Kat Wilkinson

Kat Wilkinson has more than a decade’s worth of experience in graphic design, art direction and content production across retail, fashion, beauty and the arts. Kat grew up in Naarm/Melbourne and now works between London and New York.

Kat began her career as an intern for the fashion brand Opening Ceremony, from which she quickly progressed to her role with the creative agency Lloyd & Co. Here, Kat forged her career as an Art Director, working with brands such as Adidas, Y-3, Calvin Klein and Estee Lauder.

Kat is now Senior Art Director at MECCA, where she conceives, directs and produces beauty campaigns across all MECCA Brands.

Describe your career trajectory since exhibiting in Top Designs.

For my VCE, I chose to take all visual subjects, which felt like a risk at the time. Being part of Top Designs was a very special moment for me because it was a recognition of all my hard work and commitment to creative pathways. The experience reinforced a confidence, at this early stage in my career, to believe in what I was doing.

My decision to move to New York City was the next big career highlight for me. The fast-paced industry in New York forced me to adopt new skills and ways of working. A big ‘WOW’ moment for me was when I was assisting on a shoot for Adidas × Y-3 with Harley Weir as the photographer.

What advice would you share with people starting off in your field?

There is not always a clear path to your career goal – this was my experience with Art Direction. People often find themselves in this role through round-about ways; typically, through a Communication Design degree and work experience. The importance of the relationships you make at university, jobs and through mentors is imperative. Look to all forms of art for inspiration, including paintings, sculptures, music, architecture and film – truly original ideas are formed from diverse influences.