As we come to the end of one of our best years ever, we wanted to take some time to reflect on the achievements of our incredible team, beginning with our talented senior graphic designer.

He heads up all things graphic design at Social Republic.

After studying Graphic Design & Illustration at Sheffield Hallam University, Cal was first introduced to the agency through a successful internship application. 

Initially working in a combined role, for Social Republic and our sister company, Vulse (the world’s first LinkedIn scheduling tool!), Cal made a hugely positive impact from day one.

By the end of his placement, Cal was offered a permanent Graphic Design position. 

We sat down with him to chat about his awesome successes and valuable learnings…

Why did you want to work at a social media marketing agency?

It was the variety of work that appealed to me the most.

The type of designs I get to work on are always different and it never gets dull.

The opportunities to expand and hone my skills have been great as well. Working at a social media marketing agency has played a large part in helping me become well-rounded at what I do.

In your opinion, what three things make a great graphic designer?

Attention to detail – It’s the small things that make a big difference. Whilst you might think no one will notice, there’s always someone that will.

Being welcoming and receptive to feedback – Some of the best work I’ve done has been informed by other designers and non-designers looking at things from a different perspective to me.

Patience – Sometimes I’m not feeling a design. I feel like giving up or starting again when there really isn’t time to.

Sometimes I just have to step away from it for a moment. I search for a little bit of inspiration or feedback, and come back to it with a fresh mindset.

Design is really just visual problem solving. If you trust the process and stick it out, you’ll get there eventually.

What’s been your proudest moment at Social Republic so far?

I don’t know if I could pick just one. But having the opportunity to work with some of the household name brands that we have is always fun. There has been some ‘pinch me’ moments.

What are you most excited about right now?’

This isn’t really social media specific, but in terms of the design world, I’m really excited to see how new AI tools change workflows and the industry in general.

I don’t think they will replace designers any time soon (perhaps I’m being optimistic) but will definitely become an important asset in any designer’s toolbox.

I’m excited to see how they elevate design in all industries in the future.

Do you have any advice for those looking to get into the industry?

It can be a difficult one to break into. A lot of places won’t hire you without a certain amount of experience. There are few places that are willing to give you that experience.

My advice is to go down the route of internships if you’re able to, but if not then set your own briefs and deadlines even if they aren’t live, and create a body of work that is undeniable and speaks for itself.

Pretty great story right?

Are you a budding graphic designer? Take a look at our past blog post, Getting A Social Media Internship, for some great tips on how you too could get into the world of socials.