Ben finds real determination and skills

BEN MILLS – UK

FORMER STUDENT

Personally, I found trying to get into the design industry a very frustrating task.

I was studying as part of a career change and after falling in love with design, I wanted to be doing it for a living ASAP!

After finishing my course, I freelanced for a short time, setting up my own personal brand, promoting myself and doing whatever work I could to gain experience.

Determination

I was so determined to have a full-time position in a design agency that I knocked on doors and met as many people as I could to show my determination and creative portfolio.

Thankfully, I was listened to and offered a trial period which soon turned into a full-time permanent position as a graphic designer/artworker at a company called Triangle Design Ltd www.triangledesign.co.uk a design agency offering brand activation in retail, in-store feature displays and retail POS/POP.

Since then some of my designs and artwork have been used by some of the biggest brands in the world including Disney, Lucas Films, Universal Films, Lego, Toys R Us, Hasbro, Tomy, London Eye, Chicco & The AA.

Chicco Urban Totem Back Mothercare scaled

Working for Triangle Designs Ltd

We work with brands and retailers, designing, developing and refreshing POS and fixtures across the UK and most recently Toys R Us in the United States of America.

The challenge here was to create a POS kit for brands that would be budget-friendly and fixture-friendly.

With the complexity of the various store formats, it could not be ‘one size fits all’; the kit was modular to ensure compatibility with the existing in-store fixtures which varied from store to store.

Furthermore these kits were being rolled out to the entire US estate of 800 stores.

A highlight of mine has been that I worked on a project for Toys R Us USA and Hasbro.

We were asked to develop an in-store theatre to promote the Transformers 4 film that was released in June 2014. The feature wall is a 24ft wide display with 3D elements to create stand-out and interest.

My advice to anyone graduating from the Creative Design School wanting a similar route into the industry like mine is to stick with it, get yourself and your portfolio seen, take all advice offered and keep smiling through out.

I was lucky in regards to timing to where I am now but if I hadn’t pushed myself to get this position, I wouldn’t have it. Don’t give up and keep learning!

Good Luck

Below are a small list of other projects Ben has been involved in: The London Eye: Shop counter panels for Coca-Cola Legoland: In-store displays Chicco: Imn-store displays & an FSDU The AA: Car Essentials brouchure and Spring Fair exhibition graphics panels Intrinsic: Financial magazines