Culture
Designing my future: key takeaways from a week placement at EM Code
December 10, 2024
As part of EM Code’s engagement with rising talent, a number of cohorts joined us for an App Design Sprint. Following the week placement we spoke to Olivia Wild to see how the experience has benefitted her.
I am Olivia Wild, 21 years old and from Sheffield! I’m currently going into my third year at The University of the Arts London, studying Graphic Design Communications. Prior to this, I studied at Leeds Arts University where I did a foundation year in Art and Design. This was such a valuable experience as it is where I first realised my love for Graphic Design. My main interests in Graphics are branding and advertisement styles, especially typography in the way that the shapes and colours of fonts can convey an emotional response to express a specific message. I enjoy socialising, meeting new people, exploring new cities and gaining knowledge from new experiences.
During the placement week at EM Code we were asked to design an app for the WPP Manchester Campus which brought together the main elements of the eight agencies and took into consideration the needs of the employees. This included accessibility, inclusivity and simplicity. Throughout the week we researched the agencies within the campus and considered the end user needs, brainstormed creative solutions, and developed a functional prototype. This included accessibility, inclusivity and simplicity. We studied the people who worked there including their opinions on the current app system and how it could improve or stay the same.
During the week we had talks from a few different teams about their role at EM Code and how this played into larger scales of the company. This ranged from Front End Developers to Designers and the New Business team. Whilst I was there I mostly engaged with the Design team. I wanted to make the most of my time, and their experiences to develop my skills. I took the opportunity to learn about what life as a designer in a angecy such as EM Code is like and the kind of day to day work they do. I was also very interested in the marketing side of the company and the different strategies and techniques they use. Going into the placement I didn’t have any expectations as it was my first experience in a workplace such as this. One element I loved seeing was how such a big company with so many different elements worked together as a one. They demonstrated such good values as a team, being collaborative and respecting each others' expertise.
I had previous knowledge of app mock-up developments through Figma, but within my week at EM Code I learnt new techniques and focussed more on accessibility, practicality and aesthetics, rather than just the look of the design. This was further supported by speaking to and testing out ideas with the employees in the building which helped me to shift my focus.
Many of the team at EM Code spent time with the group talking to us about their career paths and journeys. The Design and New Business team helped massively by giving advice, engaging with our app testing and overall app development. I received a lot of help from Jack Sturzaker, a Junior Graphic Designer, with layouts and practicality for the Figma designs, and he helped me broaden my knowledge. As I was a bit older than some of the other students in the group, I spoke quite a bit to their Marketing Manager about opportunities outside of EM Code and amazing things going on in the area for me to get involved with. The mentors at EM Code are the loveliest people and are happy to help you with finding opportunities if you ask them.
THe highlight of the week was the final presentation on the Friday, we showcased the work we had done to a few people from the team that we had previously met as well as the other students on the placement. I usually struggle with public speaking, especially about my work. However the team at EM Code made this experience enjoyable for me. It was a great feeling getting to the end of the week and having people impressed by the work we had achieved.
It was also interesting to share and see what other people had worked on and learnt from their own time on the placement. .
One of the other highlights of the placement was working with Adais, a lovely hardworking recent graduate in Fine Art. Working alongside her was a great experience as she was confident and open to the experience. I think the combination of her creative fine art flow and my structured and methodological graphics style worked really well in creating a successful final mock up.
The placement helped me understand the wide range of roles and opportunities out there. As I near the end of my university studies I am increasingly focused on my future and career path. By speaking to many different people in the company and hearing the trajectory of their studies and career paths gave me the confidence to keep an open mind about the future and reassured me that things will work themselves out by putting in the work. This is something that I will remember for my future and will stick with me throughout, that there is no pressure to have your life set out at this moment in time.
Go in with an open mind, and work hard! Make the most of this experience, as the team at EM Code are all such lovely and interesting people. If you show that you’re interested, intrigued and excited they will be happy to show and teach you more, what you put in is what you get out of it. I learnt so much from this experience by going in wanting to learn and having an open mind and it was so worth it. You never know how this could help you in the future. Have a think about the different teams at EM Code and how this could relate to your interests for the future, there quite literally is something there for everyone!
Claire Kerley, Operations Director at EM Code, commented on Olivia:
"Olivia is an exceptionally talented young professional with a promising future. Her proactive approach, eagerness to collaborate, and deep commitment to understanding her tasks have been truly commendable. We have been thoroughly impressed by the outstanding work she and Adias have accomplished. Their efforts are a testament to what can be achieved through dedication and hard work. Olivia's design work on the app was nothing short of brilliant and we look forward to seeing what she does upon finishing her degree”.
EM Code is a customer experience, digital innovation and AI agency. We’re a strategic digital partner that delivers breakthrough growth throughout the customer experience (CX).
We achieve this through our industry-renowned services in digital transformation, web & app development, brand strategy, conversion rate optimisation (CRO) and UX (user experience).
Our human centric approach underpins every aspect of our work.
A collective of experts in multiple disciplines, we collaborate to distil the complex needs of organisations and end users to engineer solutions that make an impact.
From fast scaling start-ups to global brands, we can help you to transform your organisation.
EM Code is a part of EssenceMediacom North.
At EssenceMediacom North, we deliver breakthrough growth across the whole customer journey. From ambitious start ups to global enterprises, our expertise spans the entire media landscape, delivering impactful, iterative, and innovative strategies designed to scale. Our disruptive approach redefines media models, fostering creative and transformative growth for digitally native, dot-com, and direct-to-consumer brands. We leverage our extensive capabilities in communications, media, insights, customer experience, AI, and cutting-edge technology to craft truly integrated solutions. Our commitment to delivering results has earned us the trust of leading brands such as Hillarys, Absolute Collagen, Cinch.co.uk, Dusk.com, and SKY.
EssenceMediacom North is part of WPP’s media investment group, GroupM.
