In May, Venture Three opened up internship applications for those who’d participated in Creative Shift. I decided to go for it and spent time reworking my CV and cover letter to reflect everything I’d done this year. I reached out to Sat and Abraham for feedback. Abraham especially helped me see something I’d kind of suspected, but hadn’t owned yet: that I’m someone who naturally galvanises people. He pointed out that people often came to me for energy, guidance, or just to work things out, and that I seemed to like being that person.
In a full-circle moment, I ended the month by giving talks to incoming DPS students about my own experiences, especially with Global Campus Studio. I realised how much I enjoy public speaking and sharing what I’ve learned. It was rewarding to see how my journey could offer insight, or even reassurance, to others just starting out. May reminded me that growth isn’t always about outcomes; sometimes it’s about understanding your own strengths and embracing them.
April brought the end of our D&AD self-initiated project, which I worked on with Eddy, Riya, and Javier with our campaign for ON running. While all the input was valuable, we hit a point where it felt like we were being pulled in different directions. It wasn’t anyone’s fault-we just learned that too many ideas (or advisors) can make it harder to focus. What helped massively was meeting in person, something that made idea generation smoother than our usual online meetings. That’s definitely a takeaway for the future.
A soothing sight…
Something that stood out this month was how I started applying skills I learned from Creative Shift, like creative warm ups and idea sorting activities, with the D&AD team. These methods helped us break through blocks and rethink our campaign angle. It made me realise how much I had absorbed over the last few months, even when it didn’t feel obvious at the time. I also came to a decision about BAFA: after finishing my final tasks and a few delayed meetings, I decided to step away. It was a good experience, but with the miscommunications and lack of structure, I realised it’s not the type of environment I want to stay in, and that’s just as valuable to know.
March was the wrap-up of the Creative Shift x Venture Three x Sky Sports programme-and we really got stuck into finalising the pitch. One of the campaign ideas was to create a mock TikTok video, so we booked equipment, planned it out, and shot it with help from some team members (shoutout to Munira, Zanzi, and Mia!). Afterwards, we had to pull everything together for our final presentation to Sky, and I had to learn how to use Canva for the first time. I usually stick to Adobe or Figma, but this was about collaboration, and Canva made that easier for everyone. In the end, we didn’t win, but the pitch went really well, and the mentors were so encouraging we could be confident we did our best.
I also attended the Creative Changemakers event, where we explored how creativity can lead to social impact. There were panels on entrepreneurship, ethics in creative industries, and the role design plays in shaping everything from trust to climate justice. It gave me new ways of thinking about my own values and how they can connect with the work I want to do. I also had the opportunity to meet a number of other DPS students I hadn’t previously met, and it was great to connect over shared experiences. The whole event made me reflect more on why I want to work in this space, not just how.
Even though the competition aspect of Creative Shift wrapped up, the experience left a lasting impact. I was reminded of how much I enjoy collaborative creative work, and I learned to be more adaptable, especially with new platforms like Canva and fast turnarounds on video shoots. Between pitching ideas and learning from changemakers, I started to see myself more clearly within the creative industry. I left March feeling energised and ready to bring this momentum into my D&AD project and beyond.
Clearly some riveting pre-presentation notes being given…
February got intense quickly. I finally got back in touch with BAFA, and they asked me to go to Loughborough to shoot some content. The turnaround was fast, found out Monday, travelled by Saturday. I had to prep and carry all the gear from central London up to the uni, and unfortunately, Tony couldn’t come last minute, so I was left to manage everything myself. I had to scout spaces, set up gear, adapt when it started raining, and negotiate with uni staff to find interview space when the original room didn’t work out. It was a lot. But I made it work, even if it showed me that maybe event filming isn’t quite my thing long-term.
Had set up 2 cameras, 2 Lights, Mics, and everything….
…till I was told the hall was used and had to scramble to fins another place and re set up again.
On the D&AD side, we chose the On Running brief and were now meeting weekly to build out insights and direction. I started noticing how my thinking was shifting-less about the surface idea and more about the why behind it. Josh was still helping us shape things, and Eddy and Ria brought insights from their advertising lecturers too. Meanwhile, I was still loving every session of Venture Three. The Sky brief was really starting to take shape, and I felt like I was contributing strong ideas. One of the highlights was learning a creative ideation technique called “creative speed dating” from Abraham, super fast paced, but helped me and my team break past mental blocks.
That said, not everything went smoothly. I started having some frustrations in my Creative Shift group as people weren’t showing up to meetings or messaging if they were late or couldn’t come, even though we’d all agreed on the times. It was starting to slow down the momentum and honestly felt a bit disrespectful. I spoke to Sat (the Creative Shift leader) about it, and he gave me great advice on how to manage it and set boundaries. That conversation really helped me feel more confident about speaking up when something’s off. I might not be the first to want to do it, but I’m really glad I did this time
January kicked off with a real creative push. After the new year, our D&AD team finally got going properly, Javier, Eddie and Ria. We had a session with Josh (one of the advertising DPS mentors), who helped us unpack how to choose a brief and break it down. He introduced us to the idea of organising “buckets” of ideas, which was a new way of thinking for me. We started meeting regularly after that to get going. Around the same time, I found out I got the Creative Shift role with Sky Sports x Venture Three, which was a much-needed boost after not getting the Service95 one. Honestly, that win changed my mood completely and gave me something new to look forward to and dive into.
