Hear straight from our graduates.
The learning experience was positive and nurturing, and it provided me with the perfect launch pad into my new career.
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Mark Osmond
What were you doing before Shillington and how did you find the transition from old career to new?
Before I joined Shillington, I was an experienced Mathematics Teacher and Head of Department; however, becoming a Graphic Designer had been a long-held ambition of mine. Shillington had the best course to suit my needs in terms of a quick career transition, learning environment and final outcomes. The transition from my old career to my new one, has been life changing; it’s involved learning a lot new skills in a very short space of time, moving to London, forming new friendships and networks and learning to adapt to a new working environment. Although this has involved a lot of sacrifice and compromise, it has been a fantastic roller coaster ride of emotion and experience that has been totally worth it.
You studied on the full-time course in London—can you still us a bit about your experience?
The full-time course was a superb way to be immersed in the principles of design and industry skills from day one. There was a lot of structure in terms of expectations and learning but this prepares you for the rigours of portfolio time and the subsequent career ahead of you. I really enjoyed the collaborative approach where we worked in groups to get the best out of one another. This ability to critique and defend your designs has proved invaluable when it comes to creating new ideas and pitching to clients in the real world. The sheer number of briefs and pace of work was exhilarating and the infectious energy and skill of the teachers meant we achieved so much in such a short space of time. The learning experience was positive and nurturing, and it provided me with the perfect launch pad into my new career.
Now a designer at packaging agency Thumbs up, can you tell us a bit about your day-to-day job?
As a Designer at Thumbs Up, I work in the marketing team providing bespoke packaging for our products that are sold in large department stores. On a day to day basis, I design artwork, cutters, manuals and affiliate marketing for various product lines, which means I get to use a combination of software at any one time. I also design style guides to pitch to existing and potential clients to promote seasonal ranges. This involves directing lifestyle and product images, as well as designing brand logos and graphics. One of the most satisfying parts of the role is to have your designs approved, sent for production and finally place in store for purchase.
What advice would you give to those thinking of enrolling at Shillington?
In terms of advice, it’s really important to weigh up your options in terms of the full-time or part-time course; the commitments are very different to suit your needs. Try and get along to a Graduation Ceremony so that you can speak to the students who’ve just finished the course and to look at the kind of work they produce. Do some research into the kind of agencies and designers that you like and suit your style; having this inspiration helps you tackle the briefs during the course. Try to keep a visual diary before you start, as this will prepare you for the one you keep during the course. Be prepared to totally commit yourself to the course, homework and the job search that succeeds it; these will need your full focus but will be totally rewarding at the same time. Don’t hesitate, go for it; it’s well worth the investment and will totally change your life!
Visit Mark’s website.
The learning experience was positive and nurturing, and it provided me with the perfect launch pad into my new career.
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Mark Osmond
What were you doing before Shillington and how did you find the transition from old career to new?
Before I joined Shillington, I was an experienced Mathematics Teacher and Head of Department; however, becoming a Graphic Designer had been a long-held ambition of mine. Shillington had the best course to suit my needs in terms of a quick career transition, learning environment and final outcomes. The transition from my old career to my new one, has been life changing; it’s involved learning a lot new skills in a very short space of time, moving to London, forming new friendships and networks and learning to adapt to a new working environment. Although this has involved a lot of sacrifice and compromise, it has been a fantastic roller coaster ride of emotion and experience that has been totally worth it.
You studied on the full-time course in London—can you still us a bit about your experience?
The full-time course was a superb way to be immersed in the principles of design and industry skills from day one. There was a lot of structure in terms of expectations and learning but this prepares you for the rigours of portfolio time and the subsequent career ahead of you. I really enjoyed the collaborative approach where we worked in groups to get the best out of one another. This ability to critique and defend your designs has proved invaluable when it comes to creating new ideas and pitching to clients in the real world. The sheer number of briefs and pace of work was exhilarating and the infectious energy and skill of the teachers meant we achieved so much in such a short space of time. The learning experience was positive and nurturing, and it provided me with the perfect launch pad into my new career.
Now a designer at packaging agency Thumbs up, can you tell us a bit about your day-to-day job?
