“I’m so glad I chose to go the TAFE route.”

— MEGAN ISABELLA

Megan’s work is renowned for it’s bold pop colours and graphic line work. Whilst it is influenced by the retro patterns of the 60’s and 70’s, it also incorporates today’s trends in theme and colour which create a look that is very current. She was also a fantastic Graphic Design student and we are thrilled with Megan’s thoughtful response to our questions below.

(Make sure you also watch her video about her influences)

1. How did you first get into design? 

I’d been really into art and drama in high school so naturally I tried a lot of different creative studies at University- theatre, film, writing, fine art- but none of them felt quite right. I enjoyed all of them, but none left me feeling like it was my jam. I knew I loved to communicate and express myself creatively but I still didn’t know how I wanted to translate that into a career, so after 2 years I quit and took a year off to travel and explore my options. I remember the moment the penny dropped clearly. It was a hot summer’s day in Italy in 2009 and I was strolling the streets of Rome when I came across my first ever graphic design exhibition. At the time, I only had a vague idea of what graphic design even was. It blew the gates right open, like one of those magical moments when you feel like a higher power nudged you in the right direction. All around me were incredible posters, creative typography, illustration, photography, powerful ideas. I had walked into a creative wonderland, and I thought this. This is what I’m going to do. I enrolled immediately after I landed back home in Perth and haven’t looked back. I had the option to go back to University but after speaking with a few students that were already attending CIT I knew it was the right choice for me. Just because I could go to university, it didn’t mean I should. I’m so glad I chose to go the TAFE route. All of my lecturers were active in the industry themselves and were very passionate about their student’s learning. The education I got at CIT was very business-focused and practical- a lot less theoretical and much more like training to either own a business or work for one.

2. What project are you most proud of? 

Since graduating I have had the opportunity to work on some really interesting and diverse projects across a range of industries. That’s one of the really nice things about being a graphic designer, your skills are so transferrable and are needed in all kinds of businesses and sectors of the community. The project I’m most proud of however is probably the one I’m working now: starting my own business. Taking the plunge to quit my full time graphic design job to take up a casual position in order to free up my time to devote to my startup was a scary move and has been very challenging. But I’m also so proud of it and how much Megan Isabella Design has evolved and grown over the last 2 years.

3. Advice for TAFE’s current students? 

My advice for design students is to use the time to really go nuts and do crazy things. Experiment! You don’t have a client to answer to or billable hours, it’s such a great time to explore your creativity and your ideas. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, in fact, make mistakes. Failure still leads to the same destination and it’s a good way to learn so don’t let the fear of it block you. Don’t be crippled by perfection. Also, take your project to the next level. Always. Finish the project early, then come back to it a few days later after a break and look at it again and ask yourself: Is this a bit pedestrian? Can I make this more awesome? Have I thought outside the box? What can I do to explore it even further? If you feel blocked, show it to someone else and see what they say. Sometimes just someone’s reaction to your work is enough to spark an idea. They might say “Oh, that reminds me of this…” and that might be all you needed to get out of your creative rut. Use your lecturers too- they are there to support you, not judge you.

4. What is Perth design in need of most? 

Perth has some cracking design talent going on and this is an exciting place to be a designer. It is a growing city and with it comes an increase in opportunities for us. For every new business that opens, building that gets built, public space opened- there is an opportunity. Perhaps though what we really need are designers who have gone beyond the traditional nuts & bolts design training and who have built a really strong level of creative thinking and problem solving. A kind of guerilla army of creative people who can contribute to our city and society to help us tackle social issues, help us connect people and the community to each other, help us relate to one another. Graphic designers are communicators and hold a lot of power to use their skills to foster social change. I’d like to see more of that passion in our young designers and graduates.

5. In terms of finding your first job after graduating, what worked best for you? 

When I graduated I didn’t even get time to apply to agencies, I hit the ground running and started my first job really quickly as an in-house designer for a retail brand. Working as an in-house designer for a business is quite different to the structure you might find in a creative agency. You work a lot more autonomously and are given a lot more responsibility and creative control (which appealed to me- control freak over here!). I started doing everything from the website to catalogue design to product design. Then I moved to a completely different industry- urban design- where I was involved in lots of community projects and did a lot of print based work. Then I moved again, this time to the automotive industry where I am currently working within a marketing team and have done a lot of online, digital projects as well as print/retail. Along the way I have also done plenty of freelance projects and personal projects to keep the creative flame burning. The thing I love most about being an in-house designer is that I am always picking up new skills, learning about new industries and understanding businesses and the people behind them. My skills have taken me on a journey into roles I never would have considered myself doing as a student but have formed such an interesting career. I guess what I would say to design students is not to worry! Every business needs graphic design so there’s a demand for what you do if you can think outside the square and stay open to trying out new opportunities. And talk to people- connect with people, tell them what you do- you never know who might just be looking for someone with your skill set.

Such a pleasure Megan! Thanks!