Placement Q&A’s 18 – 19
This year’ s 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.
ISABELLA LOUGHLIN
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
True North: 6 Months
B&B: 3 Weeks
Purple: 4 Weeks
Next Big Thing: 3 Months
Rose: 4 Weeks
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
That it is just as important to discover what you don’t like as what you do like.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost
For the first six months I stayed at home in Rawtenstall and commuted into Manchester on the bus which took about an hour there and just over an hour home, so rather than paying rent I payed for a bus pass. In London I actually got really lucky and managed to live with one of my close friends for 6 months in West Ham, that cost me 700 p/m including bills.
What were you asked in the interview?
Usually when you’ve finished your interview, they’ll ask which was your favourite brief/which you enjoyed doing the most. The interviews are very informal, I feel that it's more important for them to see what kind of person you are, so just be yourself.
What did you ask in the interview?
My go to question at the end of an interview was ‘did you go on placement? if so where did you go?’ and then usually just a casual chat about what I'm doing for the rest of my day and anywhere they recommend going for some food.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
At one placement I had to clean all the chairs in the meeting room, it took 2 hours.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Not getting attached to a shit idea but also being able to defend and explain a good one, working faster and broader, bringing multiple ideas to the table not just one or two, working quicker and more efficiently. Another important thing would be to share everything that inspires you. At one placement every Friday there would be an email that goes out everyone with design that inspired them that week, you'd be surprised at how diverse this can be. Any piece of reference is greatly appreciated. This was one of my favourite inspiring pieces of work, worth a watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dulk2rBSKkQ
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Very. Not only do you learn so many skills and shortcuts but the connections you make may be one of the greatest things you take from placement. These connections will make it that bit easier for you when you’ve graduated and you’re ready to get a job.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Believe in yourself! You don’t need to be so nervous, I promise. I was so nervous on my first placement it took me a week to do my first bru round. I lived to tell the tale. Its not that deep, if you make a shit bru they're probably too nice to say anything anyway! Everyone has been in the position you're about to be in. If you’ve come so far to get a placement, you're already smashing it, so keep going and believe in yourself!!
HANNAH GURNEY
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
True North: 6 months
Blue Marlin: 2 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
I learnt alot during the year, but I think for the most part was learning how to adapt to any situation given and taking it in your stride. Placement year is for learning and you should never feel out of place to ask for help.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
In London I stayed three Air bnb’s over the two months which cost about £150 pound a week, While In Manchester I found a room to rent on Spare Room which cost about £350 a month.
What were you asked in the interview?
Both of my interviews where pretty relaxed, I was asked to go through my portfolio and just chat about my work. I was asked why I did certain things and which I enjoyed working on the most. They’re not looking for right and wrong answers they just want to see that your passionate about what you do and excited to learn.
What did you ask in the interview?
I asked what they where working on at the moment and what jobs they where most proud of. It helped to get to know what the agency was working on before and what the designers where excited about.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
In London I was paid £400 a week and In Manchester I was paid £400 a month. I was paid a lot more in London due to the Living costs.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
On my first day on placement in London I got to go around all the pubs in Hammersmith to take pictures of decorative pint glasses, It was for research for a packaging project but not a bad way to spend a Monday morning.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
To work smarter, to stop spending so much time on things that don’t matter. Before placement I found myself focusing on whether an idea was good enough or not instead of just getting out of my head and into a notebook and moving on. I also learnt to stop putting so much pressure on myself, good design doesnt come from staring at a screen all day sometimes it helps to go out and do something new and being in a big city is the perfect place to do that.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
I think doing placement year was the best desicion I could of made, it gave me the confidence to realise I can achieve anything I put my mind to. It has also taught me what is to be expected when applying for grad jobs after Uni.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Become a sponge and absorb as much as you can, ask everything you’re curious As living at home wasn’t an option for me being from Northern Ireland. I spent 3-4 months before hand working in a coffee shop to afford the rent. I would encourage students in the same situation to do the same and try and save as much as possible before hand. Although money shouldnt be the main focus when on placement it can add pressure trying to juggle rent while on a placement wage. This is to be expected but the outcome is worth completely worth it so don’t let it put you off. Have fun and be confident! Although it can feel daunting and strange at times, it helps to throw yourself into new situations and just enjoy your time there. Nothing good comes from staying inside your comfort zone and you won’t realize how much you have grown until after the year is over. Good luck!
ELEANOR SPICKETT
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Next Big Thing: 3 ½ months
Harry, Larry & Gary: 2 weeks
Turner Duckworth: 1 month
Squad: 6 Months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Getting out of my comfort zone and increasing my speed of working. Each project was fast-paced and had strict deadlines – this really threw me in at the deep end. I quickly realised that I had to adapt my pace to achieve the project goals.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Whilst working up north I stayed at home in Preston and commuted every day. Whilst in London, I found my first place on Spare rooms. Rent was £700 a month, sharing a flat with two other people. Second time round I found a place on AirBnB due to it only being a month-long placement. I stayed in a garden house by myself in someone’s back yard, which was an experience.
What were you asked in the interview?
