Our new Graduate Stories series uncovers the diverse experiences of Manchester Met alumni, exploring the reality of life after graduation and highlighting career achievements. We shed light on the different paths graduates take, share relatable and honest advice, and provide practical tips for students who may feel uncertain about their next steps.
Laufey Guðnadóttir graduated with a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design in October 2023 and is now working as a motion designer at One Agency in Manchester. During her studies, Laufey was part of aAh! Magazine’s Graphic Design Collective, working as a graphic designer on several issues of the print magazine including The ENERGY Issue, The FREEDOM Issue and The CHANGE Issue.
Tell us about your career journey after graduating and how your time at university shaped this journey.
I graduated from Manchester Met’s Graphic Design course last year, and in October the same year, I got a job as a motion designer at One Agency here in Manchester. I learned tons of new skills during my time at uni, but my interest in 3D computer graphics led me to attend an optional workshop on [3D graphics software] Blender. This experience cemented for me what I wanted to do after uni and ultimately helped me secure my job (shoutout to graphic design lecturer, Will Albin-Clark!)
What work experiences during your studies helped to guide you on your career journey?
During my time at Manchester Met, I worked as an in-house graphic designer at BMC Networking. That was a great experience both for working with clients as well as being professional and delivering quality work. The work definitely helped me grow more confident as well, both in myself and my work as well as helping me get a clearer idea of what I wanted to do after uni.
Do you have any tips for job interviews, applying for positions, or gaining work experience?
For interviews, I’d definitely say the classic advice “be yourself” is most important. Don’t be shy to show that you’re enthusiastic about your work and be your biggest hype-man.
What are some of the highlights of working in a creative field?
Definitely working in a group of different people from different practices. I really enjoy working as a motion designer and having the opportunity to work alongside talented designers, creative directors, video/photographers, copywriters and so on.
Do you have any advice for future graduates?
For future graduates, I’d encourage everyone to try out new and scary things! Try more than less, that’s one way to filter out what you want to do after uni. Personally, I have always been pretty tech savvy, but 3D and motion can be a bit scary and the learning curve can be rough. However, the reward is great, and learning new skills is one of the best things you can do to stand out.
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