Hear straight from our graduates.
I’ll describe my feelings at the beginning, middle and end of the course: Excited. Exhausted. Euphoric!
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Ulrika Johnson
Prior to Shillington you were working in an entirely different career as a legal counsel. Tell us why you decided to change careers and take the plunge to study design.
From the age of 6 years old, art was my favorite subject in school. But oddly enough, I never considered art as something I could pursue as a profession, perhaps because no adult ever introduced or supported the idea of being an “artist.” Even though I’ve always spent most of my spare time on painting and crafts, it wasn’t until I began working as a lawyer that it really hit me. I finally had a career—but was it me? I didn’t decide to shift professions overnight. In fact, it happened very gradually over the course of 7 years as a lawyer. I felt a growing, and soon an overwhelming, need to express my creativity. It just came to a point where I realized that I invested all my emotional energy and passion into my “hobby” instead of my job. There was no alternative except to turn my hobby into my career.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about the Shillington course?
If s/he is questioning whether or not you can truly become a graphic designer in three months, my classmates and I are living proof of that. If you have a genuine desire to become a graphic designer and if you are ready to dedicate three months of your life to Shillington, focusing your energy on each project, you too can do it! I will always be amazed by how well the Shillington program was planned, thought through and up-to-date.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Ask teachers about and research upcoming design contests for which you could qualify. I didn’t think about it nor did I know of any design contests in advance. So I really regret missing a few deadlines, since contests are an amazing opportunity to shine and showcase your work. Give everything, never give up, be curious and ask questions. I asked a ton of questions, and I also received a lot of valuable answers.
Visit Ulrika’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
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Guy Pittard
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Anna Mullin
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Nicol Reid
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David Scott
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James Birks
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Jane Durlacher
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Rachel Lee
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Romayne Gadelrab
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Janno Saft
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Vanessa Burgess
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Olivier Adam
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Molly Sitter
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Cari Sekendur
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Alexandra Menzies
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Tim Jones
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Carla Scotto
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Meg Walker
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Christina Capetola
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Louise Hamer
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Ina Estrada
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Chrystal Christie
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Ulrika Johnson
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Sam Jacobs
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Sean Raynor
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Irina Manning
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I’ll describe my feelings at the beginning, middle and end of the course: Excited. Exhausted. Euphoric!
Designer, Fantasia Accessories
Ulrika Johnson
Prior to Shillington you were working in an entirely different career as a legal counsel. Tell us why you decided to change careers and take the plunge to study design.
From the age of 6 years old, art was my favorite subject in school. But oddly enough, I never considered art as something I could pursue as a profession, perhaps because no adult ever introduced or supported the idea of being an “artist.” Even though I’ve always spent most of my spare time on painting and crafts, it wasn’t until I began working as a lawyer that it really hit me. I finally had a career—but was it me? I didn’t decide to shift professions overnight. In fact, it happened very gradually over the course of 7 years as a lawyer. I felt a growing, and soon an overwhelming, need to express my creativity. It just came to a point where I realized that I invested all my emotional energy and passion into my “hobby” instead of my job. There was no alternative except to turn my hobby into my career.
What would you say to someone who is skeptical about the Shillington course?
If s/he is questioning whether or not you can truly become a graphic designer in three months, my classmates and I are living proof of that. If you have a genuine desire to become a graphic designer and if you are ready to dedicate three months of your life to Shillington, focusing your energy on each project, you too can do it! I will always be amazed by how well the Shillington program was planned, thought through and up-to-date.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone starting at Shillington, what would it be?
Ask teachers about and research upcoming design contests for which you could qualify. I didn’t think about it nor did I know of any design contests in advance. So I really regret missing a few deadlines, since contests are an amazing opportunity to shine and showcase your work. Give everything, never give up, be curious and ask questions. I asked a ton of questions, and I also received a lot of valuable answers.
Visit Ulrika’s website and read her full interview on the blog.
Margherita Baldi
Freelance Visual Designer
Henriette van Baren
Graphic Designer, ABC Carpet & Home