This summer we'll welcome a talented group to YCN, creating space to work, learn and build capability —  connecting with knowledge and opportunities across our network.

We caught up with Zeena Shah to find out how her degree, and experiences as an independent creative, led her to working with kids as Lead Designer at Wonderbly.

After graduating from Leeds Arts University, Helen Mackay's eagerness to break into the design world quickly landed her the role of Designer at UK Greetings. Here she reflects on her journey so far.

Information designer Stefanie Posavec reflects on her most significant projects, the value of collaboration and how she uses data as her muse.

Multi-disciplinary visual artist and designer, Ben Cullen Williams, shares his thoughts on the relationship between physical and digital and the importance of collaboration and taking risks.

On the evening of 17 September, we took to the iconic Barbican Centre to celebrate those commended in this year's YCN Student Awards.

Writer and podcaster Liv Siddall champions indie magazine publishing, speaks on the importance of fostering young talent and reflects on her career so far.

In anticipation of this year's YCN Student Awards, we check in on the progress of the bespoke wooden awards, created with designer and maker, Tom Forsyth.

Lana Simanenkov, Senior Creative at Animade, speaks on the gender imbalance in animation and the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone when starting out.

We caught up with renowned graphic designer, storyteller, and typographer, Stefan Sagmeister, to shine a light on his story and find out who, and what, has inspired him most throughout his career.

Painter and poet Minyoung Choi's dreamlike work is made up of eerie, often surreal landscapes and elusive figures and motifs that are characterised by childhood memories of Seoul, South Korea.

Greek painter and visual artist Sofia Mitsola's work marries strong colours and confident, minimalist brushwork in surreal and playful portraits and landscapes.

Hailing from Stuttgart, Carla Benzing is a London-based German artist and curator, with a fondness for exploring different cultures and ways of living.

Santiago-born, London-based artist Francisco Rodríguez is a recent alumnus of the Slade School whose portfolio of paintings and drawings has earned him a spot on Bloomberg's New Contemporaries 2018 list.

Graphic design graduate, photographer and art director Scarlet Evans is one of the six women behind Ladybeard, the feminist magazine that plays with perceptions of gender and sexuality.

Brighton Illustration graduate Rosanna Webster plays with movement, texture and colour to create multi-media collages that combine photography, animation and illustration.

Yime de Santiago is an illustrator with a penchant for finding influence from memes, gifs and online satire. With past work including designing for a Zara collection, Yime has already mastered the best approach when tackling the illustration field.

Starting out in business, artist Andreea Dobrin Dinu's brave leap into the design world has paid off as she continues to refine her visual language, and receive widespread recognition for her work.

We caught up with Amsterdam-based graphic designer, typographer and editorial consultant, Laura Meseguer, who specialises in custom lettering and type for brands and publishing design.

Alec Dudson founded Intern magazine after a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2013. We chat to him about launching a startup, the challenges of print, and the importance of fighting the culture of unpaid work in the creative industries.

Illustrator Alva Skog is still finishing off her BA degree and yet her work is already making lasting impressions in the professional world and beyond.

Hailing from the city of Preston, freelance photographer David Townhill talks about how he was first introduced to the medium, and the effect that moving to London has had on his practice.

Anoushka Khandwala's work is tapping out of the Eurocentric and into Afro-futurism, while exploring the nature of interaction.

The self-proclaimed “ultimate guide to indie publishing”, The Magazine Blueprint by Conor Purcell is a comprehensive guide to setting up, establishing and running an independent magazine.

Having been brought up in a shop, it is no surprise that Yann Thompson now creates graphics for retail environments. Here, he describes how he landed the role of a Junior Graphic Designer at StudioXAG.

Co-founder and director of The HudsonBec Group, Will Hudson talks to YCN about championing creative talent, and his plans for the future.

Sam Peet shares his experiences of collaborative and individual projects as an editorial illustrator on Culture Trip's internal design team.

Joe Gamble, an illustrator with a penchant for working on playful, child-orientated projects, talks about the benefits of a Graphic Communications course, and setting up a collective fresh out of university.

Culture Trip's Global Art Director, Michaela Pointon, is moving into the world of freelancing. Here, she shares her journey, and the valuable lessons learned along the way.

French animator Jonathan Djob Nkondo's route into the industry has been less than orthodox.

Shaun Bowen, Co-founder of B&B Studio, talks to us about running an agency and the joys of helping passionate startup founders to create a brand from scratch.

Vicky Stoakes from PR agency Red Setter illuminates the need for public relations in the creative world, and shares the best things about being a client services director.

We chat to Rik Lomas, founder of online coding school SuperHi, about how his approach to the tech world is about creativity, collaboration and "knowing your stuff".

PROPERCORN has collaborated with seven different artists from around the globe for the launch of its new visual aesthetic.

Courtney Gooch discusses her experiences of self-development, where she finds her inspiration, and the pros and cons of going independent.

Guy Field began his career as a creative (with a speciality in illustration), with a degree in Graphic Design. Here, he shares his advice on establishing yourself in the creative field, and working on rebranding Parklife Festival's visual identity.

Duncan Swain, Co-founder of Beyond Words, shares his journey from journalism to data visualisation, and how his studio uses storytelling to bring data to life in innovative new ways.

SODA Studio's Katie Stamp talks about collaborative and in-house design, and taking a graphic approach to the world of architecture.

Art director Shannon Gibson explains the opportunities and challenges that come with designing the Financial Times' weekend supplement, which spans world events, politics and the arts.

AKQA's Senior Art Director and founder of Justified Magazine, Josh Ogden, discusses the value of personal projects and working abroad.

Shooting director Ed Andrews describes the turbulent journey that led him to a career in film, and shares his secrets to success.

Illustration grad and freelancer Hannah Buckman tells us about her creative process and the behind-the-scenes post-university struggles.

Illustrator and Art Director Marina Esmeraldo knew she wanted to pursue art as a career - but didn't know how. Today she juggles commissions, personal work and co-directing In Shades Magazine.

As a child, Nathan Joyce wanted to be a cartoonist. Today, he works as a Creative at PROPERCORN, and here he describes the journey he took to get there.

Irmak Nur Sunal sheds light on what it’s like to design for The Wall Street Journal's in-house creative agency, and challenges with which it comes.

Senior Designer at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Jo Satchell, on graphic design for a charity and the importance of keeping perspective.

MassiveMusic's Music & Mind researcher Aifric Lennon on the neuroscience and psychology behind our love of music, and her route into sonic branding.

We talk to GIF creator and art director Freddie Smithson about his most significant projects to date, and how social media has impacted his career.

Artist and illustrator Mr Bingo shares his story, shedding light on the Kickstarter that sparked his career and what he has learned along the way.

Freelance illustrator Mike Driver explains the importance of finding a work/life balance, taking time to reflect and not rushing into a specific career route.

​Languages graduate-turned-photographer and graphic designer Joseph Lebus on founding charitable photography network Faces in Focus in his final year of university.

Entrepreneur David Hieatt speaks on the value of celebrating our failures — and how he is helping people reach their full potential with the ever-growing Do Lecture series.

Ed Little shares lessons learned on his journey to becoming a photographer and brand consultant, including the importance of finding your niche.

Andrew Foxall shares his experiences of spending time working in Istanbul, and how that led to founding his eponymously named studio.

Emily Crook tells us how internships and a Graphic Design Communication degree landed her a job as a creative at ASOS.

Alice Bowsher shares her journey to becoming an illustrator, and how to overcome the challenges of being a freelance creative.

Lee Jackson explains the need for planning in the creative industry, and how his ‘patchwork quilt’ career led him to becoming daughter's Strategy Partner.