Chalk And Cheese

The thought of having to get a job after leaving University can create an overwhelming sense of pressure. Universities can give as many lectures as they like about what it’s like going into the workplace, but in reality all Universities can really do is tell you what they believe it to be like and maybe get a previous student to tell you their sometimes boring story of how they landed their first job. The only way to truly get an idea is to experience it for yourself. The process of getting work is a strange one because on the one hand you’re trying to show your ability to agencies, but on the other hand, once you find yourself in a working environment, you realise there is so much more to learn.

Everything about it is new; in fact it’s chalk and cheese. Universities make it clear that the industry is fast paced, which is true, but design agencies know you’re not going to be up to pace straight away and might have more patience with you than you think. You can learn so much about the industry in a couple of weeks, which helps you to really improve all round.

I was given the opportunity to do work experience at LAW Creative after graduating. Working alongside their talented designers, my time spent at LAW really helped me to get a better idea of the fast paced industry as well as learning new software skills that have enabled me to become a better designer. I was able to work on a range of blue chip clients that differed greatly to anything that I had designed previously. This was very useful as it gave me the experience of working for different clients in different styles, making me become a more versatile designer. At LAW I was included in new projects and able to discuss and brainstorm ideas while learning what is best for the client and how to interpret a brief.

Everything I learnt at LAW, were things that I couldn’t have learnt just from University. The experience I have gained has taught me so much about a good working environment and given me more confidence as a designer.