Art and design alumni

Design and Content Marketer, TimeZoneOne, Chicago
Postgraduate Diploma in Brand Communication
Bachelor of Design in Communication Design

Just a few short months after graduating, AUT alumna Camilla Wyness has found her dream job, working at international advertising and design agency TimeZoneOne in the bustling city of Chicago.

“I’m responsible for writing social calendars, managing social media profiles of various companies, everything from a medical school in the Caribbean to a food company; writing blog posts and making design edits. I like that every day there’s something new to write about, there’s always a better way to design something, and there’s always something to laugh about.”

Camilla, who got this sought-after internship through the AUT Internz International Scholarship Programme, says this is one of the many ways AUT helps its students succeed in the world.

“I love AUT because they’re genuinely interested in helping you get a foot in the door. I have friends who studied elsewhere that have said that their university didn’t seem to be overly interested in helping them achieve this.”

A passion for advertising
Art has always been her calling, says Camilla, but it was at AUT where she found her true passion.

“As part of my communication design degree, I minored in advertising creativity, which I think really was the making of who I am. I loved the combination of clever thinking and artistic flair that comes with advertising.”

In fact, she enjoyed advertising so much that she returned to AUT to study a Postgraduate Diploma in Brand Communication.

“I’ve told so many people that going back to study the Postgraduate Diploma in Brand Communication was one of the best decisions I ever made. I learned so much more about the world of branding, marketing and advertising. The academic staff and the quality of what they teach is incredible – you learn so much in such a short period of time!”

Highlights and opportunities
There have been many highlights throughout her studies, Camilla says.

“I loved how AUT taught us to apply our visual knowledge in new and commercially viable ways. The learning environment was always supportive, the friends I made remain closer than ever, and the guidance and networking ability of the academic staff hugely helped me shape my path.”

Her advice to other AUT students is to take every opportunity you can get.

“Go to information and networking events. Meet as many people as you can in the field you’re interested in. And never be scared to fail. I dreamed of going to New York at the end of my design degree and fell short of that. However, it was persistence and ambition that drove me to do postgraduate study, apply for the AUT Internz programme again, and now I’m working in Chicago in my dream job.”