“…don’t be afraid to bring fresh ideas to the table.”

— VIVIEN LOGAN

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

After completing my design studies at TAFE in 2019, I returned home to Edinburgh and began freelancing at a small design studio. During the pandemic, I secured freelance work with various clients, including a security company. During this time, I made the decision that I wanted to continue my studies and chose Communication Design at the Glasgow School of Art. Completing this offered a more conceptual design focus and developed my practical skills. Since graduating, I have worked in both agency and corporate environments, first as a designer in a furniture procurement company and my current post in the marketing and business development team at Shepherd and Wedderburn. My daily tasks include creating various digital assets for social media channels, publications and print material for events/conferences.

How did you get your first graphic design job?

Through an ad on LinkedIn. Also the portfolio I created, based on what we covered at TAFE, was well received and played a key role in helping me get my foot in the door.

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

If you can, try to take on some freelance work — it’ll give you an edge and help you build a more unique portfolio. Experiment and push your creative boundaries. Play around with different approaches through typography, layout, photography and colour to discover your style.

Collaborating with other students is also incredibly valuable — whether it’s with illustration or fashion students, working across disciplines can really elevate your work. Make the most of networking opportunities like The Design Kids (TDK); building connections in the industry can open up a lot of doors.

If you get the opportunity to do an internship during your studies, go for it. I was lucky enough to intern at Chil3, where I learned so much from two amazing designers. That hands-on experience has been incredibly important in shaping my career as a designer.

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

Work collaboratively within a team and don’t be afraid to bring fresh ideas to the table. Good time management and clear communication are essential when working with clients or internal teams and most importantly, have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Please list some awesome new developments happening right now in the design industry.

Adobe Max has been a really interesting platform to follow. There are so many great videos and tutorials from industry designers, sharing new ideas and tips on what’s possible across the Adobe Creative Suite.