Graduate profile:
John Benton
Creative director and co-founder, CRE8IVE, Canberra
2000 - graduated with a Bachelor of Graphic Design from the University of Canberra. “Studying at UC really became the foundation for my career. It exposed me to most of the design principles that I now make a living from. It also provided a base for me to be able to continue learning. I have kept in touch with some of my lecturers and tutors which has been rewarding.
UC pioneered the teaching of website design as part of graphic design and encouraged us to be exposed to the possibilities of the internet. This was great because the industry was just starting to embrace digital communication and this gave me a real head start.”
I always wanted to be doing something design / creative related – I knew I’d get bored otherwise.
My best memories of UC are the final year exhibition.
My first job out of uni was graphic designer in my own company.
My career highlight was being named the Advertising Federation of Australia Youngblood and winning the Telstra Business of the Year.
Today I am creative director for the advertising agency CRE8IVE.
In the future I want to be involved in projects that span other creative disciplines such as music, architecture and interior design.
AND JUST FOR FUN....
My hero is no single person, but everyone who has influenced me.
My favourite food is anything Italian.
My favourite band is a hard one – probably The Prodigy or UNKLE.
The book I’m reading at the moment is, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie and The World is Flat by Thomas L Friedman.
If I ruled the world I would make design aesthetics a higher priority – after declaring world peace of course.
