Becca Kerrigan is from a family of designers but her path to Graphic Design was not exactly a direct succession. Perhaps it’s a touch of rebellion, or maybe she just wanted to try other things, new and unpredictable things but as often happens with innately design-minded people, that urge only lays dormant for a while. Eventually it will float to the surface and let you know it is ready to fly.
So, Becca began working in music and event management, and then on to hospitality as a bar supervisor, until fate came knocking and she took a trainee role in a design company.
A curious mind is always learning and having taken a detour before stepping on the road to Graphic Design, Becca’s experiences outside of the industry will serve to enhance her creative expression. Inspiration is all around and the more a person experiences in life, the richer their creative work will be.
It was the design company who suggested Becca expand her knowledge of the industry and enrol in the British Academy of Graphic Design. Not only did these professionals see the quality of courses offered by the Academy, they also clearly spotted the potential in Becca.
“My employers discovered the course online. We chose the course as it was flexible enough to work around my schedule.”
It is one thing to come from a family of designers, but it’s another to do it yourself. As Becca progresses through her studies, she is enjoying the wide range of topics being covered.
“Each project is different and exciting! I love the variety, assignment-wise, and it has challenged me to be more creative and think outside the box. I have then been able to apply those techniques to my day job which has been very useful!”
And getting out of your comfort zone is often the very moment students meet their creative voice. Becca has been diving into areas of Graphic Design that she had not considered before.
“The course covers a wide range of topics and allows you to explore areas that previously did not cross your mind. It has opened my eyes to the huge variety of opportunities that graphic design offers.”
Many students have a clear idea of where they want to take their career, and others arrive open and willing to explore. One thing they all have in common is that the area of specialism they wind up choosing is rarely what they initially expected.
Becca is currently working on marketing material in her trainee role but “in an ideal world I would love to create album artwork and merchandise.” And who says she won’t!? There are numerous avenues that are covered including Becca’s newfound leaning towards video editing.
“I do also have an interest in creating short marketing videos in After Effects, which was something I first taught myself to do for one of the assignment submissions for this course. I really enjoyed the process and have since used those techniques in my day job to create a short social media video for a food company! I would love to take on more projects like this.”
But there is still much to learn and with an open and eager creative approach like Becca, anything and everything is possible. She plans to continue progressing with the company she works for until she can find her own new clients and work on a “broader variety of projects.”
The beauty of Graphic Design is that one size does not fit all and there are numerous avenues a graduate can take. Becca is also keen on setting up a “side-project creating funky designs for wall art / home decor.”
And why not – design is design is design!
