Placements 10 – 11
This years students share some of their thoughts, experiences and hopefully give advice to those of you who may well be looking to follow the same path.
HEATHER ARMER
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
True North : 1 year
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Everything I learnt on placement was important but mainly how to work fast and effectively to deadlines. Prioritising tasks and working as a team.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Looking on search engines like Gumtree, Find a property, and Rightmove. Arranging viewings was a nightmare in Manchester, the properties were selling like hot cakes. I lived in a 2 Bedroom apartment, rent was on average £400 each pcm including bills.
What were you asked in the interview?
To talk through my portfolio, and give reasons behind ideas and concepts. Also why I used certain typefaces and a few questions about graphic design in general.
What did you ask in the interview?
‘What do you expect from me as a placement student?’. I also asked for their opinion and ways in which to improve some projects.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
Luckily it was a paid placement of £100pw. Just enough to pay for rent. The accommodation was near enough to walk, so no need for transport fares.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Designing and making a giant cheque and having to walk carrying it all the way across Manchester. Blowing up 70 giant helium balloons, making a 2D life size paper parrot to sit on someones shoulder for a kids party.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Think big! Working on placement really made me learn how to design a project all the way through, and good research and image searches are crucial. Keep making plenty of notes and treat my final year of university like my full time job.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Having being given the opportunity to do a placement is fantastic, it is a big learning curve for anyone. The seniors were happy to take time to talk through ideas, help me with computer skills and always gave great advice.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Have fun, be yourself, and put the kettle on! (Brew making skills are very important).
JADE CARR
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
The Chase (Preston): 5 weeks
Moo (Preston): 9 weeks
Four23 (Manchester): 2 weeks
Elmwood (London): 2 weeks
Design Force (Leyland): 3 months and 2 weeks
Honey Creative (London): 2 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
- Laying out and presenting research in a useful way.
- How to get over the nerves of meeting large groups of people all at once and show them my work.
- More confident about own ability.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Kept a Preston base (£50 per week for everything), London and Manchester were free as have family and friends all over the place.
What were you asked in the interview?
We would talk through my portfolio then have a casual chat about the company (and the designers there) and yourself.
What did you ask in the interview?
Not too much, most interviewers covered everything. If they said I’d got the place then I’d ask about money and hours.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
North – £120 ish
South – £150
Some just pay expenses.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Worked on Ann Summers sex toy packaging – that was a funny few weeks. Theres lots of little unusual things that happen on placement its a fun year!
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Everything I learned about research collection. I am going to experiment with different print techniques and papers. Web design bits and bobs too.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Very, I have met so many people over the year not only graphic designers but photographers, product designers, art workers, illustrators, web coders, printers, animators and various other design professions. I think its good to know people in all walks of design.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Email and phone every agency in the UK! Keep an open mind and work hard. Also try to get (with the agencies permission) examples of projects you worked on.
NEAL FLETCHER
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Uniform (Liverpool): 2 weeks
SB Studio (Liverpool): 4 months
Cultivate Creative (St Helens): 2 weeks
Because Studio (Preston): 1 month
Ziggurat Brands (London): 3 months
Mind Design (London): 1 month
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Effective Time Management, everything is so much faster in the real world, work needs to be turned round quickly and efficiently. More confidence with presenting my ideas.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I put an ad on Gumtree and luckily found someone that needed a lodger. I was living in Islington so it was quite expensive at 180pw. If I were to do it again though I’d live with friends further out of central London.
What were you asked in the interview?
Well I was generally asked to talk through my portfolio first then they’d ask me questions about my work — Where did you get the ideas from? What inspired you to do this? How good my computer skills were? What made you apply for a placement here? etc.
What did you ask in the interview?
I’d generally ask what sort of work I’d be involved in during my time there and ask them about their work, show an interest in what they’re doing as well.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
It varied, placements up North I just got paid travel expenses. In London they pay a little more due to living costs, around 800pm.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Shopping trips, being sent out around London on my first day with nothing more than a map, money and shopping list. I got lost twice… OK 3 times.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Never stick with your first idea! Always come up with as many ideas as you can. You might end up going with your first idea but it’s better to cover all the bases just in case.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Invaluable, I learnt more in my 12 months on placement than I did in my first 2 years at university. It makes you a better designer, seeing how things work in person is the best thing you could possibly do.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Work hard and be yourself. I’d also recommend trying to vary your placements, do as many placements as you can (but not too many). Also get a website set up during your year out, get your work out there. It’s the best and quickest way to get yourself recognised.
