How to break into Graphic Design: Our course partners offer career insight and advice!
At The Northern School of Art we offer two pathways into Graphic Design starting with our college-level UAL Extended Diploma in Graphic & Digital Design for school leavers which offers an industry focused approach to study through partnerships, live briefs and more.
Students on this subject pathway open themselves up to limitless opportunities and many creative industries in the visual arts, “we are all encompassing within the creative sector” as UAL extended diploma Lecturer Peter Jones puts it, “we work with clients and help them achieve what they are looking to do visually. That can be through social media, editorial, digital design, branding, packaging, typography, illustration or photography.”
To best explain the specialisms of graphic design and the job opportunities available we spoke to three of our Level 3 course industry partners. Gemma Thompson, Design Manager of a team of UI designers for national retailer Tesco, Creative Director and Founder for WOB Studio Nieve Walton-O’Brien and Kenfolk’s Creator and Director Ross Palmer, have each carved out unique careers in their field and offer an authentic perspective on the graphic design industry. Find out what in their own words is the best thing about working in graphic design, what opportunities a qualification can lead to and what their advice is for our students and graduates that are starting out in the industry.
Ross Palmer, Creative Director & Founder of Kenfolk
“We’re a brand and design agency by name” Ross explains “although we work across the wider creative industry. Graphic Design, Branding, Naming, PR & Comms, Social Media, Marketing, Web Design, Photography – we do it. But we’re probably most known for our brand and design work.”
What is the best thing about working in this industry?
Great question. The variety of work, the difference in projects, the different people you get to work with from all sorts of different backgrounds and industries and locations (literally around the world, thanks to modern tech advancements!). It’s a cliché, but no two days are ever the same, from logo creation to web design, to workshops and presentations. And there’s also the pride of seeing your work on an adshell, the side of a bus or on the supermarket shelves.
What kind of roles are possible with a graphic design qualification?
It’s a pretty big list! The time of a Graphic Design qualification just for the traditional graphic design roles has long gone, in my (gulp) 20+ years of this industry, I’ve worked with people who studied graphic design who were web developers, illustrators, copywriters, account managers, project planners and so much more. Good designers are in essence, problem solvers; we provide solutions… and that for me is a massive part that can be adapted to other industry and non-industry roles.
What is your advice for students starting out after college?
Be a sponge… soak up as much information as you can about the industry. Follow the right people and agencies. See what work they’ve done. Get experience by offering yourself (experience, even if free, is vital to stand out). Get a website, get your work up there, keep it updated, get an email with the URL in it and connect with the right people. And good luck!!!
Gemma Thompson, Design Manager Tesco
Gemma works as a Design Manager for multi-national retailer Tesco, “I manage a team of UI designers, and we design a range of apps and websites for Tesco (both public and internally facing). We work on a real mix of projects, from apps, that make it easier for our colleagues to carry out their work, to designing specific websites for Tesco, such as the careers site.”
What is the best thing about working in this industry?
The variety! Whether you choose to work in an agency, or in-house (‘client side’), you can get your teeth into all kinds of work. The learning curve is steep at first but even with experience, you will always need to keep on top of things, such as new trends, software and now, the advancement of AI.
What kind of roles are possible with a graphic design qualification?
The great thing about studying graphic design, is that you can get a taster for each area, then decide which one you’re most interested in (and good at). You could specialise in illustration, digital design, branding, packaging, animation, and more. I was interested in digital design, and animation when I went to Uni, and opted to join extra classes that let me learn more about these areas. This led to me graduating with a portfolio that was more geared towards the entry level jobs that I was interested in.
What is your advice for students starting out after college?
Never stop learning. The industry is moving at a record speed pace today and you will need to keep ahead of the game, which will ultimately make you more employable. Once you graduate, apply for everything! Don’t worry if it’s not your dream job on paper, or if you can’t do everything on the requirement list, you will learn once you start. Sometimes the experience can help you progress onto the next role, which is more attractive to you. And finally, a good attitude, good communication skills and an open mind are way more important than raw talent. No matter how good you are, you will need to have good people skills to get ahead.
Nieve is the founder of WOB studio “a branding studio for businesses that want more than a “nice logo.” I build identities with actual personality, the kind that feel like a full experience rather than just something decorative. Over time that grew into web design, social content, packaging, and basically anything a brand needs to exist in the real world. The best part is that I can work from wherever I am, which keeps things fresh and lets me jump into all kinds of industries I’d never normally bump into.”
What is the best thing about working in this industry?
Design constantly teaches me new skills, whether I asked for them or not. Writing, presenting, client communication, business thinking, organisation, and actual confidence. Not to mention the new knowledge from each brand’s industry you work with. The design industry forces you to keep evolving, and in return, you get to transform ideas into something people instantly connect with. Helping a brand stand out with something that has real soul is a very addictive feeling.
What kind of roles are possible with a graphic design qualification?
A graphic design background opens up a lot of directions, depending on where your taste and curiosity pull you. I’ve seen all sorts of roles come out of this degree: data graphic designers for the news, advertisement, campaign design & animation for companies like Nike and Lucozade, Designers who go to gigs and do live artwork of the artists, web designers and developers, print and packaging designers – honestly the list is pretty endless and what’s great, is that you have access to them all if you want to try something new. The field is broad, and it’s easy to shift lanes as you grow.
What is your advice for students starting out after college?
Put the time and effort in. Design everywhere. Any spare moment, any weird idea, any half-hour between classes. The more you make, the faster you grow. When I look back even a year, our work and our process has levelled up massively just from consistent practice. Don’t rely only on college assignments; carve out time because you want to get better, not because someone graded you into it. Make personal projects for fun, follow your curiosity, and actually share your work. Putting things out into the world is how opportunities start to find you!
If you are interested in studying graphics or digital design at college then look no further! We offer a dynamic UAL Extended Diploma that offers students the skills, staff and the resources needed to develop their work as well as varied projects, industry partners and live opportunities to help build their experience. Find out more here.
