Meryl Singleton
Founder and lead strategist of Small Fry
I’m the founder and lead strategist of Small Fry - a creative studio in London that specialises in content for social media and campaigns.
I started out interning for start-up food & drink brands, and eventually got a full-time job in social media for Vita Coco. After 18 months, I moved on to HelloFresh for another 2 years as Content Manager and after that I went freelance to work for brands like Linda McCartney Foods, itsu and more.
The food & drink industry is a close-knit community and I found that referrals came in via word of mouth and I was never short of work. I started Small Fry to work on bigger projects with a variety of creatives (rather than just freelancing solo).
We’ve worked with brands such as BrewDog, Camden Town Brewery, BBC Sounds, and plenty more. www.smallfry.world
Post 16: A Levels: English, Photography, and Product Design. Art Foundation
Higher Education: BA (Hons) Visual Comms (Graphic Design)
Why Visual Communication?
I found that despite not being the best at exams and final marks, I loved being creative and always saw myself having a creative career.
I felt a bit behind my peers in terms of art experience (having not done art at GCSE or A level), so I decided to pursue the Art foundation level qualification to help me decide which creative discipline I’d like to pursue. I knew that a university degree would help me gain a better entry level job as well as understanding of how to work in a creative business, so it was the right choice for me
Meryl's experience as a student
I absolutely loved Loughborough University. I found the tutors really inspiring, made some great friends (both in and out of the course) and it was definitely a completely different experience than the city university experiences that my friends had.
I knew that Loughborough University was looked upon highly in the art and design world, and I really felt that the tutors cared about design and our development.
My favourite part of the course was the fact we were given very realistic briefs (as if we were working for clients) which I think has helped shape my presentation and pitching skills in my current role. I also loved the social aspect of Loughborough University - I’ve made friends for life (some of which I’ve lived with for 10 years now!)
Meryl’s Career
Having a creative/visual degree helped massively. Social Media is hugely visual and relies on Graphic Design and visual trends. It’s helped me when briefing, commissioning, and managing other creatives as well as when pitching and presenting ideas to clients. I also found it useful when applying to jobs using creative ways to catch the attention of the brand.
Meryl's advice
Think about what career you would love to do (even if it’s unconventional e.g., small business owner, independent creator), shape your applications and university path around this. There’s so much you can do with a visual degree, it’s not just graphic design! It can set you up for a creative career in any field, but just try and think about the lifestyle you’d like to lead, speak with people in similar fields and remember that it can change as you go!
Loughborough University offer degrees in:
Fashion Design and Technology, Textile Design, Fine Art, Graphic Design and an Art and Design Foundation Course.
Throughout their degree, arts students are encouraged to exhibit their work; opportunities include pop-up exhibitions, trade shows and arts festivals. The annual Arts Degree Show attracts thousands of visitors every year and offers a wonderful opportunity to see what is on offer from a Creative Art Degree at Loughborough.
Please note: Degrees and their titles change over time. Some graduates may have studied degrees that have evolved and changed in response to changes in demand from employers.