TOM FOSTER
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Reform Creative: 7 weeks
Kernel Global: 1 week
Mark Studios: 1 week
Literacy Booster: 5 weeks
Dawson Design: 2 weeks
Four23: 2 weeks
Like A River: 6 weeks
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
I suppose working to a deadline, I know we always have deadlines at uni but it’s not quite the same as having to come up with ideas and then work them up and finalise them all in a day.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I didn’t really have accommodation. I didn’t know where I was gonna be working so I started off at home, then crashed at my mates when I got another short placement, then that turned into the whole year. It turned out ok in the end, especially how I didn’t pay for rent but I was quite lucky.
What were you asked in the interview?
I was asked what designers I admire and then mostly it was just general questions about my work in my portfolio. The best places were where you could just have a normal chat about unrelated things and after a few interviews I became more relaxed and it was a lot easier.
What did you ask in the interview?
I think mostly I just asked about what exactly they did there and stuff. I researched the company beforehand obviously but it was good to hear first hand from them what they’re all about. I didn’t ask too many questions though, depended on the interview really.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
My pay ranged between nothing and about £100 a week. It seemed the average people were offering was about £50 though, which isn’t great but better than nothing. Just about covered the train costs really.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
I didn’t do that much crazy stuff really, mostly the errands were pretty boring and standard. I suppose drinking beer and playing Doom with the creative director and designers every Friday was quite unusual!
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
I’m definitely going to try and be in uni more and stay late if I had to. Before I had a bad habit of coming in and getting my mark and then going home to work but that’s not very beneficial. Being in a workspace with other designers in a set routine I found makes you produce so much more work, and a better quality of work too!
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
I certainly hope the placement is going to be helpful and more than anything it’s invaluable experience which you’ll need to get a job after uni, plus you make contacts from all the places you’ve worked. It’s been an extra year of learning in the real world so it should make my work more rounded this year.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
I was a little disappointed with some of my placements because although it’s good to go to lots of different places to see how different things are, you never get much work when you’re there for a week or something. I would advise trying to get one a few months long at least and then maybe a couple short ones. Also you should always apply for the big companies cause you never know!
CLAIRE FRESHNEY
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
I worked at Creative Vein in Manchester for 2 months, I then started freelancing for Purple Penguin Design and then worked at Gooey Creative a digital design company – for 3 months. I then came back to Preston and worked at Curly Kale Design for 3 months before setting up my own freelance business with what I had learnt ‘C Fresh Design’.
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
The most important thing is learning how to manage your jobs. As a lot of the companies I worked at were quite small, I was going to client meetings, answering the telephone and project managing all jobs and even got the opportunity to run Curly Kale Design for two weeks – which became very stressful, but learnt so much, mainly how to keep calm – but there we go!
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I used ‘Easy Room Mate’ and ‘Spare Room’ to find a house. I found one at first near the City Centre for £350 pcm but this fell through as they wanted another guy oppose to a girl, so I was a bit gutted as I was starting my job in 3 weeks. Then by luck, I found one in Didsbury, a little bit further from the City Centre, but a really nice lively place for young people with bars and restaurants – for £230 pcm excluding bills which were around £50 every 3 months. I hadn’t even looked for anything around the £200 mark as I thought they would be really awful but you never know what you may find!
What were you asked in the interview?
I just talked through my portfolio pieces and was just asked some questions about the projects and then just told them a little about me.
What did you ask in the interview?
Just about my job role and what I was expected to do.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
Creative Vein I got £500 per month and at Gooey about the same (but I was only part time there). At Curly Kale I was on a full wage and then freelancing is definitely worth the money if you can do bits on the side!
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Dressed in Hawaiian clothes to work.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Time management and being more confident.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
I think a placement is crucial. Companies are more likely to take on someone who has had experience in the industry. You learn so much about the ‘real world’.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Not to worry as I thought they would expect me to know everything and I would be given a task and told to get on with it, but they do check you are ok and chat to you and guide you!
LAURA GASGARTH
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
I worked for 9 months altogether in London…
Blue Marlin: 1 month
Saatchi and Saatchi: 1 month
Ziggurat: 3 months
Honey Creative: 2 months ( 2 separate months )
Dave: 1 month
Bloom: 2 weeks
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Having the confidence to develop my ideas and appreciating the criticisms as a learning curve.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Everybody around me panicked more than I did myself, as working throughout the summer prior to moving to London, I only found a place a week and a half before moving down there. I lived with two guys, both students studying in London and at £400 a month and cheap bills, I was very happy to be living there for 9 months. Although having to play mother of the household at times, it was a relatively enjoyable place to live.
What were you asked in the interview?
