Student has designs on success (From Croydon Guardian)

Addiscombe student sets up design company

9:20am Sunday 26th August 2012 in Local news By Hannah Williamson

A teenage entrepreneur has set up her own design business after struggling to find a job.

Ejatu Shaw from Addiscombe, started Depiktion Design after struggling to find part-time work.

The 15-year-old who has always had a passion for art and design, decided to try and use her hobby to make money.

She said: "I was trying to find a job online, but I couldn't find any that would take a 15-year-old. I used to draw a lot of portraits and discovered I could also do logos.

"So I used YouTube tuition videos to help me improve, then contacted different photography companies using social media and began designing album covers for them.

"It has been good, I don't need a lot of money, but Depiktion Design work helps me get along."

As well as designing logos, Ejatu has also designed t-shirts, leaflets and posters for Croydon Youth Council.

The Old Palace of John Whitgift School pupil has also been commissioned to design business cards for wedding companies and a spa, hand drawing the designs before scanning them and finishing them on her computer.

Her first international client was Vickie Remoe, a talk show host who wanted a logo created for her new clothing line.

Ejatu said: "Vickie Remoe is quite famous in Sierra Leone where I am from, it was great to create the logo for her African clothing line."

The schoolgirl is keen to expand her business and said she would love to have other teenagers on her team.

She said: "They could be people from my school or other schools in Croydon. I would love to have a team of between five and ten teenagers."

To find out more visit facebook.com/depiktiondesign