As a Designer at Thumbs Up, I work in the marketing team providing bespoke packaging for our products that are sold in large department stores. On a day to day basis, I design artwork, cutters, manuals and affiliate marketing for various product lines, which means I get to use a combination of software at any one time. I also design style guides to pitch to existing and potential clients to promote seasonal ranges. This involves directing lifestyle and product images, as well as designing brand logos and graphics. One of the most satisfying parts of the role is to have your designs approved, sent for production and finally place in store for purchase.
What advice would you give to those thinking of enrolling at Shillington?
In terms of advice, it’s really important to weigh up your options in terms of the full-time or part-time course; the commitments are very different to suit your needs. Try and get along to a Graduation Ceremony so that you can speak to the students who’ve just finished the course and to look at the kind of work they produce. Do some research into the kind of agencies and designers that you like and suit your style; having this inspiration helps you tackle the briefs during the course. Try to keep a visual diary before you start, as this will prepare you for the one you keep during the course. Be prepared to totally commit yourself to the course, homework and the job search that succeeds it; these will need your full focus but will be totally rewarding at the same time. Don’t hesitate, go for it; it’s well worth the investment and will totally change your life!
Visit Mark’s website.
Jess Goodall
Digital Designer, Pistachio Design
Stephanie Halovanic
Creative Producer, &Walsh
Megan Voo
UX/UI & Content Designer, Ignite Online
Gerald Torto
Strategist, Re Agency
Romayne Gadelrab
Freelance Graphic Designer
Eman Abdallah
Graphic & Experience Designer, KAIRO
Ariana Villegas
Designer, Simplecast
Ray Wong
Designer, Oink Creative
Johanna Hagenauer
Brand / Product Designer, Rexlabs
Emily Campos
UX Designer, Wix
Rawin Keo
Lead Graphic Designer, Dermalogica
Mark Osmond
Designer, Thumbs Up!
Vanessa Bertagnole
Graphic Multimedia Designer, Surf Life Saving Queensland
Araki Koman
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
Arwa Al-Salam
Designer, Human Appeal
Benny Hinman
Designer, Frost*collective
Em Stokes
Junior Designer, MOO
Veronica Humphris
Digital Designer, Mapway
Leila Bartholet
Designer, Chandelier
Alexandra Francis
Designer, Flow Creative
Benjamin Ngooi
Graphic Designer, Cox Architecture
Sophie Lord
Creative Director, Hello May
Khadijah Adbul Nabi
Freelance Graphic Designer
Frankie Young
Founder, Studio Neubau
Ella Donald & Charlotte Carnegie Brown
Co-Founders, Studio Duzi
Amy Forsyth
Graphic Designer, Alfresco Emporium
Jaira Adlawan
Senior Visual Designer, Sephora
Jamie Krups
Creative at Stab Magazine
Keiran McCann
Graphic Designer, Victoria’s Secret
Greg Bemis
Creative, Nike
Anastasiia Vinnichenko
Designer, Tile Creative
Lori Beth Kaye
Senior Product Designer, The Iconic
Megan Dweck
Visual Designer, McKinsey & Company
James Freebairn
Junior Graphic Designer, Dark Mofo
Irina Manning
UX Designer, Manning Labs
Shannon Gordon
Designer, R/GA
Sinead Murphy
Freelance Graphic Designer
Lauren Koste
Freelance Designer and Craft Beer Specialist
Ani Monteleone
Designer, The Wall Street Journal
Caitlin Clancy
Designer, The New York Times
Miwako Suzuki
Integrated Creative Director
Linda Gao
Designer, HBO
Rachel Urquhart
Founder, Pony Gold Studio
Will Batrouney
Graphic Designer, Ignite Online
Ellie Pinney
Freelance Designer
Katie Lodge
Business Development Manager, Frost* collective
Joseph Lebus
Designer, Made Thought
Jordan Demetriou
Junior Designer, Principals
Hamish Snow
Product Designer, Rexlabs
Emily Somers
Founder, Bravery Co.
