Shillington’s innovative leap into virtual learning has changed the landscape of graphic design education. What began as a solution to unprecedented global challenges quickly evolved into a robust, immersive learning environment that replicates the dynamic spirit of its in-person counterpart. According to Chris Norman, Head of Online at Shillington, "The goal with our online course was to mirror the energy and experience of our in-person programs as closely as possible. We’ve brought our expert instructors, concise and compelling lectures, hands-on design sessions, and that signature portfolio excellence to the virtual space."
This digital evolution has empowered aspiring designers from diverse backgrounds and geographies—including Estonia, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mexico, and beyond—to access professional, world-class design education from wherever they are. The results speak volumes, revealing a generation of talent capable of producing compelling, industry-ready portfolios within a completely virtual framework. The online platform nurtures artistic voice, sharpens conceptual thinking, and refines technical acumen.
Below, we delve into the exceptional portfolios created by recent graduates of Shillington’s online program, each one a testament to creativity, adaptability, and the boundless possibilities of remote learning.
Alejandra Diaz: Emotionally Charged Branding Meets Visual Joy
Alejandra Diaz, a graphic designer and illustrator based in Mexico City, represents a vivid intersection of creativity, emotion, and technical finesse. Affectionately known as Ale, her journey into the world of visual communication began in the realm of industrial design. However, it was through Shillington’s transformative online graphic design course that she unearthed her true passion: storytelling through branding and illustration. With a keen eye for detail and an intuitive understanding of how design affects perception, Alejandra has curated a portfolio that feels both heartfelt and visually compelling.
Her work radiates personality and authenticity. It is bold yet nuanced, playful yet meaningful. The strength of her creative voice is evident in every composition—whether it's a typography-led poster, a character-rich brand identity, or an emotion-driven campaign. Her visual language leans heavily on vibrant color palettes, hand-rendered illustrations, and engaging layouts, giving her portfolio a distinct tone of voice that is instantly recognizable.
One of the most celebrated pieces in Alejandra’s portfolio is the Lego campaign titled “Build Yourself Up.” This concept was developed during her time at Shillington as a response to the shared global trauma brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than addressing this in a somber tone, Alejandra embraced optimism, crafting a message of resilience and self-renewal. The tagline, “We've been through a lot. It's time to put the pieces back together,” resonates universally and serves as the conceptual anchor for a campaign that is visually playful but emotionally poignant.
A Campaign Rooted in Empathy and Visual Playfulness
What makes "Build Yourself Up" particularly impactful is its dual-layered approach. On the surface, it is filled with joyful imagery, Lego figures in bright environments, and bold, modular typography mimicking the shapes of Lego bricks. Beneath that, however, lies a campaign designed to help both children and adults process collective experiences of loss, isolation, and anxiety through the metaphor of rebuilding. It’s a campaign not just for play, but for healing.
Alejandra’s approach is deeply empathetic, using familiar iconography in unexpected ways to deliver emotional narratives. The campaign materials include posters, social media graphics, packaging mockups, and interactive display designs, all rendered with remarkable consistency and attention to user experience. Every piece is a puzzle, both literal and metaphorical, encouraging viewers to engage, reflect, and create.
By aligning Lego’s core brand identity with a powerful social message, Alejandra showcases her adeptness at combining brand storytelling with social relevance—a valuable skill in today’s saturated market. Her ability to translate human experience into engaging visual content demonstrates a high level of maturity, often seen in more seasoned professionals.
An Artistic Duality That Enriches Design Identity
Alejandra’s portfolio is a curated blend of graphic design and personal illustration, creating an impressive showcase of multidisciplinary talent. While her branding projects form the core of her professional work, she has also carved out space for original illustrations that speak to her individuality and artistic sensibility.
These illustrations, featured prominently on her portfolio's “About” page, offer insight into her broader creative universe. Characters, surreal landscapes, and abstract compositions emerge with fluidity, revealing a passion for narrative and visual experimentation. The juxtaposition of commissioned design work with self-directed illustration builds a layered identity that sets her apart from the typical portfolio.
This artistic duality has become a key differentiator in Alejandra’s evolving brand as a designer. It shows she is not limited to commercial projects or constrained by strict brand guidelines. Instead, she navigates freely between structured, client-focused design and unfiltered, expressive creativity. This balance enhances her versatility—a crucial attribute in an industry that values both aesthetic originality and problem-solving capability.