Starting the Creative Shift programme was really energising. I got to meet people from different years and backgrounds, and we were given a live brief directly from Sky Sports. The challenge? Reconnect a younger generation to Sky. It was really cool to be at Sky HQ and hear from the Sky Creative team about what they valued and how they approached creative strategy. Meeting our mentors from Venture Three, such as Louis, was reassuring too. They were really warm and supportive, which helped ease the pressure. It already felt like something I could really grow from, both creatively and professionally.
Sky Sports HQ!
On top of all that, I got through to the second stage of the CNN/Warner Bros Visual Design role. It was my first time doing a HireVue interview (which was… odd), and I had to work through a very obvious ATS system. These job applications are wild, but it’s helpful seeing how different orgs do things. This month taught me how to balance multiple creative projects at once while keeping the momentum going, even when rejections happen.
This month, I’ve been continuing my work with BAFA, and things really started to get more in-depth. I’ve been working on revamping their Hall of Fame page, which included prepping and conducting an interview with Dave Tidswell, a former player who now supports the legacy side of the organisation. I prepped the questions, ran the call, and took it from there. We talked for a while, so I ended up asking Jem for advice on how to condense it all. She recommended Otter.ai and TurboScribe, which made summarising the key points much easier. It was a learning curve, but really rewarding, especially getting to see how legacy, design and storytelling all play into how we present sport online.
I also had my final meeting with Rory before the holidays, where he said they were really pleased with what I’d done and wanted me to stay involved into next year. While there were plans to attend a game and get content, he assured me that there would be more creative opportunities next year. It was a nice moment of feedback that helped reinforce my confidence and made me feel like I actually contributed something of value to their comms and branding work.
Alongside BAFA, I’ve kept the momentum going with applications. I submitted to the Sky 3 x Venture Three Creative Shift opportunity, and I’m hoping it’ll let me build on the kind of live brief work I’ve done both at uni and in BAFA, especially since Venture Three is a branding agency that aligns well with my advertising focus. I also applied for a role at CNN / Warner Bros in Visual Design, which is right up my alley, given the UI/UX work I’ve explored in a uni unit and in my current placement. I’m also in the process of updating my CV to better reflect everything I’ve been doing, from being a keynote speaker in Global Campus Studio to managing digital content at BAFA. Hoping to hear back from some of these roles in the new year, but even if not, it feels like I’m building something solid and getting clearer on where I want to go.
November was definitely application-heavy. I properly got into the flow of job hunting and ended up reformatting my spreadsheet to keep track of deadlines, platforms, and different requirements; it was getting a bit wild trying to juggle them all. One of the main things I focused on was an application for Service95, Dua Lipa’s platform about culture, art, and music. I applied through Creative Access, and for the first time ever, I felt like this was the perfect role to write a creative cover letter. It was a totally different format, and I actually really enjoyed making it. Hilly and Jem gave me loads of helpful feedback on it, and although I didn’t get past the final round, I did make it to the interview rounds, which felt like a big step.
I also went to the CSM careers fair and stopped by the McCann table (I’d applied there earlier), where they told me I should apply directly next time rather than through Creative Access so my application actually gets seen. Just that small tip made the whole fair worth it. Also, just reconnecting with other DPS and coursemates there reminded me I’m not the only one in this wild freelance scramble. Even just swapping tips helped.
Careers Fair
I landed a role with the British American Football Association (BAFA) this month, too, which was a win. I had an informal chat to clarify expectations, and it felt like the start of something really good. One of my first tasks involved updating the BAFA WordPress site, I’d heard of WordPress loads before but never really used it properly, so it was nice to dive in hands-on. On top of that, I applied for a Digital Shift role, and although I didn’t get it, I received useful feedback, mainly to be more specific and focused in my answers. I’ve started keeping a list of answers to common interview questions, which I never really did before but now seems essential. I’m definitely building more confidence and strategy with each step when things don’t go as planned.
This month began with uncertainty but also excitement. I joined the Global Campus Studio (GCS) without fully knowing what to expect. Still, I was drawn by the chance to work across cultures after a previous successful exchange experience in Hong Kong. The idea of building something with students from Seoul to Toronto felt like a challenge worth embracing.
Later on in the month, I attended the BBC Studios x IAB Digital Upfront with Javier (another advertising DPS student), where I got to see how industry leaders pitch trust, data, and brand evolution to top advertisers, something I hadn’t seen from this perspective before. I also continued refining my CV and cover letter through DPS workshops, trying to translate my experiences so far into something tangible and relevant.
With Global Campus Studio (GCS), we had our first session, and I found it necessary to lead with curiosity, as you only have so much time to get to know each other in breakout rooms and get started on the task. Learning to listen and build on the experiences and perspectives of other students was key to ensuring we not only completed the task but also did it in a fun and conducive meeting.
Our first out-of-session activity, the “virtual get-to-know-you.” I took the chance to set up a time for all of us to meet online.
Virtual Get To Know You Session – Gunyoung Showing us his campus while we asked where was good to eat and shop nearby (Coffee Shop culture there is on another level)
Learning about Eddie’s experiences in Toronto and how she focused her learning, as well as how it compared to mine or Gun Young’s in Seoul (who has more technical exams), allowed me to see a new perspective on how art could be taught and assessed.
At the BBC Studios event, I found it really interesting how presenters communicated their ideas on Brand longevity and consumer trust differently while remaining engaging.
Nick Grimshaw and Ella Mills speaking about how they found their audiences
Conversations about disinformation with Clive Myrie and insights into how high-net-worth individuals think were eye-opening. These topics don’t usually pop up in my advertising classes, but they’re so important for navigating the media scene. As I move forward in my career, having a grasp on these issues will help me connect better with audiences and set myself apart in this competitive field.
