Opinion: Demystifying Entering the Creative Industry
Written by Claudia Aggett Mid-weight Designer: Fiasco Design, Bristol
We know that getting your first job in the creative industry can be daunting and often involves a cocktail of conflicting emotions, from excitement and eager anticipation to nerves and self-doubt. Whether you’re just about to embark on your career adventure or are in the beginning stages of your career, in this article we aim to de-mystify what it is really like getting your first job role.
With this in mind, we have spoken to seven inspiring emerging creatives who are killing it around the globe and asked them to share their early experiences of making the giant leap from student, to graduate, to industry professional. They share their challenges, fears, and most importantly advice – to create an open and reassuring conversation for those who need to hear it most.
Backstage of a theatre – Raven Mo
- Designer: Elevate Brands, NYC
- 2021 graduate of the School of Art Institute of Chicago
At the beginning of our careers, we all have preconceptions – good or bad – about working in the creative industry. Some things education can’t teach you and you won’t fully experience them until you jump in at the deep end.
“After I started my first job, I quickly realised that the creative industry was less like a sandbox full of toys for spontaneous creation or the soul-sucking meat-grinder that is often portrayed, but more like the backstage of a theatre” says New York-based designer, Raven Mo. “Creativity flows through the process of coordination, negotiation and critique, threading every step of teamwork together to form one cohesive play”.
“After I started my first job, I quickly realised that the creative industry was less like a sandbox full of toys for spontaneous creation or the soul-sucking meat-grinder that is often portrayed, but more like the backstage of a theatre.”
Like many new designers, Raven was a part of the COVID generation, graduating from the School of Art Institute of Chicago in 2021. Trying to find a job in the middle of a global pandemic wasn’t easy but Raven took it in her stride: “I witnessed thriving platforms and initiatives sprouting up online around the world. The wide array of different focuses and missions they articulated made me hopeful for the future”.
‘What is expected of me?’ ‘What will my working day involve?’ and ‘What will the studio environment be like?’ are all common and completely valid questions for emerging creatives. Raven describes the barriers she faced starting out: “There wasn’t any water-cooler time with my co-workers, trying to start casual conversations was hard for a timid person like me”. However now one year into her career, Raven has found that going out of her comfort zone, finding role models and mentors and “being more vocal helped, as it not only pushed [her] to be a more driven and motivated designer but also led to valuable mentorship and professional growth.”
Raven’s key advice would be: “Focus on what you can control. The future is unpredictable. It might seem impossible to feel grounded when the outlook is overwhelming but remember to identify and separate what matters most. This means your energy and time are put towards choices that can make a positive difference to your career.”
“…remember to identify and separate what matters most. This means your energy and time are put towards choices that can make a positive difference to your career.”
Find your voice – Helen Tong
- Mid-weight Designer: Siegel+Gale, London
- 2020 Shillington Education graduate
What’s it like being an introvert in an industry where presenting your work and ideas is part of the package? Well, as a self-proclaimed “huge introvert”, this is something Helen Tong, mid-weight designer at global branding agency Siegel+Gale, knows all too well.
“Sometimes I find speaking out quite a difficult thing to do. However, through working with others I’ve observed how people similar to me approach sharing their opinions and I have been lucky enough to work in environments where I’ve been nurtured by more senior team members.” Feeling like you’re surrounded by extroverts can be tricky, but you don’t have to change who you are to fit in. As Helen tells us, “I have been encouraged to be more confident in presenting my ideas and opinions in a way that feels true to me, and I remind myself that introverts have their own strengths too”. And that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, “Although I still have a long way to go, I definitely feel the fog slowly lifting and my confidence starting to build!”
After working in digital content and production roles, Helen decided to re-shape her career and graduated from Shillington Education in 2020, embarking on a new journey as a graphic designer. Reflecting on her first day as a fully-fledged designer Helen says: “I remember it being a mixed bag of emotions! It had been something I’d wanted for such a long time so to me, as cheesy as it sounds, it was a dream come true. On the other hand, the self-doubt was definitely creeping in. Will I be good enough? Do I know how to do this? What if I’m too slow?” It’s important to note that these feelings are completely normal and will pass, just as they did for Helen. “I had so much fun learning about the process, taking things in, and loving the feeling of being able to create as a job, that those worries went away almost immediately!”
