"Breaking Into the Creative Industry: A Chat with Tom, Designer at The Leeds Sign Co."

Brook: Hi Tom, Thanks for doing this. Let’s start with a little intro.. who you are and what you do.

Tom: No worries! So, I’m Tom, a Graphic Design graduate from Loughborough. I’ve been working at The Leeds Sign Co. for about a year now, designing and producing custom signage for businesses. I work in an office in Leeds, it’s a mix of digital design and print production.

Brook: Did you always know you wanted to go into this kind of work?

Tom: Not really! I knew I wanted to do something design-related, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like after uni. My course covered all graphic design, so I had a broad skill set. The sign industry wasn’t on my radar at first, but I found Leeds Signs and thought, “This actually looks sick.”

Brook: I think a lot of students stress about having a set career path straight out of uni. How did you land the job?

Tom: Honestly, a bit of luck and a good portfolio! I saw the company on Insta and thought it looked cool, so I sent them my portfolio. I didn’t expect much, but they invited me in for a chat, and it went from there. Having a portfolio that showed a mix of digital and physical work really helped. I think they liked that I wasn’t just stuck in one area of design.

Brook: What’s been the biggest learning curve since starting?

Tom: Probably the routine side of things. At uni, you’re mostly unscheduled, but here I’m working very consistently. I’ve learned about materials, vinyl cutting, laser engraving - all sorts. Seeing your designs become physical objects is really rewarding, but it comes with challenges, like making sure something actually works in real life, not just in Photoshop.

Brook: Do you have any advice for students looking to get their first creative job?

Tom: Yeah... don’t just rely on job listings. Reach out to people, even if they’re not advertising. Apparently a lot of smaller studios hire based on who shows interest. Also, have a portfolio that actually reflects what you enjoy doing. Like, if you hate making logos, don’t fill your portfolio with logos just because you think you ‘should.’ To be honest I think employers can tell when you’re passionate about something.

Brook: Where do you see yourself going next?

Tom: I’m not 100% sure yet, but I’d like to push more into 3D and experimental design. Working with physical spaces and large-scale graphics has made me think more about how design interacts with the real world. But who knows, I'm super happy with the job I have right now.

Brook: Alright, last question - what’s been the best thing about working in the creative industry?

Tom: I think it’s the variety. I don't do the same thing twice. Plus, seeing your work out in the real world, like it's cool to be able to walk past a sign I made and say 'I made that'. Also the people. My coworkers are great people.

Brook: Thanks for the chat Tom, I appreciate it.

Brook: Hi Tom, Thanks for doing this. Let’s start with a little intro—who you are and what you do.

Tom: No worries! So, I’m Tom, a Graphic Design graduate from Loughborough. I’ve been working at The Leeds Sign Co. for about a year now, designing and producing custom signage for businesses. I work in an office in Leeds, it’s a mix of digital design and print production.

Brook: Did you always know you wanted to go into this kind of work?

Tom: Not really! I knew I wanted to do something design-related, but I wasn’t sure what that would look like after uni. My course covered all graphic design, so I had a broad skill set. The sign industry wasn’t on my radar at first, but I found l The Leeds Sign Co. and thought, “This actually looks sick.”

Brook: I think a lot of students stress about having a set career path straight out of uni. How did you land the job?

Tom: Honestly, a bit of luck and a good portfolio! I saw the company on Insta and thought it looked cool, so I sent them my portfolio. I didn’t expect much, but they invited me in for a chat, and it went from there. Having a portfolio that showed a mix of digital and physical work really helped—I think they liked that I wasn’t just stuck in one area of design.

Brook: What’s been the biggest learning curve since starting?

Tom: Probably the routine side of things. At uni, you’re mostly unscheduled, but here I’m working very consistently. I’ve learned about materials, vinyl cutting, laser engraving—all sorts. Seeing your designs become physical objects is really rewarding, but it comes with challenges, like making sure something actually works in real life, not just in Photoshop.

Brook: Do you have any advice for students looking to get their first creative job?

Tom: Yeah—don’t just rely on job listings. Reach out to people, even if they’re not advertising. A lot of smaller studios hire based on who shows interest. Also, have a portfolio that actually reflects what you enjoy doing. If you hate branding, don’t fill your portfolio with logos just because you think you ‘should.’ I think employers can tell when you’re passionate about something.

Brook: Where do you see yourself going next?

Tom: I’m not 100% sure yet, but I’d like to push more into 3D and experimental design. Working with physical spaces and large-scale graphics has made me think more about how design interacts with the real world. But who knows, I’m happy where I’m at right now.

Brook: Alright, last question—what’s the best thing about working in the creative industry?

Tom: I think it’s the variety. No two projects are the same, and you’re always learning new things. Plus, seeing your work out in the real world—like walking past a sign you designed—is a cool feeling.

Brook: Thanks again, Tom—this has been super helpful!

Tom: Anytime!