Today Lisa introduces us to Melbourne graphic designer Emily Gillis, whose drive and impressive work ethic has led to a successful freelance career straight out of uni!  Emily has created branding and identity design for a host of local businesses, and we've caught her just before she embarks on another exciting new challenge - a stint living in NYC! - Lucy

Graphic designer Emily Gillis in her Richmond workspace. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Design work for Masini & Chern sleepware by Emily Gillis. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Emily's layout for 'Youth' a collaboration with photographer Charlie Brophy. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Graphic designer Emily Gillis in her Richmond workspace. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Today's NKOTB candidate is Emily Gillis, a 23-year-old freelance graphic designer and impressive go-getter. While most recent graduates spend a good twelve months or more cutting their teeth as interns, Emily made the bold decision to go solo and freelance upfront, in an effort to develop her own aesthetic, with the hope of gaining work with a design studio in the next few years.  This bold plan seems to have paid off so far - some of Emily's recent projects include branding and identity for sleepwear label Masini & Chern, organic chocolate company Citizen Cacao, and local eateries Rita’s Cafeteria in Abbotsford and Tomboy in Collingwood. We're particularly loving the concept she came up with for Tomboy, where takeaway coffee cups are embellished with illustrations of the staff members' faces. Cute!

Emily's design work for Melbourne cafe Tomboy, featuring illustrations of cafe staff members' faces.

At present, Emily works out of a seemingly meticulous bedroom in her family home in Richmond, Melbourne.  Much like her minimal, scandi-inspired bedroom / workspace, Emily's work is super clean, crisp and fresh. She approaches each design with precocious intuition, knowing exactly when to step back and let her work speak for itself. 'I like to imagine my style as timeless. I try not to over decorate,' Emily says.

Emily grew up in a creative family - her mother is an art teacher, her father is a textile designer, and her step father an architect. 'I suppose it was in my bones to do something creative!' she admits. 'I was always creative as a kid, lining my toys up in grids on the floor and staring at them, drawing endlessly and hoarding inspirational images from magazines.'  Since graduating from a Bachelor of Design (Visual Communication) from Monash University at the end of 2011, Emily has amassed an impressive portfolio of work.

Next up for Emily is a stint living in New York City!  With aspirations to move into creative direction alongside her graphic design work, it's no surprise that someone this ambitious and hardworking has a clear vision of what's next, and a relentless drive to make her dreams happen.  'Right now it's me in my room working like a crazy woman in a grey skivvy, but in under a month I am jetting off to live in New York for a while' says Emily. 'I am beyond excited to meet more creative minded people, and absorb all the creative influences of a new city!'.

Details from Emily's bedroom / workspace. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Details from Emily's bedroom / workspace. Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.

Emily appraising new business card designs, we love the peach edge! Photo - Sean Fennessy for The Design Files.