Design portfolio review session with Penguin Books UK

Closing date to sign up: Wednesday 26th November 2025, 5.00pm

Event date & time: Wednesday 3rd December 2025, 1–3pm

Are you an early-careers designer looking to give your portfolio a boost? This is your chance to gain tailored feedback and advice on your work directly from Penguin Books UK industry professionals.

As part of Work in Publishing Week, Creative Access will be hosting online portfolio review sessions with designers and art directors from Penguin Books UK. The aim is to support early career designers from Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse backgrounds, and help them develop their portfolios. This initiative forms part of Penguin's commitment to increasing representation within design.

What to expect

If selected, you will be matched with a Penguin designer or art director for a 20-minute online portfolio review. This will take place on Wednesday 3 December between 1pm and 3pm. You will have the opportunity to receive feedback on your work, ask for advice on building or strengthening your portfolio, and ask questions about creative development and careers.

Participants are encouraged to bring:

• A full portfolio or a single piece of work (work-in-progress pieces are fully acceptable)
• Questions about creative development or career direction

What you will gain

• Constructive, supportive feedback on your portfolio or piece of work
• Suggested development pathways to strengthen your design skills
• Insight into publishing design roles
• Greater confidence and clarity around your creative career

To apply

• Log in to your Creative Access account or register today to apply for this opportunity
• Upload as one document your CV, a link to your portfolio or an example of your work, and a short cover letter of no more than 250 words answering the following question: “How would attending this session support you in progressing in your design career?” (applications without answers will not be accepted.)
• Once submitted, you can no longer amend your application, so proof-read carefully
• Do not contact or apply via the company directly
• Please email any queries about this opportunity to Creative Access at this address: recruit@creativeaccess.org.uk

This opportunity is open to Black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates.