My Colourful Career Since Graduating from Visual Communications | UniSA Communication Design Show UNFOLD 2023 Guest Speech

24 November 2023?

Wow, it's been 12 years since I last stood in this room. The work here tonight is next level. Congratulations to all of you.?

I'm Milly Albers (previously Toovey), and I want to share my journey since graduating in Visual Communications. If my story can inspire just one of you, I'll be happy.

Let's dive in with some quick questions:

·????? Who has a job lined up for next year? (congratulations)

·????? Who's taking the freelancing path? (all the best!)

·????? Who's continuing their academic journey? (so inspiring)

·????? Who's embarking on a travel adventure? (yesss!!)

·????? Who has no idea what's next? (absolutely fine!)

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It's fascinating how, despite completing the same degree, you're all on unique paths. Do you know what I find most exciting about tonight, is that you're all about to embark on journey where anything is possible. Even those of you who know what you’re doing next year, you could be doing something completely different in 5 years, and I find that so exciting about life. ?It's wild how life just has a plan for you without you realising it.

First let's pain a picture, I once was a shy, naive girl, who loved art and design. 'Just a number', no one special, and I didn't necessarily think of myself as a great designer but I knew I wanted to do something creative in my life.

My study started with a detour into architecture after I finished year 12, as my dad believed it was the "smarter degree." However, my passion was in visual communications. After a year of designing more posters than houses, I took a transformative three-month solo trip around the US. It served as my transition before immersing myself in visual communications as a "mature student" at the ripe age of 20.

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I loved my Visual Comms degree, and whilst I didn’t consider myself as a shining designer, I was more about the story, the concepts and seeing the power Visual Communications held to help influence, educate, and move our society. Halfway through my degree, I did an internship at a top Sydney agency – they crafted the brand identity for Jet Star and had clients like Vodafone, Westfield and Sunglass Hut. They had 120 people in the team, they were huge! Despite feeling like the ignored uncool intern, I somehow managed to leave a lasting impression. They offered me a job three days a week based on my work ethic, positive attitude and initiative, an offer I actually turned down to finish my degree in Adelaide. ?Honestly, the HR Manager looked at me as if I had just declined an invitation to the White House. Oh how naive I was. Looking back, I ponder the "what ifs," but life had more interesting twists in store.

The HR Manager looked at me as if I had just declined an invitation to the White House.

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As I wrapped up my degree, an opportunity to create a brand identity and pitch deck for a startup presented itself. This startup, an online gaming platform, not only raised millions but also led me to the Netherlands, where it won 'start-up of the year' twice (NB the final brand identity for Gramble was created by Jon Butterfield). My involvement extended to app design, guided by a pixel-perfect designer/manager (definitely needed that guidance still do for that matter!) - (thank you Barbara Pescara.)

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Another venture in San Francisco followed, and at the young age of 23, I was asked to be the CEO of a different start-up and manage a team of 8. (Thank you Ben Coleman). Although I didn't love the startup's original focus on college partying (I’m sure you would have loved it), I transformed it into Boomcast with my fellow co-founder and another graphic designer (Emily Romano) into a platform that connected people and helped them overcome adversity by sharing their stories. It had partners like Change.org, ambassadors like Jay Shetty, and people were leaving Instagram and Facebook for it. This is when I really saw and felt the power of design connecting communities. Despite its somewhat success, personal challenges led me to pack my bags, I head to India for a soul-searching trip where I learned to become a yoga teacher.

?This is when I really saw and felt the power of design connecting communities.

Returning to Adelaide, and feeling like I was starting life again, I joined SACARE, a disability services company, to launch their digital marketing. Originally intended as a three-month plan, it turned into a six-year journey. Today, I'm their part-time national brand and marketing manager. The family founders were and are absolute innovators and I was determined to make sure their online and visual presence reflected this. When I started there, the disability sector was a daggy looking industry that deserved way more attention. ?This was a sector that needed way more colour, more stories, brightness, love and passion. So I really wanted to use my visual communications and start-up experience and splash it into SACARE to hopefully change it up a little bit, make it look like a sector that was inspiring to work in, because it absolutely is.

?When I started there, the disability sector was a daggy looking industry that deserved way more attention.

The next chapter was the birth of MILCO in February 2020, which I launched it as a side-hustle with my husband Remco, a photographer and videographer (who’s here tonight), whilst I was working full-time with SACARE. The timing was impeccable as COVID hit, there was obviously a huge need for small businesses to establish a strong online presence. Clients often commented, "Thank for brining my business vision to life and you made the whole process so easy," this then became our tagline. “Bringing visions to life with no fuss branding”. I then hopped into maternity leave ?in 2021 and this is when business organically flourished, as I had more time, I then realised I was earning more money in my side-hustle than in my full-time job, and transitioned from SACARE as a full-time employee while retaining them as a client. (Thank you Chloe Kempe and SACARE).

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Now, a few years since, and countless clients, logos, websites, photos and videos later… MILCO is about to open its first office space studio by the beach and hire its first employee next year. We’ve got a lot to do, our website is in dire need of an update, we barely post on social media, and hardly do much marketing ourselves due to our hectic schedule – but that's a good problem to have. I look forward to it all in 2024.

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Reflecting on my journey, even though I know we still have a lot to do, I can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. When I was standing where you are tonight, the thought of running my own agency one day seemed distant, but today, it's a reality. While some of my favourite agencies celebrate 30 years, we're celebrating our first two proper years. The future is promising, and who knows what the next 12 years will bring?

Tonight, my aim is to share excitement, inspiration, and hope. I started as a shy girl uncertain of my talents (still figuring that out). But the key lesson I learned in all of this was to say 'yes' to opportunities that come your way and excite or challenge you. Because, these challenges will become the building blocks of your experience and your story.

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The key lesson I learned in all of this was to say 'yes' to opportunities that come your way and excite or challenge you.

As you glance at your portfolio for the no doubt hundredth time, take a moment to quietly say to yourself, "I feel proud." Consider what you've achieved in just a few years. Now, imagine the possibilities in the next 5, 10, 12 years. Your journey is boundless.

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A parting piece of advice – don't be intimidated by the world of AI, Canva, or platforms that seem to threaten graphic designers. There will always be a demand for storytellers, brand designers, visual communicators, marketers, teachers, and more. Graphic design is now your new skill that will paint the bigger picture with more meaning.

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So to sum it up, here are 5 more design lessons for you.

1.??? Add contrast to your life and career – because it makes it interesting.

2.??? Don’t be afraid to step outside the grid… or step outside your comfort zone.

3.??? Enjoy the empty space in your life, and be careful not to fill it.

4.??? Being pixel perfect looks good but don’t let it stop you from moving forward.

5.??? Create a good story.

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But for tonight, it’s time to celebrate your hard work. Have fun. Enjoy the summer holidays. Whether you've secured a job or have no idea what's next, embrace the flow, and let it all unfold.

Thank you to Caroline Robertson and Luci Giannattilio for the opportunity.