Helen offers the following advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed: “Know when to ask for help if things start to pile up, put yourself out there and don’t be afraid to fail!” She elaborates by saying, “If you start putting forward ideas that you’re not sure are good enough, showcasing unpolished work, or reaching out to people who you admire – chances are that things usually turn out much better than you expect!”
“If you start putting forward ideas that you’re not sure are good enough, showcasing unpolished work, or reaching out to people who you admire – chances are that things usually turn out much better than you expect!”
Personality over professional – Rebecca Burrows
- Mid-weight Designer: Pollitt & Partners, London
- 2020 Leeds University graduate
Entering the industry straight out of university presents many transitional ‘moments’, with the jump from being in control of your own creative work to working for others perhaps being one of the biggest. This is something that Rebecca Burrows, Designer at London-based studio Pollitt & Partners, experienced first-hand, “I’ve had to get used to compromising a bit. Sometimes what the client wants, doesn’t align with what you think is best.” But that isn’t to say that it inhibits creativity, especially when you’re surrounded by a multi-level team. “I work with quite a lot of senior designers and creative directors who offer support when we’re working on a project together. Reaching out for advice from other connections you have within the industry also helps particularly when you’re just starting out.”
As a young designer hoping to learn from the best, it is all-too tempting to think you need to change yourself to fit in. However, spreading your wings in the industry shouldn’t come at the sacrifice of your own unique qualities. This is something Rebecca echoes, “I’ve heard the advice ‘don’t replace your personality trying to be too professional’ and it’s stuck with me.” And you don’t have to wait until you’re through the door to make yourself known, in fact it can help you through the door in the first place, as Rebecca confirms, “I think being super formal in job applications can stop people standing out and allowing their personality and creativity to be seen to their best advantage.”
“I’ve had to get used to compromising a bit. Sometimes what the client wants, doesn’t align with what you think is best.”
Embrace every opportunity – Rosie Bottomley
- Mid-weight Designer: Design Bridge, London
- 2019 Northumbria University graduate
So, you’ve bagged that dream job, you’re working on live briefs, you’re building your portfolio and you’re surrounded by world-class creatives every day. Yet, something feels slightly off. Negative, self-deprecating thoughts start to creep into your mind, but why? Well, a big challenge emerging creatives face as they find their feet is self-doubt. Fear of the unknown, taking risks, and trying something new can be anxiety-inducing and it’s no surprise that a recent survey found that ‘imposter syndrome’ affects up to 87 per cent of the creative arts and design industry in the UK.
Three years in and mid-weight designer at Design Bridge’s London office, Rosie Bottomley reassures us that she is no different: “the majority of creatives will experience a variety of feelings associated with ‘imposter syndrome’ at some point and some days you wake up and don’t feel very creative and that is okay.” She adds, “nobody is expecting you to be perfect all the time. I take comfort in knowing I’m not alone.”
Having impressed the team at Design Bridge, Rosie graduated from Northumbria University in 2019 with a job ready and waiting. “I was one of four students picked for a month-long internship during the summer between the second and third year of my degree. I not only learnt so much but had the time of my life, I remember thinking it didn’t even feel like work.” However, when she was initially told the exciting news that she’d landed a junior position, Rosie recalls being “swamped by feelings of shock, sheer joy and then panic, thinking ‘oh sh*t now I’ve really got to prove myself!’”. Then came the big move from a small Northern town down to the big smoke. When asked about her perception of the creative industry she remembers “thinking it was going to be HUGE and scary, and feeling that I would never fit in or be good enough.” She also reveals to us, “I still have days where I feel like a tiny fish in a massive pond”. However, Rosie believes that there is a place for everyone, and it is just a matter of “making your own space”. What makes you you? What can you hang your hat on? And own it, don’t hide it.
“I still have days where I feel like a tiny fish in a massive pond.”
