Shillington School of Graphic Design Melbourne

The decision to study graphic design at Shillington College Melbourne was undoubtably one of the best I have made in my life. 2 years after completing the course, I am now pursuing my dream career and spend every day doing something I love. As a mature age student, I was definitely hesitant about taking the plunge but I can't recommend the course highly enough for anyone considering a career in design.

I went into Shillington with no graphic design experience and came out with industry ready skills and a professional portfolio. Kim & Annette were absolutely fantastic teachers and continually challenged me to push my designs, which resulted in me getting to a level that I wouldn't have thought I'd get to when starting the course.The course is very fast-paced, but if you're super passionate about learning graphic design and getting to an industry standard in a very short period of time then this course is perfect for you.I would 100% recommend Shillington to anyone interested in design, it was the best investment I've personally made and loved my time studying there!

Starting the course as a self-taught designer, I wanted to learn the design process, get my skills to industry standard and have a folio ready to show potential employers in the future. I came out of the course with all of this and more. The teachers are great; throughout the course and especially during folio time, I felt that they genuinely cared about my work and overall trajectory after the course.Due to COVID-19, my part-time cohort also moved from in-person classes to remote learning, and the transition was incredibly smooth (big shoutout to the experience team & wonderful teachers too!).The course is only going to be as good as the work ethic, tenacity and attitude you bring into it. So if you're ready to work hard and sink your teeth into it, go for it. It's HARD WORK, but very very fun & rewarding. I'd also highly recommend applying for their half scholarship too.

I took this graphic design course before that left a lot to be desired. While the course promised to teach us valuable skills in design software and principles, the experience was severely hindered by the unprofessional behavior of the tutor.Firstly, one of the tutors was a male who was overweight and would drink in the middle of the class. This was extremely distracting and made it difficult to focus on the material being taught. It was also concerning to see a tutor consuming alcohol during a class, as it sets a poor example for students.Furthermore, this school seemed more interested in promoting the course than actually teaching us valuable skills. They spent a significant amount of time creating a portfolio to showcase the work produced in the course, which felt more like a marketing tactic than an educational tool. It was disappointing to see that the course was more focused on self-promotion rather than providing valuable education.Overall, I would not recommend this graphic design course. The unprofessional behavior of the tutor detracted from the learning experience, and the focus on self-promotion over actual education was a major disappointment.

Shillington taught me how to work hard and push myself creatively. The curriculum at Shillington is fast pace, and there is no room for slacking off. You get what you put into it, and you have to put a lot into it to survive the 3 months. If you care, you’ll come out of there with a keen eye for design, a strong work ethic and super applicable tools for your creative process. I use things I learned at Shillington every single day.

I was really impressed with how Shillington structured their course and how they based their teaching style on real-life briefs. The class was set up like a real-life studio and we were treated more like junior designers than students.I have heard of so many people who come out of university and feel so overwhelmed by the industry, they really struggle to adjust to the time pressures. But I feel confident going out into the world because I already know how much I can achieve in a high-pressure, time-sensitive situation.

Working in the industry post-Shillington, I have never once felt incapable as a designer, which is a testament to the teachers and the content of the course. I felt I have been guided well and as I go through the design process their words of wisdom always pop into my head. I've also had the opportunity to compare my skills with some of the students coming out of other institutions and can strongly confirm Shillo alumni can hold their own. Because the course was so focussed on staying industry-relevant and up-to-date I have been able to pass on a lot of skills and knowledge to my more-experienced colleagues.

Graphic design was always something I was really interested in, and I had always wish I had studied it at uni. I’d seen Shillington advertised around the place but it took me really feeling like I needed a change to seriously consider doing it. The idea of spending 3 years studying an undergraduate degree just wasn’t an option for me, especially because I had already worked in the industry for a few years. I love learning new things and studying them intensively, so the 3-month full time option at Shillington ended up being perfect for my learning style.After the course I felt industry-ready and was able to jump straight into a design role.

I had the classic university experience 10 years ago and really struggled with the traditional approach to learning involving long lectures, textbooks, and exams. Shillington seemed to have the complete opposite approach. It seriously prepared me for being a designer in the real-world. We’re so used to working with tight deadlines and are absolute guns when it comes to creative brainstorming and researching before hitting the computer! It didn’t feel like going to school, it felt like going to work at a studio each day. Studying design at Shillington was the perfect fit for me!

I had a fantastic time at Shillington, even though we moved our class online during the Pandemic (2020). Shillington is a fast-paced school with a small group of students, so be prepared yourself to work hard and fast. All teachers are passionate about what they do, they are so supportive, and I learned so much from them.I love the Shillington structure, and it's the best decision I ever made.Thank you so much for getting me ready to work as a designer in the real world!