Tell us about where you studied and some of your highlights and favourite lecturers .
I studied at Shillington Education through the part-time online course, but before that I did a year of self-study while juggling full-time teaching which I think really honed my foundational skills in design and cemented that a career in design was right for me. I decided to study at Shillington to further develop those skills and knowledge and create a portfolio I was proud of.
One of the biggest highlights was being in a class with students from all around the world coming from different backgrounds. I loved feeling inspired by my peers and seeing the different ways they interpreted the design briefs. It was more fun than studying alone!
Another highlight was the diverse briefs we worked on. I loved working on a range of different projects from designing a podcast cover to creating a mobile app. It helped me identify which areas of design I gravitated towards more. For example, before Shillington, I thought I was all about print and packaging, but after Shillington, I fell hard in love with digital design, especially UX/UI. Designing an app or website really challenges you to think not only about the visuals, but the entire experience of the user.
My favourite lecturers were my teachers, Jacinta Conza and Olivia Chen. They made the entire experience so enjoyable and comfortable. Not only were they highly knowledgeable in their craft, but they also had delightful personalities and a great sense of humour. I remember one of my students saying they should make a podcast. Honestly, I think it would go viral!
What weird and wonderful things are you obsessed with right now that inspires your creative work?
I've been watching a lot of Japanese animation lately and I'm really inspired by and obsessed with the creativity in the openings, from the music to the art direction and use of colour. I absolutely love how all the elements are weaved together to tell a story.
The openings that I am obsessed with right now are from DanDaDan (Season 1), which is a wonderfully weird show, where their bold use of colour and effects really captivate, and Kaiju No.8 (Season 1) with its unique and trippy use of 3D. Even if anime is not your thing, I highly recommend watching these opening videos just for their incredible design (and the amazing, catchy music).
Favourite travel destinations that inspire you.
- Japan: There's a reason I keep going back to Japan – it's my creative happy place! It's a constant source of design and illustration inspiration for me. I'm drawn to their approach to minimalism and their wonderful sense of cute and quirky. It’s not just their design aesthetic; everything from their animation and video games to their clothing, food and traditional culture inspires me in different ways. It all feeds into my creative process.
- USA: The US has always been a major source of design inspiration. From iconic designers to the influence of pop culture, its mix of cultures, emphasis on bold visuals and embrace of new technology constantly fuels my creativity.
- Spain: Spain’s unique blend of history, art and forward-thinking design, particularly in its architecture, makes it a truly inspiring place. It challenges me to think differently about design, to be bolder and more expressive in my own work.
Tell us about your tools / what tech, programs, equipment and environment do you do your best work in?
I’ll always go to my trusty pencil and sketchbook first to get those rough ideas out. I’m a perfectionist, so a sketchbook is the safest place for me to be messy and free and sometimes you just need that tactile feel when creating.
I’ve been getting into illustration, so I absolutely adore Procreate on the iPad. Of all the Adobe programs I use, I feel happiest when I’m working in Illustrator. I sometimes use my XP-Pen drawing tablet when I’m vectorising illustrations or modifying type with the brush or pencil tool.
I also love using After Effects to bring work to life with simple animations. I’ve been diving into Procreate Dreams to learn to create frame-by-frame animations too. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention how much I love using Figma. The interface is so intuitive and easy to use.
Which 3 creatives do you look up to and why?
Nubia Navarro (Nubikini): When I first saw Nubia’s work, I fell instantly in love. Her bold use of colour and type bring me a lot of joy. I love her energetic and playful style and how confidently herself she is. Her work reminds me to embrace who I am, and to be a little louder sometimes.
Mimi Chao (Mimochai): Mimi was the one who inspired me to make art. You see a lot of stories of famous designers or illustrators who just knew what they wanted to do since they were young and pursued it relentlessly. What drew me to Mimi was her story of taking a nonlinear approach to her passion. Like me, she started on a different path and didn’t realise she could become an artist until she was older. That resonated with me a lot with design and illustration. It gave me the confidence to pursue the life I wanted.
Adrianne Walujo: Adrianne’s style is so soft and minimalist and brings me so much joy. It reminds me a lot of the Japanese styles of illustration that I love. Adrianne’s work shows that you don’t need to create something big, loud or overly detailed, that even the simplest use of line and colour can create something magical. I’m still exploring my own personal illustration style and Adrianne’s work definitely inspires me with a simpler approach.
What are your biggest hopes and dreams for 2025, both for the world and your career?
For the world, I hope that even with advancing technology such as AI, we can still appreciate human creations and connections. I think it’s important that we remind ourselves and others that our minds and efforts are still highly valued.
For my career, I will be starting a new job as an in-house designer. It is both exciting and a little scary for such a big change in my life as I’ve been a teacher for years. My biggest hope for 2025 is that I will gain a lot of valuable experience and knowledge in this role and will continue to grow as a designer. My biggest dream for 2025 is that I will continue to work on my illustration style on the side so that maybe, one day, I can make something of it, like starting my own online shop.
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