How to Get Graphic Design Work Experience in Year 10

Looking for graphic design work experience when you’re in secondary school can feel like a real challenge. You know it'll look great on your CV and help you figure out if design is really for you, but where do you even start? 

Don’t worry. You don’t need to know a professional designer to get your foot in the door. With the right approach, a bit of initiative, and some creative thinking, you can find valuable opportunities that'll set you up brilliantly for the future. This guide will show you how to get graphic design work experience in Year 10.

Key Takeaways

• Start early. Don't wait until everyone else is scrambling for placements. Begin reaching out to designers and businesses a few months before you need the experience.

• Show interest, not perfection. You don't need a professional portfolio. A few designs you've created at home, even simple ones, show you're genuinely interested.

• Think beyond design studios. Charities, small businesses, marketing agencies, and even school clubs all need design help.

• Consider remote options. Online placements and virtual projects can be just as valuable as in-person experience, and they're often easier to arrange.

What Counts as Graphic Design Work Experience?

Graphic design work experience doesn't have to mean sitting in a big London agency. In Year 10, you're looking for any opportunity that lets you see how design works in the real world. There are lots of different sorts of work experiences that you could explore:

• Shadow a professional designer. Even if you're just watching them work, asking questions, and learning about their daily routine, that's valuable experience.

• Help with real projects locally. This might mean: 

  • Creating social media graphics for a local business

  • Designing a poster for a school event

  • Helping update a company's presentation slides

• Try a virtual experience. Taking part in online design challenges or attending virtual insight days all demonstrate your interest and commitment.

The key is that you're learning something about the design process and the industry. It doesn't matter if the placement is paid, unpaid, formal, or informal.

Where Can You Get Work Experience in Year 10?

Finding the right placement takes a bit of detective work. Here are the best places to look.

Local Graphic Design Studios or Freelancers

Small design studios and freelance designers are often more flexible than big agencies. They might not have formal work experience programmes, but they're usually happy to let an enthusiastic Year 10 student shadow them for a few days.

Start by searching for graphic designers in your local area on Instagram or LinkedIn. Look at their work to find designers whose style you genuinely like.

When you contact them, keep it personal. Mention specific projects of theirs that caught your eye. This shows you've done your homework and aren't just copying and pasting the same message to everyone.

Marketing and Creative Agencies

Marketing agencies often have in-house design teams, and they might be more used to hosting work experience students than tiny design studios.

Don't assume that agencies only want Year 12 or 13 students. Some are open to Year 10 placements, especially smaller agencies who appreciate the chance to inspire young people early on.

Check their websites for any work experience information, and if there's nothing listed, it's absolutely fine to send a polite email asking if they'd consider hosting you for a week.

Small Businesses That Need Design Help

Think outside the graphic design box and consider the sorts of businesses that might need graphic design support. Consider: 

• Independent cafes

• Bookshops

• Gyms

• Clothing boutiques

• Local charities

These sorts of local organisations and companies often need design work but can't afford to hire a professional designer. This is your opportunity.

Offer to help them:

• Create posters

• Design social media posts

• Create simple logos

Even if they don't have a formal work experience programme, they might welcome the free help.

This type of arrangement gives you real-world experience and something tangible to show for it. Plus, small business owners are usually friendly and keen to give feedback.

Online/Remote Work Experience Opportunities

Remote experience has become much more common in recent years. Many companies now offer virtual work experience days or week-long programmes. These sorts of virtual placements are ideal if you live somewhere with limited local opportunities or if you have other commitments that make in-person placements tricky.

Look for virtual insight programmes, which are often advertised on company websites or through platforms like (opens in a new tab)Careerbay (opens in a new tab), which lists work experience opportunities specifically for Year 10-13 students across the UK.

You can also volunteer your design skills online. Why not:

• Offer to create graphics for a school club's Facebook?

• Design tournament posters for a local football team?

• Enter student design competitions?

Important: There are some legal rules that companies need to stick to when they offer work experience to Year 10 students. Our overview of the work experience rules for 15-year-olds goes into more detail.

How to Ask for a Graphic Design Placement

Reaching out to designers or businesses can feel intimidating, but most people are happy to help if you approach them the right way.

Keep your message short and friendly. And ensure that you explain who you are, why you're interested in graphic design, and what you're hoping to learn from them.

Here's a simple structure you can follow:

For a more detailed look at how to approach companies, take a look at our comprehensive article on how to write the perfect cover letter. 

