What did I study?

After High School I wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do. I first thought Fashion Design but it didn’t feel 100% right and then a family friend recommended doing Design Cert IV at Northland Design Studies first to try a lots of different types of Design for a year. It was perfect I realised Graphic Design & Illustration were my strengths. I then went on to study Advanced Diploma of Graphic Design at Box Hill TAFE in Melbourne.

How did I get my first job?

After I finished my courses I applied for heaps of Junior Design Roles and I landed a job at a Nutritional company creating Marketing Graphics. It was a foot in the door and was excited to be starting my career although it wasn’t exactly the kind of work I was passionate about. During that time I would post my Illustrations online and put out into the world the kind of work I wanted to create. About 6 months later the Creative Director from Hurley saw my Illustrations online and asked if would be interested in creating T-shirt designs for the for a year in Sydney as a freelancer. I jumped at the chance and got my foot into the Surf industry. This lead to other awesome freelance jobs and my current role as Senior Graphic Designer at Billabong.

Did I participate in any internships?

Yes! I would contact companies I liked and/or had some connections with and would do a week or two helping out at each place. It gave me real work to put in my folio and references for job interviews. I was able to do them during my course for credit as well.

DO I freelance full-time?

No I work a full time role as a graphic designer at Billabong Australia. I freelance on the side for my Illustration work.

What do I do at Billabong?

My role has many different parts including working on photoshoots for campaigns, art direction, event art and general graphic design work needed by the brand. 

What do I do as a freelance Illustrator?

I create Illustrations, Typography, Textile designs and T-shirt Graphics. The briefs I get are always different so keeps it interesting!

What advice do I have for current students?

Put work in your folio that represents the kind of career you want. If you love corporate logos and branding make it that. If you love Illustrations and Illustrative type make it that. Businesses want to see that you fit what they are looking for. Someone is rarely going to see potential in something you haven’t shown them so make it easy for them to see you belong there or are right fit for the brief.