Alex Rabjohns, BA (Hons) Games Design 2008

Full Name: Alex Rabjohns
Graduation Year: 2008
Course Studied: Games Design
Job Title: Senior Visual Designer
Employer/Organisation Name: Remitly
What are you doing now you have graduated from the University of Lincoln?: Since graduating I’ve worked in a number of industries, beginning with events and exhibits for the pharmaceutical industry, followed by production/creative agencies in advertising and now marketing within financial technology. I currently work for the EMEA & APAC marketing department at Remitly (who specialise in remittance) creating campaigns and content for TV, social media, DOOH (digital out of home) and other digital marketing channels.
How did your time at the University of Lincoln support your career?: I learned how to hone my illustration and design skill set in various software which then lead to my first job outside of University. From there it has been (and continues to be) a learning curve as I progress through my career, but the core traits I picked up from higher education, such as; teamwork, design briefs, craft, time management etc, had given me the initial jump start to achieving what I wanted to pursue in life.
What are the best parts of your job?: Creative freedom. They say if you find a job you love doing you’ll never have to work a day in your life. This is so true if you have the ability to conceptualise and create something which starts in your imagination and is then seen by people all over the world. I’m very lucky to be able to research, storyboard, concept, create and share ideas which benefits other people as well as brings happiness and excitement to my own career.
If you could give our current students any top tip for after graduation and their careers, what would it be?: Take interest, be inviting and don’t have an ego. Absorb every facet of the industry you want to engage in with an open mind; be a sponge. Always be friendly and never burn bridges; be kind. Don’t feel embarrassed to raise your hand and ask questions about things you don’t understand; be nosy.
What inspired you to study at the University of Lincoln (or one of its predecessor institutions)?: I thought I wanted to go into illustration but I also liked the sound of 3D modelling and animation. At the time, all three were separate disciplines but then I found a course called Games Design which seemed to include all three – as well as playing and testing games – which was more than I could have ever expected. I’m pretty sure Lincoln University had the only course of it’s kind, or at least was amongst a few new media courses pioneering games design as a new subject.
What was your favourite thing about being a student at the University of Lincoln (or one of its predecessor institutions)?: The independence and the networking which came with it. I met so many interesting and talented people during my stay and made so many friends from all corners of the UK. On top of that, I was presented with 2 x design awards at an independent BBC Bradford event which was the icing on the cake in my 3rd year at Uni.
What would you say to a prospective student thinking of applying to the University of Lincoln?: Definitely apply. There are so many more courses now, offering a wealth of opportunity to help guide people and shape their expectations after getting that all-important degree. The university experience alone is a real eye-opener and it creates a much broader horizon to set your sights. There are amazing places to go once you qualify in your chosen area, which gives you great perspective. You’ll be able to easily transfer your core qualified subject across so many industries.