Let’s rewind to 2011. The era of Blackberry phones, Jeje fonts, and when “status symbol” meant you had unli-text. That year, I was barely 18, diploma fresh from a 2-year course, no bachelor's degree, no experience, but a whole lot of hope—and a plastic envelope filled with résumés and dreams.

Fresh Grad, Walang Degree—Hanap Mode ON

Right after graduation, I jumped straight into job hunting. Opened JobStreet, typed “Graphic Designer,” and boom—heartbreak.

“Bachelor’s degree required. With at least 2 years experience.”

Eh fresh grad nga ako, paano ‘to?

I spent days scrolling, tweaking my résumé, and applying to anything remotely close to design. Minsan kahit wala sa field ko, basta may sahod—go na. It wasn’t easy, especially when most companies didn’t even reply. Pero laban lang. I knew someone out there would take a chance.

Printing Press: My First Job and First Real Lessons

My first official job was at a printing press in Mandaluyong. I still remember stepping into that place—machines humming, the smell of ink in the air, and me pretending I totally knew what I was doing.

This is where I learned how to identify paper types—by touch. Yup, I could tell if it was C2S, matte, or bond just by feeling it. May special power ako n’un, promise.

Also, it was the first time I met CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. Let’s just say… hindi kami agad nagkasundo. But I pushed through. Trial and error, crash and cry, pero go pa rin.

The Commute: Novaliches to Mandaluyong – The Ultimate Survival Game

Now, let’s talk about the real struggle: the daily commute.

From Novaliches to Mandaluyong, every single day, I braved the MRT. If you’ve ridden it during rush hour, you know what I mean—boxing match levels. People are pushing, squeezing, and fighting for their spots like it’s the championship. Sometimes, you’d get stuck between a Tito na may backpack and a student na may guitar case. Good luck nalang, beh.

And if MRT wasn’t hellish enough, may bonus pa: FX rides with 8 strangers breathing down your neck, or jeepneys where you had to shout “Para po sa tabi lang!” kahit nahihiya ka.

Agency Life: No Sleep, Just Deadlines

By 2012, I had moved on to an ad agency. That’s when things levelled up. Walang bachelor's degree? Wala nang issue. What mattered was if you could deliver.

Suddenly, I was designing for brands I grew up seeing on TV. Bigatin. But with great brands came even greater deadlines. OT? Normal. Going home not knowing what time it is? Standard. Overworked and underpaid? Oo, pero passion keeps you going (and coffee).

I learned more in that one year than I ever could have from a classroom. Real-life clients, real revisions, real feedback. Minsan masakit. Minsan nakakainis. Pero laging may lesson.

Looking Back: The Non-Degree Path That Taught Me Everything

I used to be insecure about not having a bachelor’s degree. Like, am I even legit? But now, I realize—what I lacked in titles, I made up for in hustle and experience.

I didn't have the traditional path, but I had the diskarte. I learned by doing, by failing, by getting shouted at by printers, and by getting stuck in traffic thinking about color palettes. 😂

And now? I’m proud of that journey. Because behind every design I make is a story—of MRT chaos, jeepney rides, late nights, and a lot of heart.

Hi, I’m Abby— a graphic designer shaped by grit, guided by Google,

fueled by pancit canton, and seasoned by the streets of Quezon City.

No degree? No problem. Just creativity, caffeine, and a whole lotta layers (pun intended).

Graphic Designer Life in the Philippines: No Degree, Just Grit, Traffic, and Talent