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Women in Leadership - Alice Gill, CEO and Head Designer
Name: Alice Gill
Role: CEO and Head designer
Company: AGE Productions UK Ltd
Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I'm Alice, I'm 22 from Essex and I am the owner of AGE Productions UK Ltd. We craft scroll-stopping designs for passionate entrepreneurs. We specialise in branding, print, web and all things social media. I started my business when I was in my second year of university and turned it into my full-time job as soon as I graduated.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? I loved being creative and my job felt like the perfect way to let my creativity and imagination run wild. I love the fact I could one day be working on a project and the next a completely different project. I also have a passion for helping people reach their full potential and chase their dreams. Creating their branding and helping their businesses in this way, has allowed me to do this.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? Despite going to university, when I first started my business, I had no qualifications or work experience in my industry. I took to Skillshare, YouTube and good old-fashioned trial and error to create my experience in the industry. Having said this, I have obtained a first-class honours degree in Digital Media and have paid for multiple courses such as social media management, email marketing and coding to help me gain a better understanding of specific areas of my business. Due to this, when I look for freelancers and junior designers to help me with projects, I don't always look at previous work/ experience. This industry requires dedication and a desire to be unique over qualifications.
What do you enjoy most about your job/role? I love the freedom, and not just the typical narrative that is portrayed online of 'I can work anywhere in the world and still earn money'. I love the freedom of being able to own a dog, my dog is one of the biggest positive impacts on my mental, physical and emotional health. If I didn't run my own business, I couldn't have him. I also love the freedom to work on projects that truly align with me. If I worked for someone else in my job role, I would have no choice in the projects I had to complete. Whereas, in my own business and being the head designer, I get to choose which projects excite me the most and align with my values the most.
Are there any obstacles you had to overcome in your career? Everyday. 3 years in, I still make mistakes and still face obstacles more often than not. A huge one for me is investing in a lawyer to help with my terms and conditions and contracts. This allows my process to be smooth and enjoyable for both me and the client. My terms and conditions contain things such as conduct expectations, timelines including deadlines for both the client and myself and legal protection for both parties.
Why do you think it is important to have strong female representation in your industry? I think there is a perception that females in the industry can only create 'pretty pink brands' and this is definitely not the case! AGE Productions UK Ltd prides itself on being able to offer a diverse design style that attracts all audiences. We have worked within many industries which are considered male-dominated such as builders and mechanics and have formed successful business relationships where gender isn't questioned or doubted. It's also important to show that women are capable of owning their own businesses and successfully creating an income for themselves.
What advice would you give to those wanting to take a similar career path? Finding out what you don't like to design, is just as important as finding out what you do like to design. It's important when starting out to try, try and try to eventually find out what your style is. It took me a few years to really connect with what I enjoy creating and that's okay! The journey I have been on to find out has been incredible.
Is there anything else you would like to add about your job or about Women In Leadership? Don't be put off by how many people are already doing what you want to do, whether that be other business owners or other women. There are millions of people across the world who are graphic designers and there is still room for me to thrive. If you truly want something, go for it.