The interview was mainly focused on taking them on a journey through my portfolio. I found each interview very fulfilling and was given some very good pointers on taking ideas further and tips for making sure I would have the best portfolio I could have once graduating and going through the interview process once again.
What did you ask in the interview?
I don’t recall asking many questions in the interviews. Once I was asked “Do you have any questions?” all of the things I expected to ask became a huge jumble inside my head. However, the obvious questions relating to expectations of a placement student and their views on working in the industry I felt were worth asking.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
I was paid for each placement, ranging from £100 to £225, with one of the placements only receiving travel expenses and lunch. Times were tough on such small bundles of cash at the end of each month, especially living in an expensive city like London. Knowing the changes and great opportunities I was being given made the whole process so worthwhile.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
I was asked to go and buy a range of nappy brands and baby wipes from various supermarkets and the dirty looks I received on the tube on the way back was hilarious. I was looked at in disgust as though I had 18 kids.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Placement experience is a huge eye opener for time management of a project. I will most definitely be much more organised and devise my own timescales so I’m not left panicking towards the end. I also realise it is now important to make the most of the facilities I have never even thought to use, to be as creative as I can possibly be, to have the confidence to explore even the most outrageous ideas and to use the tutors and other students around me to thoroughly make the most of the year.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Carrying out placements at a range of agencies has really opened my eyes into the expectations of a designer. It also encourages you to explore various types of software, find a direction that interests you and sharing your ideas to generate the best ideas and solve problems collectively.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Never turn down the opportunity to work as part of a team in a real working environment. Be keen, have an open mind and aim to make a good impression. Be genuine and make the most of the time you have!
RACHAEL GRIFFITHS
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
True North: 12 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
To be confident in presenting your ideas, all feedback (even criticisms) is good feedback; it all inevitably gets you that step closer to knowing what is working and what isn’t. Also, how to memorise a tea and coffee order for 20 people as well as the type of mug/cup they like is just pure skill!
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I lived at home during my placement year, and I had a 50-minute commute to Manchester.
What were you asked in the interview?
I was asked various questions regarding my work. I would advise that you make sure you fully understand your own solutions to every project you have in your portfolio. I think it’s important to be able to justify your outcome to the brief with confidence.
What did you ask in the interview?
I asked what was expected from placement students at True North. So that I had an understanding of the responsibilities I would have and what would be expected from me if I got the job.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
Yes I was paid £100 a week, which helped a lot, as your student loan doesn’t stretch that far in placement year.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
There was many but I’d say having to ask numerous shop assistants in Manchester if they sell green tank tops like the one Wallace wears, from Wallace and Gromit.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
True North have a really thorough approach to research and working closely with your team. Ideas were always bounced around, we’d ‘talk it out’ between the team and as a result the brief was always solved with a strong solution. I learned from experience that you can get a lot done in a week and that time management is key. I really valued this approach to working and plan to put this into practise in my final year.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Experiencing first hand how a design agency works has been extremely beneficial to my design education. It will shape the way you approach your final year and help you understand how to manage your briefs more efficiently. I’ve no doubt the knowledge and skills I have gained from placement year will be put to the test during final year. My placement year has been an invaluable experience that has undoubtedly enhanced my knowledge of the Design Industry.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Your placement year goes by so fast, so my advise would be to take it all in as much as you can. Whether that is putting the new skills you learn into practice or writing everything down in a notebook that you think will be of use to you on your return to 3rd year. Things like tools, shortcuts and tips about software, the learning curve is massive. Approach everything with a positive attitude, be efficient, and be eager to learn.
DANIEL GRIMES
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Wash Design (Preston): 3 months
Cuckoo (Manchester): 3.5 weeks
Detail (Manchester): 5 weeks
Moo creations (Preston): 3 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
The most important thing I learnt whilst on placement was to keep an open mind, and be confident – an idea is better than no idea.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I already live in the Preston area so there was no need to find new accommodation, and as for the Manchester agencies I had a weekly train pass, costing around £40 a week.
What were you asked in the interview?
Obviously the main focus was around my portfolio and the thoughts behind my ideas and concepts.
What did you ask in the interview?
I always asked on opinions of my portfolio, and ways in how I could improve it. I also asked about the work which was ongoing in the agency at the time.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
It ranged really, a few places were just expenses – which covered for food and travel. The most I got was around £100 a week, which in my case was not too bad due to still living at home.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
I think I was one of the lucky ones, I didn’t do anything that unusual.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Attention to detail!
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Words can’t actually describe how important each placement has been. It is an eye opener to how the design industry work.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
An opportunity worth while … keep an open mind, have fun and work hard!
