A career in pictures

Forepoint’s Senior Designer, Abi White, was asked to talk through her career journey with Graphic Design students at the University of Bolton – giving them insights into what they can expect throughout their career and some helpful tips she’s learned along the way.

Here’s a quick summary of the talk Abi provided, as well as some key takeaways…

The power of University

University is a great place to discover what your creative strength is, for Abi, this was coming up with creative ideas. Her final uni project – an “adult alphabet” bringing light to real-world issues – ended up grabbing a lot of attention at the degree show. Having a few really strong pieces in your portfolio will help you gain recognition and get your name out there.

Her advice? Don’t underestimate the power of your university projects! You never know who’s watching or where your work might lead. Make the most out of your work placement, it’s a powerful thing. A small yet effective way to do this is to: offer to make brews (that’s a cup of tea or coffee for any southerners reading this!). And, yes, something as simple as offering to make a cup of tea can spark conversation and help you connect with people during your placements. These connections can lead to job opportunities later on – so, be proactive and stay in touch with the people you meet.

Making the complex simple

One of the most rewarding parts of a job is taking a complex concept and transforming it into something everyone can understand. Even if the brief may feel challenging, there is always an opportunity for a good idea and an option to push things a little further than the client expects.

When tackling a difficult brief, understanding the barriers your client is facing is key. Sometimes what they ask for isn’t what they actually need. Digging into what makes their business/product different, or the reality of their customers’/stakeholders’ worlds can give you effective insights to build creative solutions from. ?

Be different to make a difference

It’s really important not to simply just follow what others are doing. When working in saturated industries, standing out isn’t about being different for the sake of it – it’s about making a difference. Whether you’re working on a brand or a multi-platform campaign, think about what connects with people. Look at what competitors are doing and then make a conscious decision not to follow the same path. Always trying to help elevate a client above their competitors through great design and clever concepts.

It’s easy to stop at your first idea, but the real magic happens when you push it further. Use research, word play, and visuals to make deeper connections and cut through the noise of a crowded market.

Life happens, and that’s OK

In the middle of Abi’s career journey, life threw some curveballs – two kids, a breakup, and a career move all happened within the space of four years. She made a career move to Preston to work in a new role that provided flexibility, which was key for her work-life balance. This experience exposed her to industries she never imagined working with, but it helped her grow and find new strengths.

Her message? Life happens. It’s okay if things don’t go to plan. Sometimes you veer off your career path, but you can always find your way back. Keep enjoying the ride because you can do great work wherever you’re employed – It’s a conscious choice to consistently push your own creativity and offer a captivating solution wherever possible – That’s how you find joy in your work and add value to clients.

Key takeaways

• Be self-initiated – if you’ve got an idea, tell someone, don’t keep it in your head.
• Diversity of work – if you get the opportunity to try something new, do it! You might find it’s a strength of yours and learn from it. No bad thing ever comes from expanding your knowledge.
• Make choices your future self will thank you for – don’t be afraid to take risks or try something new. Have a goal in mind but don’t be too strict about how you get there – there are many ways to achieve your ambitions.
• It’s OK if things don’t always work out – not every idea is going to hit, but that doesn’t mean it was a bad idea. Sometimes it’s just the wrong client or the wrong time.
• It’s not always the big projects that are the most fulfilling, it’s taking the small ones and turning them into something great and memorable that have impact!
• Be comfortable with asking the ‘stupid’ questions. If you don’t understand the client’s problem, you won’t be able to communicate a solution.

Believe in yourself and your ideas. The road to success isn’t smooth for anyone, but that’s just part of the process. So keep pushing, keep challenging yourself, and never stop sharing your ideas – you never know which one might be the game-changer!