Valentina Verc | cargocollective.com/valentinaverc

My name is Valentina Verc and I am a graphic designer with a background in fine arts based in London. I have finished the Postgraduate Certificate Course in Design for Visual Communication at the London College of Communication. My previous studies include a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts and a Master’s Degree in Design for Visual Communication at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana, Slovenia. In my design practice, I attempt to incorporate the knowledge and skills gained studying fine arts. My main areas of interest are book and editorial design, information design, and typography. I have also a strong interest in illustration, and branding and identity.

I am looking for internships as well as permanent work. I am also interested in creative collaborations. If you would like to know more about my work, please get in touch.

Sally Carmichael | sally-carmichael.com

"What I create is a direct reflection of who I am; it is how I think, what I see, and how I feel. I believe that these energies shed light into both the spirit and heart of myself as a designer."

Sally Carmichael is a graphic design student at the University of Kansas, recently completing her junior year in school. She specializes in publication and print design, and her work has been featured in places such as the AIGA Member Gallery, Student Show Gallery, and on the App Design Served Showcase. She was also recently awarded the Best Junior Portfolio Award at the National Student Show in Dallas, TX. Her design aesthetic focuses on clean and minimal simplicity that remains sophisticated and purposeful.

"My dedication to design is like being in a messy, complicated relationship. Some days I find myself in love, and other days full of animosity for my craft. What keeps us two together isn't always the love of the art, but the love of the outcome, the challenge, the process. As a designer I find that design can be truly devastating, but also incredibly and equally rewarding, which is what always has me coming back for more. This duet of risk-taking and refinement leads me through a dance that is continually testing my own abilities to improve. Without this back and forth process, I would not be able to continue to grow as a designer."

View Sally's portfolio at sally-carmichael.com or her Behance page.

Stephanie Stilwell | stephaniestilwell.co.uk

I am currently in my final year of a graphic design degree at the University of Cumbria, as well as the course being amazing the university is in one of my favourite places, The lake district, I love escaping to the mountains with my camera and despite not having ventured past Carlisle on my own as yet, I am entirely obsessed with the need to travel, science, clouds and hate the thought of not having my camera in reach.

As far as influences go I'm a little bit of a magpie I don't really have any specific designers I look to for inspiration, possibly due to my love of all graphic design and my slightly eclectic personality. I am always borrowing from books and blogs and other design disciplines. I'd say currently my colleagues, my love of type and love of architecture influence me the most. I love using strong lines and strong type in my work and just could not live without capital letters or white space.

As well as working on my degree I have been taking on freelance work this year including work for a start up food company in Carlisle which are now trading complete with my branding. In the future I am looking forward to finding work with a studio that are engaged in a variety of different projects, I love print but would also love the opportunity to develop other areas of design such as spatial design as I love to learn and am generally a very curious person. My general attitude is that nothing ever worth doing is easy and I always try to do something unexpected or slightly against the brief , it always gives me much better work and the clients a more interesting design without compromising what they wanted. I am excited to join the industry this summer and learn and grow both in and out of design.

Megan Hyslop | cargocollective.com/meganhyslopdesign

My name is Megan Hyslop and I'm a Graphic Designer originally from Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. I am currently coming to the end of my Graphic Design degree at the University of Cumbria, Carlisle. Throughout University I have found that the aspects of design I enjoy the most are branding and editorial work. However, I am always willing to try something new. To view some more of my work please visit: cargocollective.com/meganhyslopdesign.

Katelynne Kirk | katelynnekirk.co.uk

I have recently graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a first class BA Honors degree in Graphic Design.

I have a passion for design, which engages with and tries to solve problems in society. Through various projects during my final year at college I was able to explore how design can help raise awareness of important issues. In creating my proposal for the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service annual report I aimed to focus on the partnership between donor and patient, bringing the human story to the reader. I was also given the fantastic opportunity of working on 'The Word of Mouth Campaign’, which helped raise awareness of the symptoms of Mouth Cancer across Edinburgh. This project coincided and helped me produce my personal project where I chose to consider how advertising might be able to boost confidence and guide people back into work.

I love to learn from clients and other creatives around me so that every project will be better than the last, whether it is a publication, campaign or packaging.

Jana Rauthenstrauch | behance.net/funkelmieze

Hello, my name is Jana Rauthenstrauch. I am a 25 year old german graphic designer and illustrator based in Wuerzburg. Currently I finish my Masters' degree "Informationdesign" in Wuerzburg at the University of Applied Sciences. I love everything special, particularly unforgettable shiny moments. More work can be seen at behance.net/funkelmieze. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Louise Mothersdale | louisemothersdale.co.uk

I have grown up in a creative family, as my mum is a graphic designer and my dad a printer, so I have always had a natural interest in art and design. I studied art at York College alongside photography and media, then continued on to a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design specialising in Graphic Design. Currently I am in my third and final year on BA (Hons) Graphic Design at the University of Cumbria.

My work style is quite minimalist. I like clean cut lines, bold colours and the use of shapes within my work. I have a strong attention to detail (sometimes a bit obsessively!), but I think this is important in the design industry. The main area of graphic design I am currently working in is editorial, but I really enjoy branding and would like to explore and experiment with some more web design.

I like to look at a wide range of designers and work to give me as broad a range of ideas and influences as possible. The main thing is that I try to keep up to date with modern design. Websites likes Pinterest and design blogs are really handy for this and I make use of them on a daily basis.

I have had some work experience at a design and print company, which gave me insight into the print finishing processes that happen after the design work. I have also done some web design for a company in York. After I graduate in the summer, I hope to gain some more work experience and start to save up some money to fund some travelling. I am hoping to travel during 2014, spending a few months in Australia to gain some more experience from design work placements in a different country, and just generally to see the world.