Amira Mutiara

Amira Mutiara didn’t always see herself working in a newsroom — in fact, she only recently realised that news design was even a possible career path. But through internships, portfolio reviews and self-initiated projects, she built a route into the creative industry on her own terms. Now a junior news designer at Sky News, Amira creates fast-turnaround visuals for TV and social media, helping break down complex stories into bold, accessible design. Here, she shares how her final master’s project helped define her voice, how rejection shaped her growth and why everyday inspiration keeps her work fresh.

What I do

How would you describe what you do?
I’m a news designer at Sky News, which means I help turn complex stories into clear, engaging visuals for TV and social media. The newsroom is fast-paced, so there’s always something happening and that’s what makes it so exciting.

I get to work across a huge range of topics, from politics and climate to pop culture and more unexpected stories. Each one needs its own visual approach, so I’m constantly thinking on my feet and experimenting with different creative solutions to communicate the story clearly. On top of that, we also get to brand major news events, work on the visual identity for different shows, and help maintain the overall look and feel of Sky News across platforms.

Amira at work at the Sky offices

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
Inspiration never comes from just one place for me. I’m always on the lookout, and most of the time it comes from everyday moments in life. Especially living in London, I might stumble across a coffee shop with a great concept, look them up on social media, and save their branding in my personal archive. Or I’ll spot a poster on the street that catches my eye. I’ve learned that inspiration is everywhere – it’s just about staying curious and aware of your surroundings.

I love spending time in bookstores flipping through editorial design, watching YouTube or TikTok videos to explore new motion techniques, or simply walking around and taking in the visuals around me.

Amira's workspace

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
I wouldn’t say you need one specific kind of training to do what I do – it’s more about building the right mix of skills and staying curious over time. I’ve been passionate about design since high school, and I built my portfolio by saying yes to as many opportunities as I could.

After my bachelor’s, I discovered a love for branding and motion, which led me to study graphic branding at master’s level. That really helped sharpen my thinking and creative direction. I didn’t even realise design roles in the news industry existed until recently! I’ve only been in the role for a month, so I’m still learning every day – and I think that mindset is essential.

What’s been your favourite project to work on from the past year, and why?
MODMAD – the Modern Nomads, my final master’s project, has definitely been my favourite so far and something I’m really proud of. What made it special was having complete creative control. The concept was quite personal: it stemmed from my concerns about Generation Alpha and how much time they spend on digital devices. That reflection sparked an idea – what if I could offer a creative solution that bridges that gap?

MODMAD became a way to explore that. It pushed me to develop not only my design skills, but also to take on the role of researcher, specialist and creative director. It ended up being some of my most refined and professional work.

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
A typical day depends on the area I’m working in. During training, we rotate through key departments like TV, digital and social media, which gives me hands-on experience with everything from creating broadcast visuals to designing maps and content for different platforms.

Working in live areas is especially exciting – you never really know what kind of graphics you’ll be creating until the news breaks. It’s fast-paced, reactive and keeps you on your toes. We work closely with producers to translate complex information into clear, engaging visuals, often under tight deadlines.

Alongside that, there are also opportunities to contribute to longer-term projects and sub-brands within Sky News, which allows for deeper creative exploration and development.

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out?
When I first started out in design, it was a bit of a solo journey. Coming from a family with no one in the creative industry, I had to navigate it all on my own. At first, it was daunting, and I didn’t know exactly where I was heading. But I learned early on that the more you practice, the more hands-on you become.

In my early years at university, I spent a lot of time making art, but I eventually realised that design is more than just creating something visually pleasing. Milton Glaser’s quote – “The idea that art cannot be design, while design can be art” – really stuck with me. It made me understand that design is about putting the audience first and communicating effectively.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs?
During my university years, I made it a priority to spend every summer break doing internships and gaining industry experience across various sectors. These experiences helped me discover what I truly enjoyed and what I didn’t, giving me a clearer sense of direction for my career. I also joined unions and associations to expand my network.

I was actively applying for jobs and reaching out to studios directly, which led to my first commission from a director. I also participated in a CLIP portfolio review, which resulted in another commission. All of these experiences ultimately helped me secure my full-time role at Sky News.

Amira's website

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
My biggest challenge has been overcoming rejection, especially in the early stages, when each “no” felt personal. It made me question myself: Am I good enough? Will I make it in the creative industry? But over time, I’ve learned to reframe rejection as part of the process. Each one became a chance to reflect, improve and push myself to grow. It taught me resilience and reminded me that real growth often comes from the most uncomfortable moments.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work?
I’d say social media and self-promotion are really important – what’s the point of creating amazing work if you’re the only one who sees it? Sharing your projects online, whether it’s through a personal website, social media or LinkedIn, gives your work a chance to be seen and appreciated. You never know who might come across it – a future collaborator, employer or client. Some of my opportunities have come from simply putting my work out there and reaching out to different studios and agencies through social media.

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?
Three things that have been really useful to my growth as a designer are:

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
One of my greatest learnings has been understanding the value of creative work in a changing world. With the rise of AI and shifts in how creative roles are perceived, it’s become more important than ever to be aware of our worth and where we stand as creatives. It’s not just about making things look good – it’s about bringing ideas to life in ways that connect, communicate and create impact.

That awareness has helped me advocate for fair pay, know when to say no, and take ownership of my creative contributions. Supporting myself has also meant being open to different types of work – sometimes freelance, sometimes part-time – while always ensuring it aligns with my goals and offers an opportunity to grow.

My advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to seek out as many opportunities as you can, and give them a real shot. During university, I entered awards like D&AD and the UNESCO Climate Academy, applied to competitions, joined creative organisations and showed up to events with an open mind. You never know what connections you’ll make, what you’ll learn or where it might take you.

One of the turning points in my journey came after attending a CLIP portfolio review! A year later, I was contacted by Zak, a project manager, who mentioned that their events lead had shortlisted my portfolio and that the team loved my work. That message led to an incredible opportunity I never expected, and it all started from showing up to that event.

Along the way, I’ve also learned to embrace my curiosity and trust my perspective. Early on, I worried that my ideas or design style might not “fit” into the creative industry. But I’ve come to realise that thinking differently is a strength. The creative world values innovation and confidence in your voice is what helps you stand out.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
Start by building strong editorial skills, learning how to create information graphics and developing your motion design abilities. You don’t need to have everything figured out, but being able to organise ideas clearly and bring it to life visually gives you a real edge even if you're still learning on the job.

Gaining experience across different industries can also help. It teaches you to adapt quickly and handle the fast-paced nature of creative work.

Above all, stay curious. Pay attention to how information is presented around you and keep practising how to turn complex ideas into clear, engaging visuals. That mindset can really set you apart.