“I have been challenged and pushed to try new things throughout my career which has built my confidence and given me a greater understanding of the wider industry.” This has encouraged Rosie to become a D&AD New Blood Academy mentor, championing the next generation of talent. “Mentoring has given me a sense of purpose” she says, “not only is it extremely rewarding to nurture and develop the next wave of designers, but you also find yourself giving advice that is valued and appreciated. I think I should take my own advice sometimes!”
Rosie’s primary takeaway is: “Embrace every opportunity, challenge yourself and ALWAYS ASK QUESTIONS!”
“Embrace every opportunity, challenge yourself and always ask questions!”
Say yes to you – Jade Kuzak
- Motion Designer: COLLINS, NYC
- 2020 graduate from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, MI
“From my fresh out of college midwestern point of view, the creative industry seemed vast and full of intimidating people” says Jade Kuzak, who is currently a Motion Designer at strategy and brand experience design company COLLINS in NYC. However, since entering the creative industry two years, Jade has had the “lovely” realisation that the creative community is quite the opposite. As Jade tells us, there are, “intimidating people out there, but for the most part everyone is super kind and willing to help each other out. I think there’s this mutual understanding that we’ve all decided to pursue a career path that our parents will never understand, but at least we get each other :)“
Hitting that dreaded send button is possibly one of the more daunting parts of getting that first job, internship or interview. “I remember feeling like my portfolio wasn’t ready and always found little things to improve. But it’s important to know that nobody else sees those flaws other than yourself.” “Instead, what the team saw in my portfolio was potential and a willingness to learn.” This helped Jade land her first role as a freelancer, to becoming a summer intern, and then full-timer. “It’s pretty common to endure a ‘dating phase’ with a studio. Like most relationships, you go on a first date and build trust; start seeing each other and get familiar with one another’s quirks and strengths; and then leap into making the commitment if it feels like a good fit.”
“I remember feeling like my portfolio wasn’t ready and always found little things to improve. But it’s important to know that nobody else sees those flaws other than yourself.”
Jade’s first working day was remote, the daily commute being just a couple of steps from the bed to the work desk. But regardless of the strange circumstances she found it a positive experience. “It was refreshing to collaborate with different minds and learn from other people’s strengths”, she reflects. “In education you’re mostly working in your own bubble but working in a team takes the load off your shoulders. Being able to bounce ideas off others broadened my perspective and created unexpected outcomes that I wouldn’t have considered if I was working alone.”
Graduating and entering ‘the real world’ during the last couple of years has resulted in new challenges and rapid changes to Jade’s working life: “I’ve definitely grown and stretched in ways I didn’t expect. Education taught me the rules. Time outside of education has taught me when to break them. I’ve also learned that soft skills are the quietly critical ones—knowing how to communicate with different types of people and how to translate your ideas is just as important as the work.”
Jade’s advice to her younger self is something that we all naturally reflect on. As a fresh face in the industry, it is all too tempting to say YES; to opportunities, to conversations, to ‘working for exposure’ (yuck). After all we are told to grab life with both hands. Jade’s advice, however, is that a small word can have a big impact. “Learn how and when to say NO. I’ve learned that it’s okay because ultimately, you’re saying YES to yourself – yes to having more time for yourself, yes to future opportunities that will further your trajectory, and yes to knowing your self-worth. I keep this in my back pocket because it’s a nice reminder that opportunities come and go but putting yourself first should be a priority”.
“Learn how and when to say NO. I’ve learned that it’s okay because ultimately, you’re saying YES to yourself… I keep this in my back pocket because it’s a nice reminder that opportunities come and go but putting yourself first should be a priority.”
Follow your curiosity – Oyinkan Karunwi
- Founder and Creative Director: Aseda Design, Nigeria
- 2019 Shillington Education graduate
If anyone can talk about the experience of being thrown in the deep end, it is the founder and creative director of Nigeria-based studio Aseda Design, Oyinkan Karunwi. With an unconventional route into the design world, Oyinkan got her first taste of graphic design whilst at university studying law, creating flyers and posters for friends’ parties. It wasn’t until Shillington Education was recommended by a friend that she felt able to switch careers and pursue her love of creativity full-time. After completing the NYC course in 2019, Oyinkan returned to Nigeria to set up her own studio and it’s safe to say she’s never looked back.