The interplay of illustration and design in her work offers a distinctive rhythm. It suggests a creator who is as comfortable with grid systems and alignment as she is with sketching a storybook character or crafting an imaginary world. In doing so, Alejandra communicates that design, at its core, is storytelling—whether it’s for a brand, a product, or a personal passion.
The Impact of Global Learning and Virtual Mentorship
Alejandra’s achievements also reflect the rising influence of digital education on the global design community. Shillington’s online course gave her access to world-class mentorship, industry-relevant training, and collaborative feedback—all without needing to leave Mexico City. This virtual classroom experience not only sharpened her skills but introduced her to an international network of designers, peers, and creatives who supported and inspired her creative growth.
Through the online format, she was able to immerse herself in design thinking, practice real-world briefs, and iterate quickly under professional guidance. The fast-paced structure of the course encouraged her to experiment, refine her visual vocabulary, and push boundaries she hadn’t previously explored. As a result, Alejandra’s work exhibits both refined execution and conceptual depth—qualities that are often hard to achieve outside of an immersive program.
The "Build Yourself Up" campaign is just one example of how her training helped crystallize her potential. Throughout her portfolio, you see echoes of that same thoughtful rigor—projects that are guided by research, empathy, and storytelling. Whether she’s working on packaging design, visual identity systems, or digital campaigns, Alejandra always starts with meaning and builds outwards with intentionality.
In many ways, her success underscores the power of remote learning when structured well. It shows that talent, when paired with access and mentorship, can flourish from any corner of the world. As the creative industry increasingly embraces hybrid and global collaboration, designers like Alejandra are well-positioned to thrive. Her trajectory is a testament to self-driven learning, adaptability, and the capacity to turn vision into impact—whether in a physical studio or on a digital canvas.
Claudia Palacios: Abstract Creativity Rooted in Cultural Narrative
From the vibrant city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, Claudia Palacios has emerged as a multidimensional designer whose work blends cultural sensibilities with contemporary visual language. Before enrolling in Shillington’s online graphic design course, Claudia already had a solid background in design. However, her decision to pursue further training allowed her to refine her creative identity, expand her conceptual thinking, and bring more intentionality to her craft.
Through the immersive and dynamic nature of Shillington’s virtual program, Claudia developed a stronger command over composition, typography, branding systems, and user-centered design. She embraced the challenge of evolving her personal style into one that could adapt to client demands while remaining authentic. Her portfolio, as a result, is a compelling tapestry of abstract form, clear structure, and meaningful storytelling.
Claudia’s work is marked by its intentionality. Every project is thoughtfully constructed, with a careful balance between form and function. She explores visual rhythm through shape and space, often using bold geometric elements and layered textures to evoke deeper narratives. Her design language is unmistakable—instinctive yet methodical, expressive yet structured—reflecting both her academic foundation and her willingness to experiment across different mediums.
Craft Tales: Capturing the Spirit of Creativity and Community
Among Claudia’s standout projects is "Craft Tales," a branding identity designed for a conceptual creative makerspace. Inspired by the artistic pulse of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle, this project encapsulates the essence of community-driven creativity, innovation, and craft. The branding is built around the idea of fluid collaboration—how individual ideas, skills, and expressions intersect to form a larger, evolving ecosystem.
Claudia uses a bold palette, abstract vector illustrations, and modular layout techniques to express this dynamism. Each visual element contributes to the idea of constant creation and reinvention. The branding materials—ranging from logos and signage to social media assets and promotional items—are adaptable and scalable, emphasizing the space’s role as a flexible hub for artists, artisans, and makers.
What makes "Craft Tales" exceptional is its authentic representation of artistic spaces as living organisms—full of experimentation, energy, and unpredictability. Claudia’s design choices aren’t just stylistic; they are strategic reflections of the brand’s ethos. For instance, overlapping patterns symbolize interdisciplinary collaboration, while negative space is used deliberately to allow each component its own visual voice.
This project is also notable for its refined use of typography. Claudia integrates bold, sans-serif fonts with asymmetrical grids to keep the eye moving while maintaining harmony. The resulting aesthetic is contemporary yet rooted in human touch, echoing the tactile nature of hands-on craftsmanship.
