Dear SHS Recruitment Team,

I'm a current design student at the University of Sydney, seeking to expand my experience. My design journey has taken me from shaping physical spaces to crafting digital experiences—and it’s been anything but linear. I studied Architecture for three years, designed and built a van into a full-time home (designing a functional living space in under 8 square meters is a design challenge like no other!), coded my first website from scratch (learning HTML and CSS through YouTube tutorials!), picked up freelance graphic projects, and now I’m studying Interaction Design - combining all these experiences into my own creative process.

I approach design the same way I approach life - with passion and excitement, openness, curiosity, and a bold attitude.

I’ve always been the kind of person who gets deeply absorbed in whatever I do. From my huge passion for horse riding as a kid (10-year-old me was very committed to convincing my parents to move so we could have horses in the backyard!), to my gliding adventure as a teenager (waking up at 4 a.m. all summer just to spend the day at the airfield), to my current love for rock climbing - when something captures my attention, I give it my all. Design is no different. When I start a project, I dive in completely, driven by curiosity and a strong desire to excel. These qualities have helped me thoroughly learn digital design software and become truly confident working with it - I consider myself a digitally-savvy designer.

When I’m designing, I’m always keen to explore, stay open, connect with people, and understand different perspectives - an approach shaped by traveling from a young age. Visiting several continents, first with my family and later on my own, sparked my curiosity about the world and helped me develop a deep sense of empathy and observation. I believe these qualities are key when creating digital products and brands with people and for people - the ability to observe and understand the market, the customers, and the audience. And those are exactly the kinds of projects I’ve seen in SHS’s portfolio - designed for hospitality and lifestyle brands, improving the small everyday moments and helping great places grow. I would be truly excited to contribute to that.

I’m not afraid to take bold moves and leaps in my projects - the same way I’ve embraced new experiences in life. Whether it’s picking up a new passion, going on an adventure, or moving across the world to seek new challenges - as I did when I moved to the UK for my undergraduate degree, and all the way to Australia for my Master’s. That same mindset shapes my design approach: I’m drawn to unexpected paths, experimental ideas, and bold visual solutions. SHS strikes me as a studio that truly shares and believes in those same values - I'm really drawn to your bold, converging visuals and branding strategies, believing hospitality businesses deserve original and dynamic look. I’m open and eager to explore new possibilities and stay up to date with emerging tools and practices - you can explore some of my projects under the ‘Experience Design Lab’ category on my portfolio site to see how I use AI to support and elevate my designs today.

Both sports and academia have taught me more than just resilience or expertise - it’s not just about the challenge or the knowledge, but also about teamwork, trust, and a sense of community. That’s what I love most about the climbing world: people cheering each other on, sharing advice, and building real connections. It’s also what I’ve found at university, and what I hope to find in a creative team - where everyone brings something different to the table, and we push each other to do great work.

My academic background taught me how to balance structure with experimentation and use design tools and methods with purpose. At the same time, my life experiences have shaped me into a bold, curious, and confident designer. I ground my thinking in research and testing, but I also embrace creative risk and play. I’m now ready to bring all of this energy into the professional world and gain hands-on experience as I begin my design career.

While I may not yet have 1–2 years of agency or studio experience, I have worked as a freelance graphic designer and contributed to multiple academic design projects. I believe I bring all the essential skills for this role - including bonus ones - and, above all, genuine enthusiasm and fresh ideas.

I currently hold a valid Student (subclass 500) visa that allows me to work up to 48 hours per fortnight during the academic term. I’m based in Sydney and available for in-office work. After graduation, I intend to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa to continue contributing to the Australian design industry - which I’m truly excited to be part of.

Thank you for considering my application - I’d love the opportunity to contribute to and learn from your team, not just through visuals, but through the energy and passion I bring to every project. I’d be more than happy to connect!

Warm regards,
Dominika Struminska
struminska.dominika@gmail.com
0425 428 148
struminska.online