Starting in the industry as a creative director launching her own business meant that Oyinkan’s first day was quite different to the norm: “my first official workday felt like a blur of client meetings, preparing invoices and contracts, putting a set of brand guidelines together and snacking – a lot! The one thing that still stands out was me – in front of my wardrobe – asking myself ‘what do creatives wear to work?’”.
Oyinkan believes that her legal experience has been invaluable and feeds naturally into the day-to-day running of a design studio. However, that’s not to say the jump was worry-free. She tells us that: “At the beginning, I thought the creative industry was strictly for ‘artists’, but now having worked in it for a number of years, I have learnt that there are many other ways to be creative and to add value through creativity.” For anybody who is aspiring to be their own boss by going freelance or starting their own studio, Oyinkan would suggest you firstly take a deep breath, relax and “follow your curiosity.” It’s a matter of “trusting yourself, your ability, and your decisions. It is going to be ok”.
“At the beginning, I thought the creative industry was strictly for ‘artists’, but now having worked in it for a number of years, I have learnt that there are many other ways to be creative and to add value through creativity.”
Quality over quantity – Eleanor Smith
- Mid-weight designer: Prophet Consulting, London
- 2019 Falmouth University graduate and founder of Fully Justified
As we all know, being a woman or gender expansive person in the creative industry isn’t necessarily an easy journey. You can face injustice, inequality, under-representation… the list goes on. However, this is something Eleanor Smith, mid-weight designer at Prophet Consulting, aims to tackle with her platform Fully Justified.
Since Eleanor made the leap from Falmouth University (UK) student to designer three years ago, she has noticed that “the conversation surrounding diversity in design has become more prominent” and believes that “although there is still a long way to go, the creative community is starting to recognise that opportunities need to be made more widely available and accessible.” Effective design is created with everyone in mind and the conversations that surround our work should be approached with the same degree of openness. Eleanor summarises it perfectly by saying, “design is democratic and as a result everyone’s vision should be seen and their voices heard.” Shout it louder for the people at the back!
“…although there is still a long way to go, the creative community is starting to recognise that opportunities need to be made more widely available and accessible.”
The design world is a relatively small place and the community of under-represented creatives within it significantly smaller, therefore it’s important to build bridges, not burn them. Eleanor’s advice takes inspiration from one of the industry’s leading creatives: “As Anthony Burrill would say, ‘work hard and be nice to people’. Be passionate, be brave and have fun”. Her advice for anyone just starting out in a creative career, is to keep one thing in mind: “Quality over quantity!” She tells DbyW, “as a designer it is critical that you’re able to communicate your ideas in a concise and clear way. If you’re unable to present your idea in one sentence, then the idea is too complicated.” Simple, simple, simple.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! Wise words from wonderful women creatives, all with their own individual experiences of entering this whacky world we call ‘the industry’. We’ve all had our unique journeys to get to where we are now in our careers and the most exciting part is you starting to carve your own path. If you need a hand along the way, there are plenty of people who are happy to help, just reach out. YOU GOT THIS!
Note from the author
Hello! I’m Claudia, a Mid-Weight Designer at Bristol-based brand and digital design studio, Fiasco. I am also a proud part of Falmouth University’s Alumni, graduating in 2020. Since entering the industry, I have had the pleasure of meeting some wonderfully talented individuals, a handful of which have generously shared their experiences in the article you have just read. Thank you to everybody who contributed, to Mary at Design by Women for the opportunity, and to you, for making it this far. I hope you enjoyed reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Follow:
- Raven Mo: ravenmo.info @ravenmodesign
- Helen Tong: helentong.com @helenhltong
- Rebecca Burrows: rebeccaburrows.com @rebeccaburrowsdesign
- Rosie Bottomley: @rosie.made.this
- Jade Kuzak: jadekuzak.com @jadekuzak
- Oyinkan Karunwi: www.madebyaseda.com @madebyaseda
- Eleanor Smith: @eleanorkirsteensmithdesign @fully_justified