My name is Zoe. I graduated from BA Architecture in 2022 and decided to take a gap year to switch to the graphic and digital design industry. During my undergraduate, I took on roles such as graphic design intern and marketing manager, which gave me an insight into the field of graphics and I have loved it ever since. Currently, I am pursuing a master's in Human-Computer Interaction, which delves into UI/UX. I decided to take a summer placement with ThreeTenSeven to strengthen my skills in graphic communication and design.
Within design, I love visual storytelling. As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words", it allows you to connect with all types of audiences in different demographics. This lies in my values as a designer to bring a strong communal identity with my project outcomes. The ever-changing nature of the industry keeps day-to-day work interesting, especially with it being a multidisciplinary field. I love that you are able to diversify creative explorations and work with different people and industries you might not expect. As I continuously develop my values as a designer, I hope to efficiently problem-solve and build immersive narratives in the UI/UX field with full-stack software engineering capabilities.
I came across ThreeTenSeven through searches previously and loved the work and values of the agency. However, I was ultimately connected to the agency through the All.In Leeds network and I later got the placement through a portfolio interview.
During my internship at ThreeTenSeven, I worked on three main projects which gave me the opportunity to apply my learnt skills to professional practice. Openhouse was a project that involved rebranding for a creative event series. I worked on developing a brand identity for hardware tools and also designed some materials for a non-profit organisation that supports mental health.
I found the design process to be similar to architecture in terms of concept development and design refinement, however, briefs are less restrictive in comparison. I appreciated the open briefs, which challenged me to consider the different aspects of the client’s needs and helped me to gain a deeper understanding to strategise the long-term vision for brands. When applied to real-life briefs, the experience has exposed to me the practical differences in design thinking between agency design versus student design, which has better prepared me to adapt to working in the industry.
My experience at ThreeTenSeven has been invaluable in helping me grow as a designer and gain exposure to various projects which highlighted my strengths and interests in the process. It has solidified my decision to career switch and has given me a strong foundation to build upon. I thoroughly enjoyed the collaborative environment and fast-paced nature of agency life, which have allowed me to develop my communication and teamwork skills.
My future aspirations include creating meaningful and impactful designs that prioritise user experience and immersive narratives. I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to see where my career in design takes me next.