A Global Perspective Infused with Local Insight
One of Claudia’s greatest strengths as a designer is her ability to bridge global design trends with deeply personal and cultural perspectives. Growing up in Ecuador, she was immersed in rich artistic traditions, community values, and visual storytelling from an early age. These influences are seamlessly woven into her work, providing a grounded foundation for her otherwise modern style.
In "Craft Tales," for example, there are subtle references to indigenous patterns, rhythmic linework reminiscent of local weaving techniques, and color schemes inspired by Latin American art. Yet, these references never overpower the design. Instead, they operate as quiet undercurrents—infusing the work with meaning while maintaining universal appeal.
This sensitivity to context allows Claudia to produce branding solutions that feel genuine and considered. Whether she is designing for an international audience or a local startup, her work maintains its integrity and reflects a profound respect for identity, heritage, and functionality.
Her portfolio also contains projects in editorial design, packaging, and environmental graphics, all demonstrating her adaptability and creative range. However, what remains consistent is her thoughtful approach: she seeks to understand not just what a design should look like, but why it matters and how it connects with people.
The Evolution of a Designer in the Digital Age
Claudia’s transformation through Shillington’s online design course speaks volumes about the power of digital education in shaping contemporary creatives. While many traditional design programs rely on in-person studios, Shillington’s virtual platform provided Claudia with structured mentorship, fast-paced project work, and exposure to global feedback—all within the comfort of her own environment.
This flexibility allowed her to integrate learning into her daily life, apply new techniques immediately, and receive real-time critique from experienced professionals. More than that, the course emphasized critical thinking, encouraging Claudia to not only execute ideas but also to question, refine, and push them further.
This growth is apparent in the progression of her portfolio. Earlier pieces show careful precision and technical control; later projects, like "Craft Tales," reveal a more intuitive designer—someone willing to take creative risks, incorporate conceptual metaphors, and use design as a tool for storytelling. Claudia emerged from the course not just with improved skills, but with a more defined purpose as a visual communicator.
Her success also underscores the importance of global accessibility in design education. Talent exists in every corner of the world, but access to professional training and mentorship is not always equally distributed. Claudia’s story exemplifies how remote learning, when executed well, can democratize opportunity and foster excellence, regardless of geography.
Looking ahead, Claudia Palacios is poised for a promising career in the design industry. Her ability to merge abstract creativity with strategic clarity makes her an asset to any collaborative environment. Whether she continues working independently or joins a design studio, she will undoubtedly continue to infuse her work with authenticity, structure, and cultural resonance.
Logan Beck: Serene Digital Environments with Conceptual Strength
Logan Beck's transition from the high-paced corridors of tech marketing to the reflective world of digital design reveals a narrative rich in reinvention, creativity, and purpose. Based between the bustling innovation hub of San Francisco and the scenic calm of Denver, Logan exemplifies the evolving identity of today’s multidisciplinary designer—analytical yet artistic, pragmatic yet imaginative.
After enrolling in Shillington’s intensive online graphic design course, Logan’s creative instincts found a new outlet. The program allowed him to shift from data-driven strategy into experiential design, where storytelling, user empathy, and visual cohesion drive success. As a result, his design voice matured into something both technically proficient and emotionally resonant. His work is rooted in the belief that good design is not just seen—it is felt, experienced, and remembered.
The digital design space is often fast-paced and crowded, but Logan brings a sense of stillness to it. His aesthetic approach leans into balance, visual harmony, and soft interaction. It’s no surprise that one of his standout pieces is centered around mental wellness, reflecting not only his visual sensitivity but also his ability to transform personal insight into purposeful user experiences.
Mindways: Designing a Digital Sanctuary for the Anxious Mind
At the heart of Logan’s portfolio lies “Mindways,” a concept app designed to assist users struggling with anxiety, stress, and overstimulation. In a society where digital screens often exacerbate our mental burdens, Mindways seeks to reverse that narrative. It is a meditation and wellness app that emulates the quiet, contemplative pace of a forest walk—delivering not just features but an experience of calm.
The user interface is a symphony of subdued hues, drawing inspiration from moss-covered trails, foggy mountain paths, and the subdued warmth of filtered sunlight. By incorporating muted earth tones, flowing gradients, and spacious layouts, Logan has constructed a visual language that breathes, pauses, and invites. Unlike the overwhelming barrage of color and motion often found in mental wellness apps, Mindways unfolds gently, much like nature itself.
