Graduating with a graphic design degree felt like the moment I officially became a designer. Three years of projects, deadlines, presentations and trying to explain my creative decisions had finally paid off.
Then I entered the studio and realised there was still quite a lot to learn.
Moving from university into the creative industry was a big change. At university, I was encouraged to experiment, find my style and explore ideas. In a studio, those skills are still important, but I quickly realised there’s another layer to design. Understanding the brief, the audience, the message and, importantly, the words.
One of the biggest surprises for me has been just how much there is still to learn within the Adobe programmes. There’s always another tool, technique or shortcut to discover, whether it’s getting to grips with Illustrator, exploring After Effects or picking up a clever Photoshop trick.
And that’s one of the things I really like about working in a studio. Learning is shared. Tutorials, tips and little bits of knowledge are passed around, so there’s always an opportunity to learn something new and perhaps save myself a few clicks along the way.
But one of the biggest things I’ve learnt is that design isn’t just about making something look good.
Good design needs good communication. Copy, layout, imagery, colour and typography all have to work together to tell the right story. A beautifully designed piece that nobody understands hasn’t quite done its job.
I’ve also learnt that asking questions is just as important as having ideas. Who are we talking to? What are we trying to say? What do we want someone to do, think or feel?
For me, that’s been quite a shift from designing for a university project to designing with a real purpose.
University gave me the foundations and the freedom to experiment. Working in a studio is giving me the chance to put those skills into practice, learn from other people and keep developing.
Because finishing my degree definitely didn’t mean I’d finished learning.
There’s always another programme, another shortcut, another idea and, usually, another question to ask.
And I’m pretty sure I’ve still got a lot more to learn.
Love Pip x