I ran a industry night with my peers to find out more about how to get a job - here’s the 5 things I learned
By Beth Cullen, 3rd Year Graphic Design Student at IADT
In the 3rd year of a Level 8 degree in Ireland, students are typically required to complete a work placement or internship as part of their course to gain practical experience in their field. This scared and inspired me, the idea of stepping into the “real” design world felt exciting, but also overwhelming.
While I didn’t land a traditional internship, I ended up co-running ReDesign, a student-led event that brought together everyone from nervous students to seasoned professionals for a night of honest conversations, shared experiences, and (most importantly) free pizza.
Here’s what I learned along the way:
1. The Industry Isn’t as Intimidating as It Seems
Before ReDesign, reaching out to someone in the industry felt like tossing a message into the void. But after hearing people like Scott Burnett (Wove) and Louise Brady (Zero-G) talk about their own winding paths, I realised: no one has it completely figured out. Everyone’s still learning. And the best part? Most people actually want to connect with students. Sometimes all it takes is a nice email (and a polite nudge or two).
2. There’s No Single “Right” Path into Design
Every speaker had a completely different story. Some studied abroad, some pivoted into design from other careers, and some carved their own paths entirely. As a student, it’s easy to feel like you’re behind if your journey doesn’t look a certain way, but design isn’t linear. It’s more like spaghetti. Messy, creative, and different for everyone.
3. Don’t wait for a mentor to find you
I was really proud to help run our mentorship lottery, which paired students with recent grads and professionals. We even had students from TUD and LSAD take part. I didn’t expect it to resonate as strongly as it did, but since the event, I’ve had both students and professionals reach out wanting to stay involved or learn more.
It reminded me that mentorship doesn’t need to be formal or long-term. A single message, a conversation after a talk, or someone taking the time to offer advice, all of that counts. And it sticks with people.
4. Running an Event Teaches You Real-World Creative Skills
I worked with the team on everything from designing and scheduling social media posts to coordinating logistics, managing suppliers, and sorting the pizza order. It gave me a real insight into how much business goes into design, from communication and budgeting to problem-solving under pressure. It was fast-paced, collaborative, and surprisingly empowering.
5. You’re Probably More Capable Than You Think
I never thought I’d be the one standing in front of a room full of designers, kicking off an event I helped build. But I did it, and it was actually kind of fun. ReDesign reminded me that you don’t need to feel “ready” before you do something bold. Often, confidence comes after the leap. Just showing up is the first (and most important) step.
Final Thought
ReDesign started as an idea: connect students with the industry. But it grew into something way more powerful, a reminder that showing up matters just as much as showing your work.
So if you’re a student reading this, hesitating over that email draft, take this as your sign to hit send. Ask the question. Show up. You never know what kind of opportunity, or connection, might be waiting on the other side.
Massive love to Danielle O’Connell from Good as Gold, who hyped us up from day one and helped this whole thing become real. She always says,
“Everyone will graduate with a set of skills, that’s a given, as tutors we make sure of that. But no one else will graduate with your exact qualities. Learn how to recognise and market what makes you, as a designer, unique.”
And during ReDesign, that finally clicked. You can have the cleanest Portfolio in the world, but if you’re too scared to speak up, you might be ghosting your own potential.