Debbie Spencer completed a Graphic Communications Foundation Degree with our Centre for University Level Studies, gaining a distinction in May 2016.

Debbie chose Exeter College because it was close to home, meaning it would fit in around her children’s lives too. Debbie describes her experience with us as “life changing” and goes on to say: “I’ve set up my own business, I can go and work in an agency. It’s opened up a whole world for me really.” Since graduating Debbie has launched her business and done freelance design work including creating a brand for a start-up business.

Not one to rest on her laurels and always keen to learn more of her craft, Debbie has also done work placements at the Met Office and local design agency, Buddy Creative. Not only was she awarded Art and Design student of the year at our annual student awards evening but she was also awarded a runners up prize for a national competition with Design Bridge. The brief: “a compelling, bold and brilliant design solution for something that the entrant feels passionate about.” Debbie says she went away and thought about what was important to her, having worked with children before, a campaign for a children’s charity was the obvious choice. She says she wanted to get across the heart breaking statistics in a way that would engage the audience. “There are so many stats out there, it just goes over your head, even though its heart wrenching.” Once entries were shortlisted, it was down to the judges to decide. Asa Cook, Creative Director at the Design Bridge London Studio says, “The Save the Children idea was so hard hitting. It really stopped us in our tracks and made us think about the inequality of the world and made us want to redress the balance. The genius of this idea lay not in directly telling us what to think, but in demonstrating the imbalance in an engaging way.” Debbie said the whole experience boosted her confidence. “It was lovely to feel like all those sleepless nights and all that hard work had come to something. It’s given me the confidence to approach people, they did interview me for a job but unfortunately I don’t want to live in London.”

Having only graduated a year ago, Debbie has certainly made a success of her new career. When asked what the favourite part of her job is, Debbie said she loves working on client briefs, most recently the brand for a start-up company: “He was so positive about it. I felt really proud when I saw it launched on the internet, you feel really proud that you have done something that they are happy with and that will work for them.”

You can see more of Debbie’s work on her website: spencer-design.com

To read more about Design Bridge, please visit: designbridge.com

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