Functionally, the app includes guided meditations, breathing exercises, ambient audio inspired by natural elements, and journaling prompts. But it’s the design’s intentional simplicity that elevates its effectiveness. Logan pays careful attention to pacing, typography, and micro-interactions, ensuring that every touchpoint reinforces the theme of groundedness. The buttons are soft-edged and intuitively placed, transitions are fluid and gentle, and there is always space—both visual and cognitive—for the user to pause.
What distinguishes Mindways is its capacity to serve both as a practical tool and a digital refuge. Logan understands that in an age of constant input, the best digital environments are those that reduce cognitive load, encourage introspection, and promote emotional regulation. His execution of these ideas within the app framework positions him as a designer who doesn’t just work with pixels—he works with presence.
From Strategy to Sensibility: The Evolution of a Digital Designer
Logan’s previous career in marketing gifted him with strategic acuity—a talent for understanding user behavior, data patterns, and campaign dynamics. These skills now serve as the foundation for his creative work. At Shillington, he learned how to translate these strategic insights into visual language, user-centered systems, and brand storytelling that speaks beyond metrics.
His portfolio, while anchored by Mindways, includes additional projects in branding, editorial design, and digital campaigns. Across each, a common thread emerges: thoughtful composition, conceptual depth, and an unwavering commitment to clarity. Logan avoids noise and clutter, opting instead for purposeful minimalism. This is not to say his work is bare or stripped-down—on the contrary, it is rich in nuance, driven by intent, and visually articulate.
Shillington’s online course structure provided Logan with the mentorship, deadlines, and real-time feedback he needed to push his boundaries. The digital studio environment taught him how to ideate quickly, present confidently, and iterate with precision. Through real-world briefs and collaborative exercises, he cultivated the confidence to make deliberate design choices, challenge conventions, and refine his own aesthetic point of view.
His growth is apparent in the sophisticated restraint seen across his body of work. There is elegance in the quietude of his compositions, and strength in his decision to let content, rather than decoration, lead the experience. Logan’s journey proves that strategic thinkers can become impactful creatives—especially when given the right platform to develop their expressive faculties.
Embracing Calm in a Fast-Moving Design Landscape
In today’s increasingly hyper-digital world, where immediacy and intensity dominate the user experience, Logan’s design philosophy offers a welcome counterpoint. He believes that design should not overwhelm but rather soothe, inform, and engage with empathy. His work challenges the industry to rethink the emotional role of digital environments and to consider how interface design can support human well-being, not just interaction.
The growing demand for mindful UX and mental health-centered applications gives designers like Logan a unique opportunity to lead. His sensitivity to mood, tone, and rhythm allows him to design digital products that feel safe, respectful, and restorative. Whether it's through a wellness app or a brand that wants to resonate on a deeper emotional level, Logan understands how to communicate not just visually—but soulfully.
Moreover, his ability to build bridges between analytical frameworks and aesthetic choices makes him a rare and valuable asset in any collaborative setting. He brings systems thinking to visual problem-solving, always anchoring his design decisions in both research and reflection. That synthesis of logic and beauty is what makes his portfolio stand out, and what makes his work endure beyond the screen.
Logan Beck’s evolution from strategist to designer is not just a career change—it’s a transformation of how he engages with the world. His path through Shillington’s online program helped crystallize that transformation, giving him the tools to express a creative voice that was already there, waiting to be shaped. With a growing portfolio of user-centric projects and a vision rooted in human connection, Logan is poised to contribute meaningfully to the future of digital design—where serenity, purpose, and user care are not luxuries, but necessities.
Meaka Wheatley: Purpose-Driven Aesthetics with Social Impact
Meaka Wheatley is not your typical graphic designer. Based in the East Midlands, United Kingdom, she draws upon a diverse professional history that includes her time as a program manager within the National Health Service. Her transition from healthcare to graphic design was not just a career change—it was a philosophical shift toward using design as a powerful medium for human empathy, social dialogue, and emotional resonance.
Rather than treating visual design as a purely aesthetic pursuit, Meaka approaches every project with a mission-driven mindset. She sees graphic communication as a platform to convey not just information but also care, nuance, and transformation. Her work consistently channels real-world experiences into design concepts that feel honest, relatable, and impactful. Each piece is developed with intention, drawing from human stories and societal issues that demand sensitivity and creative insight.
