Meet Bulletproof: Industry Partner for our 2022 Diversity in Design Full Scholarship in New York City, London & Sydney

We’re proud to announce, that for the second year, Shillington is partnering with Bulletproof for our Diversity in Design Full Scholarship + Industry Mentorship opportunities. This year we’re offering Full Scholarships in New York City, London and Sydney—providing a career-changing opportunity to aspiring designers from underrepresented groups.

As a collaborative commitment by both educators and employers, the scholarship strives to support and strengthen equity by cultivating diverse and inclusive representation in the design industry—within classrooms and beyond.

Read on for an interview with Bulletproof.

For those who haven’t heard of Bulletproof, tell us who you are and what you do.

Bulletproof is a strategic brand design agency with studios in London, New York, Singapore, Amsterdam, Sydney and Shanghai. 

Proudly independent, we exist to vanquish mediocrity and build the most successful brands of the future. Working in partnership with clients of all sizes, from Mondelēz International, The HEINEKEN Company and Diageo, to Soapsmith, WhiteClaw, Booking.com and the Football Association of Wales, we create bulletproof brands that deliver real commercial results. You can check out our work on our Instagram, LinkedIn or visit our website.

Why did Bulletproof decide to partner with Shillington for the Diversity in Design Scholarship? 

As a creative agency, we thrive on different perspectives to deliver exceptional work for our clients. That’s why this year we’re even more excited to be partnering with Shillington across three of the campuses: London, New York, and Sydney.

An agency value we hold dear is ‘people make the difference’, and diversity is an imperative part of our culture. We partner with organizations, such as Shillington, that hold this same belief.

We’ve long been fans of Shillington and appreciate the expertise and support the organization provides students, as well as its innovative educational format that makes design and creative careers more accessible for all.

We’re the first to recognize there are challenges to entering the design industry, from the affordability of design training to a lack of awareness of the creative industries within schools. Becoming involved with the Diversity in Design Scholarship helps us encourage new talent to shine and provide guidance to get their foot firmly in the door.

What are you looking for in applications?

We believe that great ideas change the world, and those great ideas come from out-of-the-box thinkers, passionate storytellers and go-getters.

Each applicant has an opportunity to share their why; Why design? Why now? And why they are right for Shillington.

We can’t wait to learn the why behind each applicant’s story and the unique way it’s presented.

What can the winner expect from the five mentorship sessions?

We want to make sure the winning candidate is set up for their own particular brand of success during and after the course, so we will look to create bespoke mentorship sessions that are crafted around the applicant’s own goals, challenges and aspirations. That can include portfolio reviews, presentation training, career journey help, résumé reviews, studio shadow days and access to the Bulletproof team for advice and consultation.

Anything else you’d like to share? (Why should applicants be excited to work in the design field? Why do you love nurturing young talent?)

There are many parts to the design ecosystem. From graphic designers to strategists, retouchers, visualizers, renderers, digital designers, motion graphic artists, client services, production, IT, there are so many characters that keep this world turning. On a good day, it’s an industry alive with opportunity that both drives and reflects culture, and we think that’s a pretty exciting place to be.

Talent is the lifeblood of our industry and we’re all here because, at some point, someone gave us a break, so we want to push that energy forward.

Not everyone has the access or even knowledge that design can be a career, and a successful and stimulating one at that. We are on hand to help guide and support those new to the game—and learn from them as well, as we believe it’s a two-way street.

We’re looking forward to meeting you.

Want to find out more about what Bulletproof is looking for in New York, London and Sydney? Checkout these interviews with Grace, Ami, Beth and Matty—creative leads at Bulletproof and our 2022 Diversity in Design industry panelists!