Throughout my time on the course of Graphic Design, I have found myself increasingly drawn towards marketing and advertising, packaging design, and publication and typographic design. However, I feel most passionate about editorial design. Creating clear and engaging outcomes through typography, alongside exploring visual hierarchy, has always strongly appealed to me and aligns with my natural interests as a designer.
In terms of the type of business I would like to work in, I am particularly interested in a design studio or a collaborative and creative environment. My placement experience was largely office and print-based, which has encouraged me to seek a new atmosphere where I can continue learning new skills and gain a wider range of experiences.
If I were to identify a niche, although I do not wish to restrict myself, I would choose editorial and publication design, as this is where I believe my strengths lie. That said, I am also keen to improve my skills in branding and visual identity. I often feel that my branding outcomes can fall flat and understanding how to strengthen and advance these designs would be extremely beneficial. Developing confidence and ability in this area would not only improve my overall design skillset but also enhance my employability after graduation, which is a significant personal goal.
Regarding workplace experience, my placement at Northside offered a wide range of creative and professional opportunities. I worked on both in-house and external client projects, including work for Titanic Hotel, Voco Belfast, Age NI, Aware NI, Concern Worldwide, Belfast Royal Academy, Sync Living, and others. During this time, I gained valuable professional skills such as office etiquette, attending meetings, and communicating with clients and marketing departments. As a designer, my skills developed considerably, and I feel I have become more well-rounded, mature, and aware of industry expectations.
Looking towards the future, I aim to graduate from this course with a strong and well-deserved result. Career wise, I hope to work within a creative studio that is welcoming, collaborative, and relaxed while remaining productive and professional. My long-term ambition is to gain as much experience as possible and potentially progress towards an art director role in the distant future.
To achieve this, I recognise the importance of strong communication and time management skills. Being able to communicate effectively with clients and prioritise tasks is essential for meeting deadlines and ensuring client needs are fulfilled. Creativity is equally important, generating original ideas that respond clearly to briefs and allow my work to stand out amongst competitors. Confidence is also crucial, as designers are not only presenting ideas but also selling themselves and their concepts.
Of these skills, I believe my communication and organisational abilities are strong and have improved significantly during placement. I learned how to manage multiple projects simultaneously, which has helped me prioritise university assignments more effectively. However, I also realised that there is a noticeable difference between client or in-house work and university projects, particularly in terms of depth and workload. As a result, my time management can be more challenging within academic contexts, and this is an area I aim to improve.
One skill I particularly want to develop is confidence, especially confidence in my own ideas. I often find myself seeking reassurance during the concept stage, which can sometimes undermine both confidence and professionalism in a workplace environment. While I understand that doubt is natural, I would like to reduce this tendency and reserve uncertainty for moments where constructive feedback from mentors or colleagues is appropriate.
Since beginning this course, I have become far more critical of my own work. My reviewing and reflection process has become stricter, ensuring that my development and process work is thorough and clearly explained. This approach has resulted in more consistent and refined outcomes. Compared to my first and second year, my current work demonstrates stronger development, clearer explanations, and a more detailed exploration of ideas. Being able to effectively communicate how a design evolves from concept to final outcome has strengthened both my work and my understanding of the design process.
Placement also significantly refined my attention to detail, particularly in relation to typography and visual hierarchy. Developing an understanding of client expectations and target audiences has allowed me to tailor my designs more appropriately and professionally.
Although I consistently meet deadlines, periods of stress and workload can make managing multiple projects challenging. I observed during placement that my time management was more effective than it is within university work. To address this, I plan to apply similar organisational strategies by allocating specific times throughout the week to different tasks. For example, dedicating certain evenings to blog writing or smaller assignments. While prioritising my major project due to its higher credit weighting, this structure should ensure that all tasks receive sufficient time and attention.
A positive aspect of my current working approach is the increased emphasis I place on development and process, which strengthens my final outcomes. Moving forward, I would like to further improve my practice through greater experimentation and innovation — exploring different materials, methods, and creative approaches to produce more distinctive and unique design solutions.
