The students were preparing for their end-of-year show and putting the finishing touches to their portfolios. Simon talked about the early days of starting a creative agency and about staying upbeat in a competitive environment.

We have distilled the lecture down into ten tips for graduating design students.

1. Phone up and talk when an email will do.
Drop in and say hi when a phone call will do.
In short: go the extra mile.

2. Don't chase a big pay-cheque. Instead pursue your creative passions and develop your craft; the money will flow towards you. Chase it and it will flow away from you.

3. Read and observe everything, be aware of changes in fine art trends, be on top of the latest typeface. Go to exhibitions, go to museums, go to scrap yards and car boot sales. Know about what's happening in fashion and even politics, let it all marinate and draw something everyday.

4. Be kind, be honest, don't take any of it too seriously. It's not brain surgery.

5. You have to really want it. Passion and hard work is equal to natural talent.

6. Get someone who can spell to check your work.  

7.  Go with your gut. Even if it turns out to be the wrong decision, you will have made it quickly. Procrastination drains your creative flow.

8.  Be prepared to knock on a lot of doors and get a few knock-backs.

9. Never delete a layout. Instead, duplicate and rework - you may return to the project the next morning and love your first idea.

10. It's not fine art. So also maintain other creative outlets: throw a pot on a clay wheel, or get back into painting. Take that screen-printing course. Better still, draw your bowl of fruit or your granny. Not every creative idea has to make you money.

We wish the design students all the best with getting their work collated for the end-of-year show, it's all looking fantastic. See you on the creative dance-floor soon.

Enjoy the ride!