Tanya Tang

It’s been a year of good creative fortune for Tanya Tang – and no wonder, since it started with her landing a window illustration in Urban Outfitters’s huge flagship store. Following her internship with the fashion brand a few years back, she went on to become a trainee at the agency Born Social where she still works today as a junior designer. But along the way, Tanya’s had to learn what it means to own her value as a creative. Here she shares how she’s navigated that through advocating for herself, sharing her work online and bouncing back from rejection.

What I do

How would you describe what you do?
I make things pretty and communicate with people through visuals.

What are the main influences and inspirations behind your work?
My favourite place to find inspiration is definitely Instagram. I follow tons of fellow designers and their amazing work always inspires me.

I also love finding inspiration IRL. It’s super quick and easy to scroll through Pinterest or Are.na, but sometimes the real creative gems are right around the corner. Hunting for inspiration offline makes me pay closer attention to my surroundings and appreciate small things, like magazines in shops or a random ad on a truck.

Would you say you need any specific training for what you do?
Although a degree in graphic design did open a lot of doors for me, I wouldn’t say you have to get one. Honestly, the more you practise with design software, the sooner you’ll be able to start turning your ideas into reality. When it comes to technical skills, I actually picked most of them up just by watching YouTube tutorials!

What’s been your favourite project to work on from the past year, and why?
My favorite project from the past year has to be my collaboration with Urban Outfitters. I was lucky enough to create a window illustration for their Oxford Circus flagship store to celebrate the Lunar New Year. As a designer, it’s always so rewarding to see your work in the real world – and seeing my work on the busiest street of London was not on my 2025 bingo card.

What does a normal day-to-day usually look like for you?
This is a tough one to answer because working at a social-first creative agency is different every single day. We’ve got a huge mix of clients: I might be working on an alcohol brand one day and automotive or financial services clients the next. Sometimes, I get the wildest briefs you could imagine.

But even though no two days are the same, I do have some regular tasks – like designing social content, creating visuals for internal or external events and making mockups for pitches.

If there was a starter pack for your job, what would be on it?
A laptop that’s good enough to handle Adobe software and an emotional support water bottle or coffee mug.

How I got here

What was your journey like when you were first starting out? Did you find your feet quickly?
I studied graphic design in sixth form and at university, so I always knew I wanted to be a graphic designer. During my placement year, I landed my first job at Urban Outfitters. I was really lucky to get an internship that gave me incredible experience and confirmed that this was the right career path for me.

After uni, I got the chance to work at Born Social, a creative agency, through their trainee scheme. It opened the door to the advertising world – and even after a year here, I’m still exploring and learning new things every single day.

How did you go about landing your first few jobs or clients?
My journey to landing my first job was pretty straightforward, but definitely not easy. Like a lot of students, I sent out countless internship applications during my placement year. I also entered a few design competitions, took on some freelance gigs and worked on personal projects. All of that really helped me build my portfolio, showing the range of projects I’d worked on and the different software I could use. After plenty of rejections, I then finally landed my dream internship at Urban Outfitters.

What has been your biggest challenge along the way?
Job rejection. Almost everyone goes through it, but it still stings when you get that email starting with “unfortunately”. It’s especially tough for young talent who are new to the industry and already battling self-doubt. But never let a rejection undervalue you or define your worth: confidence is key and so is knowing your value. The right opportunity will come at the right time.

How important are social media and self-promotion to your work? Any advice or learnings?
Social media is my second portfolio, but it also reflects my personal interests and style. Posting things that genuinely excite me has attracted like-minded people who appreciate my work – and sometimes even potential freelance opportunities.

I’d add that TikTok and Instagram’s algorithms are a great way for your work to reach a wider audience, while Threads and LinkedIn are solid platforms for gaining impressions and engagement.

What are three things that you’ve found useful to your work or career, and why?
One of the best things about being in London is that there are always tons of creative events happening. The one I attend most is Nicer Tuesdays by It’s Nice That. They often invite big agencies to talk about different design topics and it’s a great chance to meet new people in the creative industry.

I also personally love editorial and print design, so I make a point of visiting magazine shops regularly. A few of my favorites are magCulture, Tenderbooks and Hato Press. I’d also recommend checking out Type01 — they’ve launched multiple issues and cover everything design- and typography-related.

I follow a lot of design pages on Instagram too, which keep me inspired every day and up to date with industry trends and news. Pages like Creative Boom, It’s Nice That, D&AD and Bounty Hunter are hubs for best-in-class creative work.

Have there been any courses, programmes, initiatives, access schemes or job boards you’ve found helpful?
I got my current role through Born Ready, a scheme for people interested in the creative industry but unsure where to start. It basically prepares you to work at an agency and gives you hands-on experience over three months – you get to work across all departments and meet lots of people in different roles. It really helped me understand agency life and the world of advertising.

I’d also recommend checking out job boards like If You Could, which is specifically focused on the creative industry.

What have been your greatest learnings with making money and supporting yourself as a creative?
Always know your worth and never undercharge. It’s frustrating to see design still being undervalued; be patient and help people understand how much time and effort go into a project from start to finish. You’re essentially selling your skills and your time, so make sure they understand what you’re offering and pay you the rate you truly deserve.

My advice

What’s the best career-related advice you’ve ever received?
Get the boring or ugly projects out of the way, so you can spend more time on work that genuinely excites you or is portfolio-worthy. Don’t be stingy with your time — if you’re passionate about a project, it’s okay to put in a little extra effort to get the best result. You’re not just working for money, you’re working for yourself! At the same time, don’t overwork; it's about managing your time and prioritising the projects you love.

What advice would you give to someone looking to get into a similar role?
Many creative agencies offer internship or mentorship schemes, which are great starting points for breaking into the industry. But most importantly, be proactive and reach out to people. LinkedIn is a great place to connect, set up coffee chats, or get in touch directly with your favourite designers and studios. You never know what opportunities might come from the small steps you take.

Doing personal projects in your spare time is another excellent way to build your portfolio. Not only does it hone your design skills, but it also shows your personal style. Sometimes even a fun, silly project can reflect your authentic self and help you stand out.