ANDREW HOSKINS
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Freshfield PR, Branding and Design: 8 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
I learnt how to get briefs completed in a strict time span under pressure. Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign skills and techniques. I leant how to look at things differently especially when designing a logo. Most of the briefs were corporate so I managed to adopt the appropriate style to the briefs and to a professional layout.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
I did my placement in Preston so I stayed at home.
What were you asked in the interview?
I was asked what influences and drives me as a designer. They asked me about projects in my portfolio.
What did you ask in the interview?
I asked how many clients they have and what type of branding and design is their speciality.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
It was and unpaid placement but I got paid for a branding project for a wealth management firm called BANKS WEALTH. I got paid about £150. I designed the logo and application. It got signed off successfully.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Having to help look after one of the designers who drank a bit too much at the Christmas do. That was an experience!
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
From doing placement i have learnt a number of valuable things. I will try and put these into practise such as working to a speed where I get things done but with quality a as well. Ill put to use the tips I learned in Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
I see it as a very important factor. Its allowed me to open my mind and see things in a different aspect. It has also improved my skills as working together in a team to solve problems.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
I would advise to have fun and enjoy the challenge as it does have its stressful times but it all adds to the experience.
MICHAEL MALONEY
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Shopdirect (inhouse): 2 months
The Chase: 5 months
Detail Creative: 2 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
To put down all your ideas even the ones you think are silly because you never know what can come from it. I also realized how important research is, it’s the foundation stone of the project, the thing that’s going to inform all your ideas.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
All my placements where in the Northwest so I was able to commute the railcards set me back about £200 each month.
What were you asked in the interview?
I was mainly asked questions about the work in my portfolio: what was my idea behind the designs, where I got my ideas from, how I reached the solution as well as the generic questions like who are your design heroes etc.
What did you ask in the interview?
I just asked what they’d expect from me if I were taken on, what the hours were and who their favourite football team was (for office banter) just general work questions really.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
I was lucky in that I was taken on as a freelance designer at Shopdirect and so was paid by the hour and managed to earn a fair bit. My other placements pay covered my expenses and I still had a fair bit of money left over to buy pints with.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
The two things that stick out are: covering all the walls of an office with all the shots of the Littlewoods models and making videos for The Chase Christmas party that involved doing break dancing whilst wearing cardboard cutout heads of Ben Casey and our clients.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
To keep trying to get the most out of each idea explore it possibilities and see how far you can take it.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Very, as well as improving my Mac and mock-up skills its given me a lot more confidence in my ideas and work knowing that I’ve been able to produce work for that’s pleased clients and the creative director.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Ask lots of questions, always offer to help out and learn how to make a decent cup of tea (I can offer tips if you’re unsure).
STUART MITCHELL
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
The Chase: 5 months
NextBigThing: 6 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Apart from mastering the art of making a good cup of cha, I’ve learnt to be more confident with my ideas and not be afraid to get things wrong.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Whilst in Manchester I commuted by train as it is only 40 minutes away. When finding accommodation in London, I booked 4 house viewings through Gumtree a few days before traveling down. It was all a little bit last minute but that’s the way it works! I ended up living with another designer and a crazy live in land lady.
What were you asked in the interview?
I was asked about my ideas and where they came from, and in the case of one interview, how good was I at making tea! I was also asked what and who inspired me. One interview ended with a 15 minute chat about Futura!
What did you ask in the interview?
I asked what sort of work have placement students done in the past as well as what ongoing projects they were working on. I researched all companies before attending interviews and familiarised myself with their work which I felt helped with conversation and showed enthusiasm.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
Between £150 and £250 pw.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
I wouldn’t know where to start! Shopping for 700 Alka Seltzer’s for a christmas party invite, attending the Design Week Awards or being in a hot tub over looking the set of Coronation Street! The one that stands out though would have to be becoming the face of a national ad campaign for Swinton Insurance. Health Insurance. Bandages, crutches and sling whilst pretending to be injured!
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
I won’t take for granted how much time we get on a brief as in industry things get turned around so quickly, so it’s important to use your time as best as possible. Research your subject matter as thoroughly as you can and don’t rely on Google to give you your answers!
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Invaluable – spending so much time around experienced designers and working in a professional studio is really inspiring. It has given me a better understanding of what is involved in the real world of design and also what designers look for in graduates and their portfolios.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
By doing long term placements it means you are able to really get your feet under the table and get deeply involved within the design process. You learn so much seeing a concept through from initial sketches, concept development, through to it being signed off, printed, and then sent to the client, which I don’t think you’d normally see on short term placements. I also felt after a while you get seen as a part of the team and not just as another placement student, it’s gives you the chance to establish yourself a bit more and build relationships.
