A DIY COURSE FOR WORKING CLASS CREATIVES: HOW TO BREAK INTO ADVERTISING WITHOUT PORTFOLIO SCHOOL 

 

Breaking into the creative industry is tougher than ever. And for people from less privileged backgrounds, things like rising rents, paywalled information, global competition, and higher expectations for juniors can make entry feel impossible. Even things like D&AD Shift, despite the best intentions, are not a one-size-fits-all fix. 

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I was delusional enough to do it without any formal training. It took ages. I learned things in no particular order, through trial, error, panic, and scrambling around for any books and information I could find. It was confusing, often embarrassing, and totally unstructured. If I'd known certain things earlier, it could have been a far less so. 

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This Substack is for broke, lost, ambitious young creatives across the UK. It’s a guide to teaching yourself, making a plan and carving your own path into the creative industries today. Everything I wish I'd known when I got started. What to learn, where to find free resources, and how to show up in an agency. Stuff that isn't in any of the books. In a sink or swim environment, my aim is to help more people swim.