Owner & Creative Director of Bandit Design Group, Mikeila Scheckenbach, tells us about how it took a year of brainstorming, scribbling and thesaurus-ing to finally arrive at the name Bandit; she introduces us to the small team of three (aka. 'The Three Amigos'), and sums up 2019 with a kickass response.
Give us the elevator pitch on what you do.
Bandit Design Group is a boutique creative studio based in Sydney & Canberra, Australia. We help businesses get locked and loaded on all things brand and web. Arming businesses with the tools to launch into the market with a bang, we are passionate about creating brands with depth, life and meaningful stories behind them. We believe design has the power to transform ideas, deepen engagement and grow businesses in the right direction.
How did you name your practice and what does the name represent to you?
Finding the perfect name for your own business is like pulling teeth, as I’m sure many other creatives can agree. It took a year of brainstorming and deliberating to finally arrive at Bandit. A year of scribbling down random words on the way to work, pulling together shortlists, then scrapping them and thesaurus-ing the sh*t out of anything and everything. Once it became crystal clear to me why it was I was starting my own studio, the name Bandit stuck and I never looked back.
To me, Bandit represents going your own way. Having freedom and choice. Not accepting mediocrity and not being afraid to do something different.
Who’s on the team, what are their roles and why do you love them?
We’re currently the 3 amigos!
We have a unified vision to create killer design and have a good time while doing it. Our team is ridiculously creative, collaborative and nimble. Each team member brings enthusiasm and energy to the studio every day. We work together on every project, pushing each other's creative limits to produce the best work for our clients.
First up is Ash. She’s is a mean graphic designer, photographer and all-round legend. Ash is my rock, sounding board and just makes sh*t happen! Alix is our lovely junior designer. She’s got a kick-ass design eye, always a positive attitude and a mind full of fun ideas. And, at the helm of the ship is me, Mikeila. I am the creative director, designer, account manager, marketing, social media, accounts, admin …blah blah blah.
What's the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve been lucky enough to come across many nuggets of gold so far. One of the best pieces of advice was when I was just starting out - only showcase work which will attract the kind of work you want to receive.
When it comes to building a business and finding dream clients, this advice has worked a treat. Not every project is going to end up a masterpiece, so even if it means creating ‘fake’ projects, if it allows you to showcase what you’re capable of and the type of work you want to be doing, I’m all for it!
Soak up all of the tips and advice more experienced people will offer you, it’ll save you some Youtube tutorials and late nights in front of the screen.
What advice would you give students graduating in 2019?
Be up for the hard work and learn from others: Getting your dream job or winning dream projects doesn’t come overnight. You’re most likely going to have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Be ready to practice, learn, and practice some more. Be a sponge. Soak up all of the tips and advice more experienced people will offer you, it’ll save you some Youtube tutorials and late nights in front of the screen.
Remember the purpose of your work: It’s all too easy to become attached to a piece of client work you’ve been slaving over for weeks. If you’re the kind of person who tends to get overly emotionally invested in your work, remember who the work is for - (clue) it’s usually not you.
Don’t pigeonhole yourself into a certain pocket of design: While as designers we can have a specialty medium of design, as a graduate looking for a job in a studio in 2019, it’s super important to be proficient in a variety of design types and communicate that you can be versatile to prospective employers. Yes, focus on your specialty skills, but don’t forget about the rest just yet.
2019 for you in a sentence.
No holding back, baby.
Where to find Bandit Design Group online.
Website: banditdesigngroup.com.au
Instagram: @bandit.design
