Where do you work?
Tingalpa Print & Copy.
What is your role?
Graphic Designer.
Describe your typical day as a designer.
Coffee and then a morning meeting to discuss any new jobs and what we need to get done that day. Then it’s designing, interacting with clients, researching ideas, printing mock-ups and more designing.
What do you love about being a designer?
Being able to put my own creative style on things and being able to make things look more
appealing. Where I currently work is great! I get to do such a range of jobs. One day could be designing for a large blue chip client and the next for the little old lady down the road who wants butterfly stickers with her name on it.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Having my logo design picked for a brand new Brisbane School and having a large involvement in their overall look and feel.
When did you graduate from Shillington?
May 2008.
What area were you working in before the course?
I was a Telecommunications Technician for Telstra.
Did you have any design experience before the course?
Absolutely none! I hadn’t even used a Mac or any of the design programs before.
Why did you decide to do the course?
I used to see all these cool posters around the place and ads in magazines and thought ‘I want to
do that’. I did a lot of research into all the different places I could study graphic design and Shillington was by far the best choice for so many different reasons.
What was the most valuable thing you took away from the course?
Confidence and an awesome portfolio!
How did you find the college environment, facilities and teaching?
Excellent! It’s a really comfortable environment, the facilities were great and there were lots of resources for all of us to use. The teaching staff knew exactly what they were talking about and were really hands on and very patient.
How confident did you feel about entering the design industry after you graduated?
Very confident! I felt like Shillington had provided me with enough experience to go out into the big
design world and start learning even more.
How long did it take you to secure a job?
I started getting freelance jobs straight away and got a full-time role at my current work place within six months.
What was the response like to your portfolio during interviews?
Really good. Everyone was surprised at how professional it looked and how many different kinds of briefs were in there.
Any advice for someone pondering whether to take the leap into graphic design and sign up for the course?
Do it! You wont regret it!
Where do you see yourself 12 months from now?
Designing on the other side of the world.
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