Eleanor Robertson
Designer, Paul Belford Ltd
Estefi Panizza
Junior Designer, Design Bridge
Erin Gale
Designer, Target
Kylie Meller
Founder, duosista Web and Graphic Design
Yarron Frauenfelder
Design Director
Bianca Chu
Senior Designer, eBay
Bianca Oggiano
Designer, FutureBrand
Alexander Rog
Junior Designer, oOh!
Christopher J Porter
Designer, I See Sea
Babeth Olde Hanter
Junior Art Director, SOV
Chrystal Christie
Photographer/Graphic Designer, One Round Entertainment
Tally Thompson
Graphic Designer, Awesome Creative
Dominika Stanczyk
Designer, Open Water
Lindsay Koffler
Graphic Designer, Refinery29
Amee Wilson
Art Director, Clemenger BBDO
Lily Moore
Designer at Sotheby’s
Braden Floris
Designer, GoFundMe
Ashley Ronning
Illustrator and Founder of Helio Press
Tahmena Lutfi
Digital Designer, Qantas and Jetstar Hotels
Anara Davletaliyeva
UX Designer and Developer, Appliances Online
Tiffany Yee
Designer, Forever 21
Amy Sheehan
Art Director, Insider Inc.
Emma Ladlow
Designer, University of Nottingham Students' Union
Alexis Waller
Design Director, R/GA
Halah El Kholy
In-House Designer, Brew Tea Co
Jess White
Junior Graphic Designer, Just Media Design
Bobby Hendry
Designer, Brilliant Logic
Jessica Bakker
Junior Graphic Designer, Beyond Communications
Lauren Dannenberg
Designer, Mary's Group
Arnold Omanyo
UX/UI Designer, Digital on Demand
Dawn Moloney
Founder, A Making Life
Miranda Mayne
Freelance Graphic Designer
Caroline Keefe
Freelance, Nickelodeon
Paul and Amoni Liddell
Graphic Designers, Westpac CX and Feel
Meredith Wallis
Designer, King & Partners
Ocki Magill
Founder, Letter Bug Studios
Victoire Scherer
Junior Graphic Designer, Neoscape
Anika George
Designer, AKQA
Liana Modolo
UX Designer, Rex Software
Kelly Hansen
Graphic Designer, Amazon Books
Mikel McCavana
Designer, Moment
Alexander Wu-Kim
Concept Creative, ANDPEOPLE Australia
Jing Ong
Designer, Autumn
Kirsten McColl
Designer, WH-O
Nicole Rogers
Designer, Birchbox
Pooja Dharia
Branding Designer, FCB Health
Erin Donati
Founder, Harley Quinn & Co.
Jackson Todd
Art Director, Van Der Zwaag
Andy Vargas
Designer, Bitâcora
Moshe Bien
Designer, Nucleus
Crystal Lin
Designer, DNA Design
Stephen Grace
Designer, Christopher Doyle & Co.
Eleanor Rogers
Letterpress Printer, Chapel Press
Andy Tharagonnet
Designer, ThumbsUp
Ben Peters
Freelance Graphic Designer
Brad Holten
Designer, Big Idea
Natalia Baker
Freelance Graphic Designer
Molly Sitter
Studio Designer, Spring St. Social Society
Guy Pittard
Freelance Graphic Designer
Bea Sambalido
Freelance Graphic Designer
Oceane Combeau
Designer, Fernand et Firmin
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
Roo Cassels
Designer, Big Fish
Nicol Reid
Founder, Little Creative
James Birks
Freelance Illustrator and Designer
David Scott
Designer, The Mix
Jane Durlacher
Graphic Designer, Paper Stone Scissors
Rachel Lee
Freelance Graphic Designer
Janno Saft
Founder, frank wo
Sean Raynor
Designer, Watermark Studio
Vanessa Burgess
Graphic Designer, Tritium
Olivier Adam
Freelance Graphic Designer
Cari Sekendur
Art Director, LMNOP Creative
Alexandra Menzies
Freelance Graphic Designer
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual 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
Sam Jacobs
Senior Designer, Time Inc.
Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home
Charly Tudor
Graphic Designer, Holdens
Lola Irwanto
Graphic Designer, Princess Polly