Business Boom Bolton

Hannah Furnell is someone we earmarked a few months ago from the site and even featured her Electric Cupcake designs; we have long since been readers of her online blog. It was great to find out that not only is she close to finishing up her university course, but has also since been confirmed for a placement out in Milan at Clarity International. Here we share her success story of how her placement in Milan all came about.

Creative Success Story for Graphic Design Graduate Hannah Furnell

I’ve always been into art as a child and had wanted to do graphic design since being in high school, it’s something I’ve always enjoyed and I wanted to have a job that I would enjoy. I studied various design subjects through high school and college, then I moved on to study BA Hons Graphic Design at Salford University. I also took up a part-time evening photography course as this is one of my hobbies alongside graphic design. This has also brought along great opportunities through doing voluntary photography jobs, which have led on to other photography jobs through word of mouth. I am currently doing gig photography for companies ‘MOUf Music’ and ‘Popular’ who are both based in Manchester.

I think it’s great studying in the Manchester area because of the large amount of design companies here, and throughout university we have been given the opportunities to network with these companies. It also gives you the chance to see other design students work and to get feedback from each other. I have always had a love for design, I have a habit of collecting things and buying things purely because of the design or packaging.

I was contacted by company ‘Clarity International‘, who are based in Milan (Italy) through a phone call, as they had come across my website and loved my work. After only having my website online for a few months, I was shocked to receive this phone call, it is still hard to believe but I think this is an amazing opportunity for me to start off my design career and share my passion for design. I have always believed that having a big online presence is an important factor when working in an area such as Graphic design and this was proved when I got the offer of this 6-month internship. I got my website online early and promoted it through various social networking sites and currently maintain a design blog through WordPress with my current work, inspirations and ideas.

If all goes well, in the next 5 years I could see myself working and living in Italy, in the lovely city of Bergamo. I have recently visited the city to have a look around the area and put down a deposit on an apartment. I shall be moving to Italy at the end of June after completing my degree and start my internship on July 1st 2012. I have been so lucky to be given this opportunity and I can’t wait!

-Hannah Furnell Graphic Designer

Hannah will be writing a few blog pieces about her time in Milan, and we hope to keep you all updated on her time in Milan. It’s great to see such a great success story of designers in our local area. Do you know someone with a similar story?

Follow Hannah Furnell on her Blog, Facebook and @hannahfurnell on Twitter.