“The most important thing is to focus on design thinking and process…”

— TAYLOR EVANS

Tell us a little about your experiences since leaving TAFE. Where have you worked? Where do you work now?

I didn’t have the smoothest start breaking into the design industry. After finishing TAFE, I struggled to land a job. It took me about a year to get my foot in the door.

One day, I sat down and made a list of every studio, agency and freelancer in Perth, then reached out to as many as I could with my resume and portfolio. Luckily, I heard back from two studios. Lost & Found, which offered me some freelance work and The Globe, where by chance, their junior designer had just moved to Brisbane.

My full-time placement was short-lived. The owners of the business went their separate ways after just three months. I remember crying when they told me. It had been so hard to break into the industry in the first place and the door was about to hit me on the way out. Thankfully, I was cheap and eager to learn, so both owners offered me freelance work. That helped me build up my portfolio over the next year.

After that year, I was ready to move into a bigger environment where I could keep learning and growing. I applied for a job at Ideology and was lucky enough to land a full-time role. Since then, I’ve moved around, gaining experience and exploring different streams within the industry. I’ve worked everywhere from small design studios to large corporate and advertising agencies and now a digital/tech agency.

Tell us more about getting your first design job?

I started by cold emailing agencies and studios around town. Luckily, about 95% of people were incredibly kind and took the time to reply. From there, most of the jobs I landed came through word of mouth. Working with different people builds connections and it becomes so much easier to find new opportunities when you know others in the industry. It makes it easy when you're good to work with too!

What advice would you give to Graphic Design students studying at NM TAFE right now?

The most important thing is to focus on design thinking and process. When you’re applying for jobs, most employers want to see how you think, the reasoning behind your design decisions and how you arrived at the final outcome. A polished portfolio is great, but there’s just as much value in showing your thought process and the steps that got you there.

What can Perth and Western Australia do to support graduating diverse range of Art & Design students more?

We have strong creative talent here, but there’s a gap between study and real industry experience. Agencies and studios should open their doors more. Not just for internships, but through, mentorships and real project collaborations. Work shouldn’t feel like a locked room students only enter after graduation. Exposure to real briefs, clients and pressures of the job helps bridge that gap.

What do you think are the most important qualities in a graphic designer?

Articulating your process and design thinking is key. But also be willing to take on any project that comes your way. I remember grumbling about being stuck putting together presentation decks for the New Business team. In hindsight, it helped me refine my typography skills and better understand hierarchy in type and design.