were the biggest lessons they taught you?
I was taught by Chris Norman, Wayne Smith and Lucy Wells. The biggest lessons? Keep thumbnailing. Mood board it. Push it further. Simplify it. Sell your choices. Be brave!
These three bring their passion for design into the classroom every day. They expertly present and explain concepts and they work with you to constantly improve your processes and your design solutions. They gave me the confidence to keep taking the next step.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking about studying at Shillington?
DO IT! It was the best learning experience I’ve had by far. It’s intense. It demands a lot from you but you get so much from it. It’s engaging, supportive, practical and inspiring. The curriculum is extensive, the teaching excellent and you’re with a fantastic group of students that become true friends.
Visit Jane’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Shillington was the best learning experience I’ve had by far. It’s intense. It demands a lot from you but you get so much from it. It’s engaging, supportive, practical and inspiring. The curriculum is extensive, the teaching excellent and you’re with a fantastic group of students that become true friends.
Freelance Graphic Designer
Jane Durlacher
What were you up to before Shillington? Why did you decide to study design?
I lived in London for 10 years. Worked producing commercials there. Back in Melbourne I did a Graphic Design Diploma at RMIT then studied for my Bachelor of Education. I wrangled primary school kids for five years then escaped into marketing. I was finally focusing on graphic design in that role but then our whole team got retrenched.
Being retrenched was fantastic. Well, initially it sucked but it gave me the space to look up and question what I really wanted to be spending my time doing. Since I can remember I’ve got a buzz from looking at good graphic design: book and record covers, magazine layouts, packaging, labels, film credits, advertising. I’ve got boxes of cut outs, flyers and shopping bags. I’ve been known to buy products for their packaging rather than the contents. Graphic Design was still my dream job.
Why Shillington?
I’d had the Shillington site bookmarked for about a year and up popped a notification for an Information Session so I took that as a sign and went along. Hearing the teachers explain the process (professional and structured), seeing the work produced (engaging and inspiring) and talking to two current students (passionate and enthusiastic) convinced me to sign up for the full time course.
Who were your Shillington teachers and what were the biggest lessons they taught you?
I was taught by Chris Norman, Wayne Smith and Lucy Wells. The biggest lessons? Keep thumbnailing. Mood board it. Push it further. Simplify it. Sell your choices. Be brave!
These three bring their passion for design into the classroom every day. They expertly present and explain concepts and they work with you to constantly improve your processes and your design solutions. They gave me the confidence to keep taking the next step.
What would you say to someone who’s thinking about studying at Shillington?
DO IT! It was the best learning experience I’ve had by far. It’s intense. It demands a lot from you but you get so much from it. It’s engaging, supportive, practical and inspiring. The curriculum is extensive, the teaching excellent and you’re with a fantastic group of students that become true friends.
Visit Jane’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
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