From Design Graduate to Junior Designer

The past year has been a year of transition. I went from being a design student, balancing my studies with part-time work in hospitality, to starting my first full-time role as a Junior Designer at Blendsmiths.

It's been a big learning curve, but an incredibly rewarding one.

Before joining the team, I spent months refining my portfolio, applying for jobs and learning the art of patience. Rejection wasn't easy, but I've come to realise that every "no" simply cleared the path for the right "yes". That yes turned out to be Blendsmiths - a place that feels like the perfect blend of creativity, craftsmanship and purpose.

Settling In

Starting my first full-time design role was both exciting and nerve-racking. University teaches you how to think creatively, but working in the industry teaches you how to apply that creativity to real-world challenges.

It's a shift from designing for yourself to designing for a brand with a clear identity, strong values and meaningful storytelling.

What struck me most about Blendsmiths was the passion that runs through everything we do, from sourcing ingredients to bringing each product to life visually. It's a brand that genuinely cares about quality, detail, balance and the experience it creates for people.

A Day in the Life

My days are wonderfully varied, and no two are ever quite the same.

One day I might be sketching logo concepts or creating visuals for social media and Amazon. The next, I'm working on packaging, preparing artwork for print or developing creative assets for a seasonal campaign.

Alongside the day-to-day design work, product tastings, team days and trade shows all add something different, making every week engaging and full of new experiences.

One of my biggest highlights so far has been helping to design our sustainability report. It taught me a huge amount about organising large volumes of content while maintaining visual consistency throughout. More recently, I've been working on our Christmas campaign, capturing the warmth, excitement and personality of the season while staying true to the Blendsmiths brand.

Learning the Ropes

The biggest shift from university has been understanding how design fits into the wider business.

At Blendsmiths, design isn't just about making something look good. It's about communicating clearly, solving problems, supporting the business and creating meaningful connections with customers.

I've also realised just how valuable collaboration is. Working alongside an experienced team has been an education in itself, seeing how ideas develop, how feedback strengthens creative work and how great teamwork produces stronger outcomes.

Perhaps the biggest surprise has been how much personal growth comes from simply showing up every day with a willingness to learn. Like many graduates, I struggled with imposter syndrome at first. Over the past few months, though, I've learnt that confidence doesn't come from knowing everything. It comes from staying curious, asking questions and being open to learning.

Looking Ahead

Looking back, these first few months have been filled with challenges, learning and plenty of small wins along the way. I'm proud of how far I've come, from graduating and navigating the uncertainty of job hunting to finding a place that encourages me to keep developing both creatively and professionally.

Looking ahead, I'm excited to continue building my skills, exploring motion design and storytelling, and growing within such a passionate and supportive team. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my design career than here at Blendsmiths.