Always attach a CV if you have one, even if it's quite basic. And, include any design projects you've done, even if they're just for fun or for school.

Don't be disheartened if you don't hear back immediately. Designers and business owners are busy. If you haven't had a reply after a week, it's fine to send one polite follow-up.

What to Do Before Your Placement

Once you've secured a placement, don't just turn up on day one with no preparation. A bit of groundwork will help you get much more out of the experience.

Learn a bit about free design software like (opens in a new tab)Canva (opens in a new tab) or (opens in a new tab)Adobe Express (opens in a new tab). Both are beginner-friendly, browser-based tools with thousands of templates you can use to practise creating social media graphics, posters, or simple logos.

Watch a few YouTube tutorials on basic design principles. You could learn about things like: 

• Colour contrast

• Font pairing

• Visual hierarchy

Prepare some questions to ask. Think about what you want to learn from the experience, whether that's: 

• How designers find clients

• What software professionals use

• How they come up with creative ideas

What You'll Learn During Graphic Design Work Experience

Work experience at this age is all about observing and learning, not producing perfect designs. Here are a few things that you might do during your placement.

1. Simple layout tasks - You might contribute to arranging text and images on a poster or social media graphic. This gives you a feel for how designers think about composition and visual balance.

2. Brainstorming ideas - Even if you're just sitting in on creative sessions, hearing how professionals talk through concepts is incredibly valuable.

3. Learn about client briefs - You might sit in on client meetings and observe how designers interpret what clients actually want versus what they say they want. This is a skill that takes time to develop, but it's fascinating to watch in action.

4. Observe design tools in action - Seeing how professionals use these tools will give you a sense of what's possible and what skills to work on next. You might even have a go yourself!

How to Build Graphic Design Experience If You Can't Find a Placement

Not everyone will secure a formal placement, and that's absolutely fine. You can still build valuable design experience on your own.

Start a mini design portfolio at home. Create designs for imaginary projects like: 

• Album covers

• Restaurant menus

• Event posters

• Brand logos

Even if they're not real commissions, they show initiative and creativity.

Enter student design competitions. Many organisations run design challenges specifically for young people. Winning isn't the point; entering is what matters because it pushes you to complete projects to a deadline.

Design competitions, like the (opens in a new tab)RSA Pupil Design Awards (opens in a new tab), are great opportunities to challenge yourself and showcase your skills.

Offer to design for friends, family, or school clubs. Create: 

• Birthday party invitations

• Logos for a friend's YouTube channel

• Posters for school events

Document everything you make in a folder or online portfolio. This becomes your proof of interest and creativity when you're applying for placements or talking to professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Should My Graphic Design Work Experience Be?

Most Year 10 work experience placements last between two and five days, usually during school holidays or a designated work experience week. This is enough time to get a feel for the industry without being overwhelming.

Some virtual placements or online programmes might be shorter - sometimes just a day - but they can still give you insights into how the industry works.

What Skills Do I Need to Show?

You don't need advanced technical skills at this stage. What employers and designers really want to see is enthusiasm, curiosity, and a willingness to learn. Show that you've done some basic research into their work and mention specific projects you admire.

If you've experimented with design tools at home or created anything (even simple projects), mention that. It demonstrates initiative rather than waiting to be taught everything from scratch.

What If I Don't Know Any Designers?

Not knowing any designers personally is completely normal at your age. Most Year 10 students don't have industry connections yet.

Start by searching online. Instagram and LinkedIn are full of designers who share their work publicly. Also, ask your teachers or careers advisor if they know anyone working in design. Schools often have alumni networks or local business connections they can tap into.

Final Thoughts

Getting graphic design work experience in Year 10 might feel daunting at first, but you're in a brilliant position to start building your skills early. Don't wait for the perfect opportunity to land in your lap. Start reaching out, creating projects at home, and showing people you're serious about design.

Whether you secure a formal placement, volunteer for a local business, or build experience on your own, every step you take now will pay off in the future. Be proactive, stay creative, and don't be discouraged if you face a few rejections along the way. Now go out there and start making your mark in the world of graphic design. 

For more work experience advice and guidance on potential future plans, check out the Careers section in our Learning Hub.

References

Careerbay (opens in a new tab)

Canva (opens in a new tab)

Adobe Express (opens in a new tab)

RSA Pupil Design Awards (opens in a new tab)