Berlin - Visiting Professional - Chloë Galea

Whilst in Berlin, we had the opportunity to meet Leeds College of Art alumni Chloë Galea, who studied Graphic Design before graduating in 2011. Now based in Berlin and working part time at Cee Cee Creative and part time as a freelance designer and art director, Chlöe has used her skillset across print and digital to complete projects for a wide range of fashion, luxury and lifestyle clients. These clients include Cath Kidson, Jack Wills, Anthropologie and The White Company.

After university, Chlöe interned at Pencil Studio, London, before working for them professionally for 2 and a half years. 


In 2013 she left London and moved to Berlin as a freelance designer. Before making the move, Chlöe 
had meetings with her then-current clients to inform them of her plans to move. Technology and the internet now mean that designers can work anywhere, and therefore Chlöe was able to keep some of her clients.

Chloë notably uses Behance to aid her freelance work as it allows for potential clients to find her by location. On working in Berlin, Chlöe details that at times language barrier issues can make working with suppliers difficult, however she is currently learning German.

Additionally, Chlöe left us with some key advice. She said once she left university, people used to ask that she would do work for free, but was quick to inform us to not design anything without a contract, agreement or upfront payment and that no work should be undertaken until you have reassurance that you will be paid by the end of the job.

The insights given by Chlöe in to her post-graduate life and professional design practice have been really eye-opening and inspiring. I think its really exciting to see and hear alumni of LCA doing so well and working with big clients not too long after graduating. It makes me hopeful and excited for the future of my own practice, and more and more eager to start working in the industry. That said, I'm not sure I personally would have the confidence to move from the UK - though I may consider doing so in the future or for the right job.