Her portfolio, enriched by her time in Shillington’s online graphic design course, exemplifies this ethos. The virtual classroom format allowed Meaka to develop a voice that merges thoughtful design practices with storytelling and symbolism. She used the course as a canvas to refine her skills, working across branding, editorial, and conceptual art, all while anchoring her work in human experience.
Eleanor Oliphant: A Book Cover That Speaks Through Texture
Among Meaka’s most memorable and emotionally charged projects is a handcrafted book cover design for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. This piece transcends traditional layout design, entering the realm of mixed media and symbolic visual narrative. Her process involves block poetry—a style where selected words are isolated to form a poignant message—painted in white over a floral canvas, and then embroidered to embody the novel’s themes of kindness, mental health, and recovery.
What makes this project particularly compelling is Meaka’s meticulous attention to texture and materiality. Rather than relying on digital tools alone, she turned to tactile methods—hand-painting and embroidery—to bring a layer of personal interaction to the work. This analog approach adds warmth and sincerity, reinforcing the deeply emotional tone of the story while also inviting the viewer to experience design in a more intimate, physical way.
The choice of floral fabric wasn’t arbitrary. It symbolizes both fragility and growth, key motifs in the book’s narrative. Through carefully considered color palettes and deliberate typographic choices, Meaka created a visual metaphor for healing—a core concept both within the novel and in her overarching design philosophy. Her ability to bring literature to life through design illustrates how graphic design can serve as an extension of emotional storytelling, rather than just a visual supplement.
Designing with Empathy, Integrity, and Cultural Sensitivity
Meaka’s work consistently reflects a strong sense of emotional intelligence, cultural awareness, and narrative clarity. She doesn’t create in isolation from social context—she designs through it. Whether she’s working on identity systems, poster series, or packaging concepts, her process involves research, reflection, and meaningful connection with her subject matter.
In every project, Meaka brings forward an understanding that design has the power to influence behavior, provoke thought, and foster empathy. She often weaves in issues related to mental health, community well-being, and inclusion—topics that resonate with her healthcare background and personal values. For her, every visual element must serve a purpose: typography must echo tone, imagery must align with narrative, and color must evoke emotion, not just catch the eye.
One of the hallmarks of Meaka’s creative identity is her reliance on symbolism. Her designs rarely offer literal depictions. Instead, they invite interpretation, reflection, and engagement. This approach not only deepens user experience but also elevates her work to the level of visual poetry. In this way, she steps into the rare space where graphic design becomes conceptual art—bridging cognitive understanding with emotional response.
Shillington’s online program played a vital role in shaping this sophisticated, multifaceted design approach. By working within a rigorous yet flexible virtual structure, Meaka was able to apply her natural empathy to structured creative briefs, receiving feedback that honed her eye for composition and clarity. The ability to connect with peers from across the globe also gave her a broader understanding of design’s cultural impact—fueling her desire to build visuals that are universally resonant and socially responsible.
From Healthcare to Visual Advocacy: A New Kind of Designer
Meaka Wheatley’s career shift is more than a journey from one sector to another—it’s a reimagining of what it means to be a designer in the 21st century. She brings with her not just aesthetic awareness, but also a commitment to advocacy and care. Her approach is deeply human-centered, aligning with a growing movement in the design industry that prioritizes accessibility, emotional impact, and ethical storytelling.
The transition from healthcare to design also gave Meaka a rare advantage: a nuanced understanding of people’s needs, vulnerabilities, and resilience. These insights now inform her design decisions, allowing her to produce work that doesn’t just look good, but also feels right. Her projects often deal with complex issues but are handled with subtlety and grace—never heavy-handed, always intentional.
Looking ahead, Meaka is poised to contribute meaningfully to sectors that benefit from this fusion of compassion and creativity. Whether working in nonprofit branding, educational publishing, or socially-driven campaigns, she brings a toolkit that balances visual fluency with emotional depth. Her commitment to purposeful aesthetics makes her an ideal collaborator for mission-led organizations and values-based brands.
Ultimately, Meaka Wheatley exemplifies how design can be both an art and a form of service. She designs not for accolades, but for impact. Her work reminds us that behind every project is a human story waiting to be told—and that the most powerful designs are those rooted in empathy, driven by meaning, and crafted with care.
