Due to popular demand, we’re hosting our second portfolio review dedicated to those starting out in graphic design and branding. You can be a student, a grad or simply be within the first year of your career journey.

As you’ll know, graphic design is a wide-ranging discipline that can become a gateway into so many different corners of the industry; and to reflect that, we’ve got a varied line-up of reviewers – from independent freelance creatives to studio founders, and experts working in-house.

This is a chance to meet industry professionals, get advice and feedback, at the same time as getting to know some fellow emerging creatives.

The session will take place over Zoom on Thursday 27th May 2021, from 5pm to 8pm BST. There are only a limited number of places available, so make sure you sign up to register your interest.

The event itself is fast-paced: In breakout rooms of three emerging creatives and one reviewer, you will get the opportunity to show and discuss work, and get advice and feedback. This will then rotate, so you get to meet several reviewers throughout the evening.

Please also note that the session is open to those looking to get into graphic design, with no more than one year of experience. You will be required to have something to show (e.g. one to two projects or pieces of work that capture what you do), but don’t worry if this isn’t a polished portfolio.

Creatives and companies offering feedback on the day will include:

Noni Braithwaite, creative strategist, Lovers
Lovers is a creative supergroup built to make head-turning, heart-thumping brand communications that inspire. Lovers is a new model and methodology designed to re-choreograph bright, un-retainable creative professionals around genuinely motivating projects The approach is enjoyed by clients as broad as Greenpeace, Google, Oxford University, Tate, The British Museum, The British Film Institute, The V&A Museum, My/Mochi Ice Cream, Badoo, the Museum of Sex and others.

Read more about Lovers here.

Lucia Vera, design director, Zag
Based in London, Zag is a consultancy that uses creativity and innovation to help businesses grow. Initially born inside advertising agency BBH in 2008 to invent new businesses from scratch, it has since grown a reputation for big, bold brand creation, disruptive growth strategy and financial venture investment. Its clients are made up of the world’s biggest brands, including Yamaha Music, Facebook and Audi, alongside new category disruptors and brilliant minds still baking their businesses.

Read more about Zag here.

Joe Waterfield, senior designer, Wolff Olins
Founded in 1965, Wolff Olins is a global agency creating transformative brands, with key departments covering design, strategy, programme management, marketing and new business. Tackling branding challenges to deliver commercial, creative and cultural impact, its work has been honoured by D&AD, Cannes Lions, Clio, Fast Company’s Innovation Award and the Webby Awards.

Read more about Wolff Olins here.

Tom Dixon, designer, Moving Brands
Moving Brands is an independent creative and innovation agency, working on a global scale. Its mission is to create enduring, purpose-led brands, new businesses and products, through strategy, storytelling, rapid prototyping and creative technologies. As an award-winning pioneer in digital-first branding and digital experience design, it has been trusted by global brands such as Apple, Netflix and the BBC – and strongly favours organisations that are committed to climate restoration, diversity and fairness.

Read more about Moving Brands here.

Darren Whitney, design director, R/GA London
Darren Whitney is a multidisciplinary designer with over ten years of industry experience. Currently working as a design director at creative agency R/GA, Darren is passionate about using the design process to express simple, meaningful and engaging ideas that resonate within culture. Thriving on collaboration across disciplines, he is dedicated to creating space for pragmatic, dynamic design solutions to evolve.

Read more about R/GA London here.

Katee Hui, strategy director, Pentagram
As a strategist, Katee strives to figure out how and why things work – whether that’s a business model or society itself. Originally from Ontario, Canada, since 2020 she’s worked as strategy director at Pentagram, the world’s largest independent design consultancy, working with the London team across brand strategy, social impact and sustainability. When she’s not doing that, you’ll often find her on a football pitch with the female community football club she founded, Hackney Laces.

Read more about Pentagram here.

Bhav Mistry, freelance designer
Freelance designer Bhav Mistry has thrown himself into an array of roles since entering the industry in 2012; including work with studios such as Interbrand, Rufus Leonard, SEA Design, Ragged Edge, FutureBrand, Proud Creative and TimeOut magazine. As a hands-on designer, Bhav works across brand, motion, digital, photography and type design, and also has six years of lecturing experience with Chelsea College of Arts UAL.

Read more about Bhav here.

QM Tan, designer, Made Thought
Having interned at design studio Made Thought before graduating, QM also gained experience with Systems Studio and Winkreative, before joining the team again as a designer in 2018. As part of Made Thought’s mission to “shape visionary brands into icons of tomorrow”, QM takes a strategy-led approach to design, working on projects for G . F Smith, Amore Pacific, Imprimerie du Marais and Heckfield Place.

Read more about Made Thought here.

This session is open to students, grad, or those within the first year of a creative career. Please note you are only eligible to register if you are:

• Not in full-time creative work
• Within the first year of your career
• Based in the UK
• Aged 18 and over

Register your interest by midnight, 18th May via the link below.

Registering for this event does not guarantee a place. Those invited to attend will be emailed a week before the event, and will be asked to pay a £5 deposit. This is to confirm your attendance, and will be refunded after the session.

Attendees are selected based on their eligibility, so please be assured that if you are not invited, this is not a reflection of the quality of your work.

We hope to see you there!