Jen Dennis—Shillington Teacher

Before Shillington, Jen Dennis was an editorial designer whose career led her into art direction and digital-based work. Now she teaches our full-time class in London whilst juggling freelance clients. Today on the blog we get some insights into why she loves her job, her favourite creative resources and the importance of putting yourself out there in the design industry.

When did you fall in love with design?

My mum believes that my creative journey began at the age of three when I won a colouring competition, but I prefer the idea that it all began when I was randomly given a Creative Review magazine. Having always had an interest in art and design, I never really knew what I could do with it until I realised that graphic design was a job where you can be creative without being an artist. When I read the issue of Creative Review I fell in love immediately and from that moment, told everyone that one day I would grow up to be a graphic designer. I did have a wobble at 14 when I wanted to be an air hostess, but that was a short lived phase and thankfully I continued with my dream to be a designer. 

Why do you love being a designer?

I absolutely love the fact that doing graphic design feels more like play than work.

Working in the creative industry means that you get to be involved in a lovely community of great and inspiring people. 

Every brief that you get is so different and as a result, you learn lots about subjects. On one of my placements at The Partners, I had to call sausage factories to see if henna style illustrations could be applied to a sausage skin. It was an area of expertise that I never thought that I would acquire. 

Can you tell us about a favourite recent project?

It’s a project that is still under wraps but I’ve been working on the branding for a famous athlete. It’s really tricky to summarise a personality in a logo but I’ve loved the challenge. It was a great process and I worked with a typographer that designed a bespoke font so that was super exciting. 

How and where do you find your inspiration?

Being a designer is more of a lifestyle than a job and it means that you don’t switch off (ever), so I’m constantly looking at things, analysing and trying to find inspiration for my work. It doesn’t matter what I’m doing, the graphic designer in me is always looking for something. 

My morning ritual in a morning is to look at It’s Nice That and Form Fifty Five, they’ve been my favourites for many years now. My go-to blog to be inspired is Ben Terrett’s Noisy Decent Graphics. He’s an incredible designer and writes a brilliant blog and is the mastermind behind the brilliant design of gov.uk. I’ve also started to listen to 99% Invisible, which is a radio show about all things design. There are so many amazing websites and blogs that I could literally spend all day looking through them. 

As good as blogs are, it’s great to actually get out from behind the computer screen, so I try and go to as many design talks as possible. I think that they are really important in learning. I generally leave most talks with a notebook full of names and projects to research which is a great way of learning new things. It also gives you a great insight into how people present their own work which is always good to see.

Why do you teach?

I always knew that at some point in my career I wanted to teach as I think it’s really important to give back what you have learnt.

I decided to join Shillington after eight years in the industry. I felt like I wanted to pass on everything that I had experienced.

Be it how you feel on your first placement, how it feels to get your first job. There’s nothing more rewarding than working with someone who wants to change their life, seeing them realise their own potential and being part of their journey to being a graphic designer. Seeing students faces when they open their portfolio for the first time and they realise the scale of what they have achieved in three months is a very special feeling. 

Teaching graphic design has really helped me develop as a designer. Watching people that have no experience and take a chance on changing their life has had a massive impact on me over the last year. It’s made me less scared of trying techniques and it’s pushed me outside of my comfort zone. 

Any advice for young designers starting out?

If you really, really want something then you have to be determined and go and get it. You’re not going to get that job just sat at home sending out the odd email. Get out there, go to talks, meet people and most importantly be interested in everything as you never know where work can come from.

Have ideas. Lots of them. Be interesting. Ask questions. Be curious. Be passionate. Work hard and smile.

My last piece of advice is listen to Baz Luhrmann’s Sunscreen. It kind of puts everything in context.   

Big thanks to Jen for sharing her story. View her full portfolio and follow her on Instagram for more insights into her creative life. Do you want Jen to be your graphic design teacher? There’s still time to enrol, but time is ticking! Full-time and part-time classes start in London and Manchester on Monday, 21st September.

Ice Sculpture Project—RSA Journal, Book & iPad—Arup Design Book