Meet the Graphic Design alumna who is designing book covers for Profile Books

Can you tell us more about your work at Profile Books?  

My role as junior designer is to design book covers for e-books, audiobooks and printed books. I prepare visuals for presentation at cover meetings and respond to feedback to progress projects to the approval and artwork stages. An essential part of the role is to liaise with production and other departments to ensure the timely delivery of materials and assets. I feel lucky to design across various book genres; it’s always exciting and fun.  

How did you find your time at Falmouth and how has it helped you in your role?  
 
I loved my time studying Graphic Design at Falmouth. It always felt like a supportive and enthusiastic space where curiosity was encouraged. I was given the opportunity to explore many aspects of design and challenge ideas that interested me. During my studies, I often lacked confidence and wasn't sure what design role I wanted to apply for after university. However, in my third year, I attended a workshop from a guest lecturer who came to talk about their creative journey and practice in book design. From that moment, I was transfixed, and everything felt like it was falling into place.  

What did you do after university to help you get where you are now? 
   
After university I continued to add to my portfolio of coursework, self-initiated projects and entered competitions. I designed a CV that clearly showcased my skills and created a cover letter template that I could tailor for each role I applied for. I applied for many roles, internships, and the DPI (Design for Publishing Inclusivity) mentorship scheme, for which I was lucky to get a place. Rejection often left me deflated, but I volunteered at a bookshop, created a podcast around a design subject of interest and taught myself more design skills to keep creating and broadening my network. One day, I received an offer for a temporary artworking role from an employer I had previously applied to. From there, I learnt the basics of book design which started my journey to becoming a freelancer, a full-time artworker and now my current role at Profile Books. 

What would you say to someone who aspires to pursue a career as a designer? 

Believe in yourself and keep creating. Your perspective, ideas and work are interesting; there is nobody like you. I often spent too much time comparing myself to my friends who landed the perfect role after university. Don't give up, keep going and believe it will happen for you too.