Last week, we were delighted to return to Anglia Ruskin University to give a talk to BA (Hons) Graphic Design students on Professional Studies in the Creative Industries.
For Scarlett and Adam, who graduated from ARU, this was a bit of a full circle. We shared our stories of going out into the industry, and what the industry really looks like after university.
Like many students, we both went into the industry thinking that the majority of the work would consist of big rebranding jobs and big website builds. However, the reality is that a lot of the work done within the industry of professional design actually takes place within the current branding systems, such as pitch documents, company documents, templates, and marketing materials.
This requires just as much thought and strategy, just in a different way. We discussed how a lot of the work done within the industry isn’t actually about the aesthetics of the work but more about usability and problem-solving, especially when working with developers and clients.
We also discussed what we look for when hiring junior designers. It’s a good portfolio, good thinking, the ability to explain your thinking, a good attitude, and good core design principles.
And of course, we couldn’t go without talking about the elephant in the room – AI. Our message here was simple. We see AI as a tool, a helper, but a tool nonetheless. It’s good for idea generation, efficiency, etc., but at the end of the day, it’s no replacement for strategy, judgment, etc. We’re changing, the industry’s changing, and the designers who’ll thrive are those who adapt and continue to learn.
It was a pleasure to return to ARU and share some honest insight into what life’s like at a creative agency. It’s a journey from the classroom to the project leads, but growth happens over time, experience, and confidence.
We’re proud to help the next generation of creatives grow, and we look forward to seeing where they go.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to grow further, Identity Creative is here to support you with all your creative and technical needs.