Reagan Trevino: High-End Packaging with Playful Sophistication
Reagan Trevino's journey from the fast-paced environment of retail to the refined world of professional graphic design is both inspiring and illustrative of how transferable skills can evolve into creative excellence. Based in Dallas, Texas, Reagan harnessed her practical understanding of consumer behavior and aesthetics from her retail background and transformed it into a sophisticated design language through Shillington’s online graphic design course. Her work is defined by its boldness, clarity, and stylistic maturity—a rare combination for someone so new to the professional design landscape.
Her design sensibilities reflect a deep appreciation for structure, visual rhythm, and storytelling. She favors designs that breathe through intentional spacing and typography that elevates rather than overwhelms. Reagan’s branding and packaging projects, in particular, showcase a harmonious marriage of elegance and creativity, underscoring her ability to think both strategically and artistically.
Reagan's portfolio doesn’t rely on flashiness or trend-chasing. Instead, it builds its strength from thoughtful concepts, restrained visual decisions, and a distinctive voice that balances refinement with a touch of daring. Each piece is executed with precision and polish, giving her work a timeless quality that speaks to both clients and consumers. Her transformation into a skilled visual communicator is evident in the professionalism and emotional clarity that saturates her designs.
Death by Xoko: Premium Packaging with Cultural Depth
The highlight of Reagan’s portfolio is the beautifully imagined “Death by Xoko”—a luxurious packaging concept for a fictional high-end Peruvian chocolatier. This project is a compelling case study in how thoughtful design can elevate a product’s perceived value and cultural resonance. With a name as bold as the product itself, “Death by Xoko” delves into themes of indulgence, mystique, and cultural storytelling through visual cues.
Reagan’s approach to the packaging was multidimensional. She utilized textured surfaces, rich jewel-toned color schemes, and refined serif typography to convey opulence, while carefully curated illustrations and iconography hinted at the heritage and craftsmanship behind the product. The interplay of light and shadow in the presentation evokes the sensorial experience of tasting fine chocolate—intimate, decadent, and memorable.
One of the project’s most powerful features is its balance of drama and minimalism. Instead of overloading the design with ornate detail, Reagan exercised restraint, allowing the product’s story to unfold in layers. The white space in her mockups serves not only as a visual rest but also as a design tool that draws focus to key elements—logo marks, packaging structure, and cultural motifs. It is this precise control of composition that elevates her work beyond just a visual concept into an experience of luxury.
Her branding for “Death by Xoko” also integrates environmental and experiential design, showing how the product would exist in retail environments and promotional materials. From boutique chocolate boxes to branded tasting cards and point-of-sale displays, the visual ecosystem is consistent, considered, and cohesive.
Taylor Skurka: Design Elegance Rooted in Fashion Insight
Hailing from Toronto, Canada, Taylor Skurka entered the design field equipped with a background in fashion communication—an education that deeply informs her refined aesthetic and conceptual clarity. Her understanding of the fashion and beauty industries enables her to create brand identities that are not only striking but also emotionally intelligent and commercially relevant.
Taylor’s visual language is grounded in minimalist elegance. Her projects exhibit a quiet confidence, eschewing loud visuals in favor of balanced compositions, modern serif and sans-serif type combinations, and a well-calibrated use of negative space. This results in designs that feel as tactile and carefully constructed as the garments or products they represent.
She brings an elevated editorial sensibility to her graphic design portfolio, shaped by her fluency in fashion styling, photography direction, and luxury branding. Each piece in her collection is treated with the care of a magazine layout—structured, story-led, and aspirational. Her transition into graphic design through Shillington’s online course helped her formalize and sharpen these skills into a toolset that now empowers her to work across multiple mediums with a distinct sense of creative purpose.
Relevé: Sophistication in Motion for a Targeted Market
One of Taylor’s most distinctive portfolio pieces is “Relevé,” a conceptual branding and packaging identity for a vegan, cruelty-free hair care line tailored specifically for dancers. The name, borrowed from ballet terminology, hints at elevation, poise, and strength—qualities reflected throughout the design.
Taylor’s execution of the Relevé brand is remarkable for its emotional subtlety and design maturity. The brand identity uses a restrained color palette with soft pastels and neutrals to suggest purity and gentleness, while the typographic treatment balances between soft curves and clean lines, mirroring the fluidity of dance itself. She designed every touchpoint of the brand—from shampoo bottles to campaign visuals—to align with the core idea of hair health for dancers who face unique hair care challenges due to styling routines, hairspray use, and physical strain.
