My time at College was formative in helping me discover and develop my passions. It gave me the opportunity to study creative and academic subjects side by side: Classical Civilisation remains one of my biggest interests, while design has become my career. I am grateful to have developed knowledge in both areas, and I put much of that down to my time at College.

I also took part in Debating Club. Being able to express ideas clearly is tremendously useful when working in a corporate environment, and learning how to debate has undoubtedly contributed to the communication skills I rely on today.

I have experienced anxiety throughout my life, and College was no exception, so I am very thankful for the mentoring I received in my time there. It helped me manage my anxiety in an academic setting and begin building my confidence. Reaching the point I am at now was not the result of one short burst of effort – I still had a great deal to learn, but the support I received at College gave me foundations that I continued to build on throughout university.

After College, I moved away to study Graphic Design at Loughborough University. I was frightened by the prospect of moving so far from home, but it became a real adventure. I achieved a First-Class degree and then progressed directly to an MA in Graphic Design and Visualisation.

The MA was a particularly formative experience. It helped me become much more confident and better able to carry myself in meetings with chief executives, board members and investors. As part of my MA, I also became an author. I wrote a book about systematic branding and worked with people who had designed some of the world’s biggest brands, including Netflix, Spotify, Formula 1 and Delta.

I was honoured to receive the School of Design and Creative Arts’ Postgraduate Award for Academic Excellence after achieving the highest grade on my course. It was a significant moment, but completing a successful degree could not entirely prepare me for the next challenge: finding a job.

I spent six months looking for work. I will not pretend that it was easy. Constant rejection makes it difficult to remain motivated, and there were times when I felt there was no point in continuing to pursue my preferred career. The employment market was particularly difficult for a graduate designer, with generative AI changing the way some businesses viewed design roles.

I reached a point where I needed a job more urgently than I needed it to be my dream job, so I began applying for a much wider range of positions. Crucially, however, I did not stop applying for design roles altogether.

The funny thing is that when I applied to my current company, AcoustoFab, it was for an administrative position. I knew very little about them and had not studied science since secondary school. It needed someone who could undertake executive administration while also running its social media accounts. I thought it would be better to do something partly connected to design than to give up on it completely.

Once I had the job, I did not hide my enthusiasm for design. The company embraced it and began giving me design work from my third week. I talked to colleagues about the company’s branding, the work I had completed for my book, what I could contribute as a Designer and the value those skills could offer. After three months, I was invited to renegotiate my contract and become a full-time Designer. That was the point when my professional design career officially began.

I now live and work in London as Brand Designer and Communications Coordinator for AcoustoFab, a company developing the world’s first acoustic levitation platform for contactless robotics. I build and maintain the company brand, lead its marketing and manage communications across internal and external channels. I am also responsible for visual design across the company, from targeted advertising campaigns and rebrands to books. I love working in Whitechapel, surrounded by the skyscrapers, and being part of such an innovative environment.

I’m proud that I recognised an opportunity within a role that had originally been advertised as something quite different. It took confidence to explain what I could offer and resilience to keep pursuing design when my initial applications were unsuccessful. More recently, I was responsible for hosting a large corporate event for more than 100 people. Looking back at how anxious I once felt, I am incredibly proud of the journey that enabled me to take on that responsibility.

If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be to believe in her ability to work things out. That may sound like a cliché, but when you are younger, it is very easy to wonder: ‘Can I actually do this? Do I have the ability? What if I try and fail?’

With time, I learnt that although many things are frightening, when I need to deliver, I can be resourceful, solve problems and make something work. Students may surprise themselves with what they can do when they find themselves in a situation that initially feels daunting.

I would also encourage students to listen to the stories and lessons their teachers share. College gave me the foundations of my technical skills, but some of my clearest memories are of unplanned conversations when I stayed late to finish work. I learnt about my teachers’ journeys, resilience and experiences. Technical skills can be taught, but teachers can also help you put life into perspective. If there is something you are genuinely worried about, talk to them. They may surprise you.

Hannah Fitch
Reigate College: 2019-2021
Higher Education: BA (Hons) Graphic Design, followed by MA Graphic Design and Visualisation, Loughborough University
Currently: Brand Designer and Communications Coordinator, AcoustoFab