The interviews felt very chilled and more of an informal chat. Questions asked were based around your portfolio to get an understanding of your thought processes.
What did you ask in the interview?
I asked what the day to day life was like in the studio and what’s expected of a placement student.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
One of my placements did not, however offered to pay if I continued but I had other placements lined up. Another paid £100 a week then increased my pay after a certain period of time. London placements ranged from £300-£390 per week.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Lining up pint glasses, buckets, bowls, mugs on the wall outside ready for ‘raining beer’.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
The process of ideas through to development and organising files to work efficiently and faster.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Incredibly important, seeing what work goes in and out of a studio daily gives you an insight to what you’re working towards. Work in a variety of different studios to see where you fit in best: small vs large, packaging vs branding.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Make mistakes and learn from them. Go to events, the pub, team lunches – any opportunity to chat to people. You’ll need a lot of help whilst on placement but quality over quantity in terms of questions. As my dad says, “be yourself, you’re good at it.”
CONNOR MAXWELL
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Music: 3 weeks
B&B: 3 Weeks
Bluemarlin: 2 months
Pearlfisher: 3 Months
Frank Bright & Abel: 3 weeks
Fourthwall: 3 months
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
Not to sound cliche but I learnt what to expect when I leave uni and how a studio works. How the designers interact with clients and how fast they work, which was a bit of shock at first but you adjust pretty quickly.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
For my first placement in Music in manchester i stayed in a hostel for a week which was pretty grim before getting mates rates on a top hotel right by Picadilly. So I went from sharing a room with strangers to eating by myself in the hotel restaurant. Whilst i was at Fourthwall i stayed at home which was handy as I could save up some money for when I went down to london. Down in london I used airbnb for the most part, booking at least 2 weeks in advance. The colser it got to summer, the harder it got to find places within my budget so I got in contact with people id met asking if anyone knew of any places I could stay. Luckily someone at Pearlfisher had a spare room which i rented for about 2 maybe 3 months.
What were you asked in the interview?
I think I got asked where else I’d been for interviews/placements quite frequently. I dont know if they were just making converstation or trying to gauge what other agenicies thought of me. But for the most part it was just general questions about me or my work.
What did you ask in the interview?
I didn’t have any pre-written questions I had prepared. Mostly it was just general chitchat or me asking what sort of work they are working on at the minute, maybe what they expected from a placement student.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
A lot of unusual things happened on the many nights out. But whilst at work I think designing a clients launch party to be held inside the agency was fairly unexpected.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
You learn alot of technical stuff whilst on placement but i think the main thing ill try to do is keep up the pace in which you have to work. At the end of placement year you’ll look back at your first two years of uni and wonder how it took you so long.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
You work with and learn from people that inspire you, i think because of that you tend to set the bar a little higher for yourself. So hopefully this will translate into the rest of my stundent work.
With hindsight, what advise would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
Everyone just says be yourself, but just dont be a dickhead. Try to push yourself whenever you can. Always go for pint, you don’t have to drink. Don’t be scared to stay behind. Keep those first year 1 week projects in the back of your head because they can come in handy.
WILL MCLELLAN
Which company(s) did you do a placement with and how long for?
Squad: 10 months
Bluemarlin: 1 month
What’s the most important thing you learnt from your placement(s)?
The importance of sketching your ideas and finding some cracking reference to back it up. It’ll help you when it comes to presenting your initial ideas.
How did you find accommodation and how much did it cost?
Stayed at home in Manchester, making the most of the free food and zero rent.
Various Air B&Bs for London. Wouldn’t recommend as it worked out expensive, good if you need somewhere last minute though (make sure you read reviews). Ask around the agency someone may have a spare room / couch.
What were you asked in the interview?
Most of the interviews are just a casual chat through your portfolio. You might be asked some personal stuff like favourite agencies, designers, typeface etc, have those in mind so your not put on the spot.
What did you ask in the interview?
Ask for feedback if they haven’t done so already. It’s a good opportunity to make improvements to your port-folio and possibly re-arrange the order. Ask for advice for your next interviews and how you could improve / present better.
Did you get paid and roughly how much?
£100 in Manchester, which covered basic expenses as I lived rent free at home. £250 in London, helped a lot towards rent but be ready to dip into your overdraft when it comes to nights out.
What was the most unusual thing you did?
Making boats from newspaper and sailing down the canal in Ancoats, the things you’ll do for the gram.
What experience from your placement(s) are you going to put into practice, now you are back at university for your final year?
Sketch, sketch, sketch. Work on your own personal projects at the same time and have a daily read through design blogs / books. Collaboration is a big thing, bounce ideas of each other and be ready to take criticism.
How important do you think a placement has been to helping further your design education?
Important. The connections you make may help you when it comes to finding a job after graduation. Place-ment will also help you decide the type of work you do / don’t want to be doing, so you can shape your portfo-lio accordingly for final year.
With hindsight, what advice would you give to a fellow student embarking on a placement?
As cliche as it is, just be yourself. A lot of agencies hire placements to bring in a youthful energy to the studio so don’t just sit at your desk, bombard people with brews, questions and get involved in studio bants. Don’t expect to leave at half five, people appreciate it if you hang on and help them out.