The packaging design is sleek yet emotive. Product labels feature minimal ornamentation, allowing space for the message and form to breathe. Taylor also considered the practical side of user experience—her packaging not only looks good but is ergonomically and environmentally conscious, reflecting her attention to both design and functionality.
Beyond the visual identity, Taylor conceptualized how Relevé would be marketed, crafting digital campaigns, motion graphics, and print advertisements that mirror the elegance and grace of its intended users. The result is a brand that feels intimate, intelligent, and utterly distinctive—one that would not be out of place on the shelves of high-end beauty retailers or featured in an editorial spread.
Yvette Burggren: Ethereal Branding Anchored in Experience
Based in Brooktondale, New York, Yvette Burggren brings a wealth of life experience into her work. With a background in arts administration and entrepreneurship, she understands both the creative and business sides of branding. This duality is reflected in her portfolio, which balances conceptual depth with commercial sensibility.
Her signature project, "Reverie," imagines a sleep sanctuary designed for urban dwellers seeking rest, rejuvenation, and mental clarity. The branding captures the dreamlike essence of the concept through soft gradients, calming colors, and ambient photography. Every visual component serves the brand narrative, offering a meditative escape that feels luxurious and inviting.
Yvette’s portfolio stands out for its maturity, subtlety, and thematic richness. She doesn’t just design for aesthetics—she designs for experience, emotion, and transformation.
Shillington Online: Redefining the Future of Design Education
The creative portfolios emerging from Shillington’s online program demonstrate that exceptional design education transcends geography. These graduates are not only mastering industry tools—they’re learning how to think critically, communicate visually, and cultivate a signature design voice.
What makes Shillington’s online offering truly impactful is its ability to bring together diverse creatives with one unified goal: to become versatile, forward-thinking designers ready to take on real-world challenges. The curriculum is designed with industry relevance in mind, blending technical proficiency with conceptual rigor and portfolio development.
Chris Norman, reflecting on the success of the online format, notes, "What we’re seeing is the resilience and passion of people committed to growing creatively, regardless of borders or time zones." Indeed, the virtual design studio has proven to be more than just a response to necessity—it’s a bold step toward democratizing creative education.
With each new graduating class, Shillington’s online program continues to prove that geography is no longer a barrier to becoming a world-class designer. Whether from a bustling metropolis or a remote village, students now have the tools, mentorship, and community they need to transform their passion into a profession.
In an increasingly digital world, Shillington’s online course stands as a beacon for accessible, high-impact, and future-forward design training—elevating talent and redefining what’s possible in graphic design education.
Final Thoughts
The rise of Shillington’s online graphic design course is more than a simple pivot to remote learning—it represents a paradigm shift in how creative education is delivered, accessed, and experienced. This program has proven that physical proximity to a classroom is no longer necessary for mastering complex design theory, developing practical industry skills, or creating an exceptional portfolio. Instead, what truly matters is access to expert guidance, a well-structured curriculum, and a community of driven peers. These are the elements Shillington has expertly translated into its online environment.
Each student featured here exemplifies the potential unlocked by this format. From Alejandra Diaz’s emotionally resonant branding to Meaka Wheatley’s socially conscious book cover designs, the diversity and depth of creative voices emerging from this program is astonishing. The global reach of the course has introduced a rich array of cultural influences, life experiences, and design philosophies into the classroom—virtual or not. Students from all walks of life, from different time zones and industries, have contributed their unique perspectives, making the learning experience not only inclusive but also profoundly enriching.
What’s more, these portfolios go far beyond aesthetics. They demonstrate a command of visual storytelling, brand identity, UX principles, typography, and packaging design. The students are not simply mimicking trends—they are creating thoughtful, strategic work that responds to real-world issues and user needs. Whether it’s Logan Beck’s anxiety-reducing meditation app or Yvette Burggren’s sleep-focused wellness brand, every project is a marriage of creativity and purpose.
As the design industry itself evolves—leaning heavily into remote work, global collaboration, and human-centered solutions—programs like Shillington’s online course will become increasingly vital. They don’t just teach design; they build designers who are adaptable, empathetic, and fully prepared to thrive in a fast-paced digital world.
The success of these graduates is proof that great design education can—and must—reach beyond borders. Shillington has created more than an online bootcamp; it has built a bridge to opportunity, community, and career transformation. For aspiring creatives around the globe, the message is clear: the tools, the mentors, and the pathway to a design career are now only a click away.
