In the first of our ‘Where are they now?’ interviews with former AWARD School students, we chat with Vanessa Robinson, currently living in London and working as a senior creative.
In the first of our ‘Where are they now?’ interviews with former AWARD School students, we chat with Vanessa Robinson, currently living in London and working as a senior creative.
What prompted you to apply for AWARD School?
I was one of the unlucky ones who graduated with a design diploma right when the GFC hit (That’s the Global Financial Crisis for those born in the 2000s). It meant there were very few junior designer positions going. So I bided my time working as a customer service rep for a Tax Depreciation company whilst doing some freelance graphic design on the side. But as fate would have it, my boss was ex-advertising. He was the one who suggested I do AWARD School. I went to the Info Night and walked away inspired - but terrified. I thought there was no way I was good enough for this. Turns out I was! That was in 2011.
What do you remember as some of your AWARD School highlights?
Gosh - it was a long time ago and I bet someone said something profound in front of an overhead projector... but now looking back, the biggest highlight was the people.
I happened to find a bunch of super ambitious, funny and talented friends who I still keep in contact with to this day. They are the ones who’ll hook you up with a contact at the agency you want to work for 5 years from now. They’ll be your mates in Sydney, Melbourne, London, New York, Amsterdam or wherever you end up. They’ll be the person next to you in your tutorials who’ll turn up with five more ideas than you, which will make you come with five more ideas the week after.
So go forth and mingle! Make friends, make contacts, make enemies, make a nemesis, fall in love, get married, have kids. (That actually did happen in my year of AWARD school)
Are there any AWARD School learnings that you still carry with you each day?
I learnt how to draw a pretty good rectangle freehand… But I don’t think that’s a thing anymore. Sometimes your first idea is your best idea. But most often it’s not.
Also, Ben O’Brien [Creative Director Banjo Advertising] told me that you have one opportunity to use an exclamation mark in a headline in your entire career, so don’t waste it. I’m still holding onto mine.
Tell us about your current role.
I work for AMV BBDO in London as a Senior Creative. I’m lucky enough to be working - hypothetically - shoulder to shoulder with the creators of some of my favourite ad campaigns ever. It’s a constant reminder of what great looks like.
What would you say to anyone thinking of applying to AWARD School this year?
Obviously, do it. Work really hard but don’t take it too seriously. Share your ideas with everyone but only take advice from a few people you trust. Lean into it, turn off your adblocker, stop staring at your phone so much, start looking up and around you, and most importantly, have fun.
Learn more about AWARD School here.