WORK EXPERIENCE
& PUBLISHED WORK
Winter Party
Poster
From January until May of 2023 I worked on a digital publishing module at University to create a poster themed on 'Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Winchester'. This task taught me how to follow brand guidelines, manage a design project, and gave me hands on design experience. Following on from this, in June I was approached for my work to be used as promotional material for the University. This was a great achievement of mine, as this was only my second occasion of ever creating a graphic poster.
The University of Winchester's School of Media and Film holds annually a Winter Party, of which I have been commissioned to create their main advertising, the event poster. With complete creative freedom I took this in my stride and created something I felt was on brand for the University and that created buzz, whilst still being visually pleasing to the human eye.
I had the pleasure of being a team member of a monthly student run Magazine, 'Sensibility Magazine', during my A-Level Studies, where I was able to gauge my peers' design interest and a greater understanding of magazine composition. Despite being in the writing sub-team I always admired the graphics crowd, and it was always a great feeling to see our work be published.
In August 2023 I undertook a Work Placement with the Hampshire Chronicle Newspaper. Although the content of this wasn't directly related to the Design Industry I still learnt valuable skills that are applicable to my current hobby. I learnt how to effectively communicate at a Media Industry standard, which helps me effectively craft language in my work and on my social media platforms. I have several articles published under my name on their website & print paper, if you would like to see these features head over to my portfolio!
MY STORY
EDUCATION
DesignByMillie is both my media studies work gallery and graphic design portfolio, originally created as part of my University project in Social Media, Advertising & Branding. What began as an academic brief soon grew into something much bigger - an idea I had been nurturing for months that has now become my personal brand moving forward.
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I specialise in crafting unique and visually captivating content that aim to inspire other emerging Graphic Designers and Media Creatives, while also showcasing my own creative journey.
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My passion for design began at the age of twelve, when I started designing thumbnails for my video editing page on Instagram. Since then, that spark has only grown stronger. I’ve always been fascinated by the way art and media can communicate complex ideas with both simplicity and elegance.
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I’ve been immersed in Media Studies from the age of 13, beginning at GCSE level and later advancing through A-Level. It was at A-Level that I first gained the opportunity to explore graphic design through professional software - an experience that fuelled my interest and encouraged me to continue developing my skills independently outside of the classroom.
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Most recently, I completed my BA (Hons) in Media and Communication at the University of Winchester, graduating with First Class Honours. During my time at university, I was able to further explore my passion through a range of design projects, some of which were selected for use in official promotional materials. I also had the opportunity to be commissioned to design promotional posters for university social events, and I have since gone on to collaborate with established organisations such as the Winchester Film Festival, creating work for wider audiences beyond the classroom.
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While I’ve had moments of guidance through education, much of my design practice is self-taught. I’m continually experimenting, developing, and learning new skills to refine my craft and grow as a designer.
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This portfolio is a reflection of that journey, thank you for taking the time to explore my work, and I hope it inspires you as much as the process of creating it inspires me.
WORK EXPERIENCE/
PUBLISHED WORK
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During my A-Level studies, I was proud to be part of Sensibility Magazine, a monthly, student-run art, media, and fashion publication at Peter Symonds College. Although my main role was as a writer, I was constantly inspired by the graphics team and gained early insight into design processes. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration, time management, and working to deadlines, while also sparking my deeper interest in pursuing design more seriously.
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​From January to May 2023, I undertook a Digital Publishing module at the University of Winchester, where the brief was to design a poster encapsulating “Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Winchester.” This project marked only my second time working with professional graphic design software, yet it gave me the opportunity to develop essential skills such as working with brand guidelines, managing a creative project, and refining my technical abilities. Shortly after completion, I was approached for my design to be used in the University’s official promotional material - a milestone in my creative journey and one of my earliest professional-style design achievements.
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For the University of Winchester’s School of Media & Film Winter Party in November 2023, I was commissioned to design the event’s main promotional poster. With complete creative freedom, I was able to experiment with new design approaches while ensuring the final outcome aligned with University branding. This project allowed me to balance creativity with structure, producing a visually engaging piece of advertising that resonated with students.
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In August 2023, I undertook a journalism-based work placement with The Hampshire Chronicle in Winchester. While not directly linked to design, this experience helped me build transferable skills such as professional communication, adapting language for different audiences, and writing effectively - all of which now support my social media presence and the way I articulate design concepts. I am proud to have several published articles under my name, which can also be found in my portfolio.
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In March 2024, I was invited through university connections to design content for a Mother’s Day Exhibition for International Women’s Day, held at the Nutshell Art Gallery in Winchester. As part of the exhibition, my motherhood-inspired poster was showcased alongside my earlier Diversity and Inclusion design from 2023. Having my work displayed in a professional gallery setting, just a year after beginning my design journey, was a proud milestone that marked how far I had grown as a designer in such a short space of time.
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In 2024, I collaborated with the Winchester Film Festival on two occasions: February–March and October–November. Across both projects, I created posters, graphic assets, and social media content to promote their film screenings and events. Working with an established cultural organisation gave me the opportunity to refine my skills in professional client-based design, adapt to existing brand identities, and create visuals tailored to diverse audiences. These collaborations have been some of the most rewarding experiences in my design journey to date, allowing me to see my work represented in the wider community.