FSP Academy is launching a brand-new series highlighting the journeys of our academy graduates from their first steps to their growth within and beyond. This week, Alishba, Brand and Comms Apprentice, interviewed User-Centered Design Associate, Emile Braud to discuss his key highlights from being at FSP. Curious to know what it was? Check it out below!

• Alishba – ‘What is your role at FSP and have you been in this role since you started in the FSP Academy?’

Emile – ‘I’m an associate UX/UI Consultant (User Experience/User Interface) and I’ve been in this role since I joined the FSP Academy (3 and a half years ago)’

• Alishba – ‘What made you choose FSP for your graduate role?’

Emile – ‘FSP provided a structure to learn from, which is important early on in a career but is not something which is often easily found in the creative industry. It provided guidance and resources to develop early on.’

• Alishba – ‘Whilst you were in the Academy, what kind of support and guidance did you receive and how did this contribute to where you’re at now in your role?’

Emile – ‘We received a lot of support early on. We had sessions with a performance coach and psychologist. These sessions helped us learn more about ourselves and our values. Being linked with a mentor was also a great way to gain knowledge and gain guidance.

Being in the Academy was a great starting point, I was quickly trusted to accomplish tasks and projects, but never rushed.’

• Alishba – ‘How has the Academy contributed to your overall career growth and success?’

Emile – ‘The Academy has allowed me to strive in a fast paced environment and develop my skills. FSP has quickly trusted me to be in front of clients which has allowed me to develop great interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.’

• Alishba – ‘Can you tell us about a key highlight from your time at FSP so far?’

Emile – ‘I’m proud to have played a key role in transitioning our team to Figma, the industry-leading UI design software. Previously, Afroditi, User-Centered Design Lead, was using Sketch, which was limited to Apple devices, while I was issued a Windows laptop. As a workaround, we moved to Adobe XD, but we quickly encountered several constraints.

Recognising the need for a more versatile solution, I gradually introduced Figma to Afroditi, demonstrating its advantages and how it could enhance our workflow. She quickly saw the benefits and agreed to make the switch. She then put together a business case for our capability lead, securing licenses for full team access.

Since then, we haven’t looked back!’

• Alishba – ‘What advice would you give to both current and new Academy members for maximising their experience?’

Emile – ‘Use the resources FSP has, speak to people you find interesting and could help in your development. Be engaged and forge connections. Everyone who I have spoken to has been happy to take time out of their day to speak to me, get to know me and share their stories and knowledge.’