Our
Students

Where do you work?
RetroFuzz Manchester. We get a great variety of projects ranging from digital to print for some of the biggest clients in the music and fashion industry.

What is your role?
Graphic Designer.

Describe your typical day as a designer.
I start my day checking and replying to client emails and generally regarding a variety of the projects that I'm involved in. I then jump onto a few select blogs to see whats new in the world of design (and Football). My day consists of working through brief(s) whilst discussing and critiquing other projects that are on-going in the studio. I  prioritise each day by getting the smaller, quicker jobs done in the morning which gives me the rest the day to get my teeth into the larger projects. My day is broken up by the odd game of table tennis which is a great way to take the edge off everything and give me 5 minutes away from my work. I think this is very important as it means I can evaluate what I've done and return to my work with a fresh pair of eyes.
 
What do you love about being a designer?
I love the feeling of creating something unique. I get really excited about throwing the ideas around. I love the reaction you get from happy clients and knowing that something you created is out there for everyone to see.
 
When did you graduate from Shillington?
December 2010.
 
What area were you working in before the course?
I studied Product Design at Strathclyde University.
 
Why did you decide to do the course?
I always had a flair for design and product design was where I excelled at school. However, as my university career progressed I found I spent less time solving a product design problem and more time working on my presentations, branding and marketing. Probably because I found the course a little unfulfilling and it was then that I found Shillington College and knew that this is what I needed to shape my career in the direction I wanted.
 
What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
The true-to-life studio experience created throughout the course was invaluable for me entering the work place. The tight deadlines were a massive help when entering a studio for the first time as I knew that I could jump straight into a brief and have it worked up to a high level in the time allotted to me. Not to mention gaining in-depth knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite.
 
How did you find the college environment, facilities and teaching?
The college itself is exactly like a working studio. You are encouraged to interact with your fellow designers, actively read blogs and look at design online and in books for inspiration. The studio is kitted out with up to date software and computers as well as more books on design than you can possibly read in 3 months. The staff are amazing! They go out of their way to help you and will do everything they can to ensure you get the most out of your experience at Shillington.

How confident did you feel about entering the design industry after you graduated?
I experienced the same nerves everyone gets when starting a new job but I knew I was good enough to handle the pressure. I was very excited to get in and impress my new employers with the skills I had gained at Shillington.
 
How long did it take you to secure a job?
It took me 3 weeks from completing the course to get the interview for my current job. It then took another week between both my interviews and securing the position at RetroFuzz.
 
What was the response to your portfolio like during interviews?
My portfolio played a huge part in me getting asked for an initial interview. I was told my work stood out amongst the rest and they were excited to meet me in person to discuss my work and design experience. They were particularly impressed by the quality of my work and the tight deadlines I had been working too compared to that of university students.
 
What's been the highlight of your career so far?
I was fortunate enough to be able to work up Lady Gaga's UK website alongside my boss. It was pretty daunting to be given that kind of responsibility as a junior designer but it showed me that my employers had a great deal of faith in my work. The website was a success and we got loads of publicity when the site was launched.
 
Where do you see yourself 12 months from now?
I would love to progress and grow as a designer with RetroFuzz. I am fortunate enough to be working alongside some excellent and experienced designers who have already taught me a great deal. We are a small studio and a tight knit bunch. I want to continue boosting RetroFuzz's success for years to come.