Choosing Your Creative Future – Schools & 3rd Level Students

Creative speakers will share their journeys and showcase their amazing work to inspire and inform your creative career.

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EILEEN RAFFERTY – The Bothy – CEO Errigal Studios

A Donegal native, Eileen is an experienced media producer with a track record in advertising and experiential content creation in the tv, radio, print and screen industries. Her experience spans creative projects alongside top Irish & London production companies, sound and post houses in Europe & US, as well as collaborations with world renowned animation studios. Eileen is co-founder of The Bothy and of the proposed new studio development in Donegal Errigal Studios.

NOEL FEENEY & JACOB BURRILL – Hen’s Teeth
Noel is Head of Production & Design at Hen’s Teeth, an independent Irish cultural brand based in Dublin 8. His diverse skill set and background in both carpentry and graphic design have both found a home in creative production where he conceptualises, builds and designs exhibitions, events & art & merch collections. Notable projects include Honey Dijon x Marina Esmeraldo: Black Girl Magic, Fatti Burke: The Snug, Hennessy Sound Lounge, Hattie Stewart’s Lazy Days, Ruan Van Vliet’s ‘Exhibition for Dogs’, & Goalissimo in partnership with Amnesty International.

Jacob is a graphic designer from Co. Mayo. He graduated from LYIT’s graphic design programme in 2022 (this course has evolved to become Graphic & UX Design at ATU). His career kickstarted when he created a print for the Creatives Against Covid print exhibition in 2020, which introduced him to Hen’s Teeth, where he went on to release a series of prints. This led to a solo exhibition at Lucky’s and freelance work for SOMY and Joy Fantastic. He is currently employed as a graphic designer at Hen’s Teeth where he creates all of the artwork for their cafe, store and HiFi Lounge, as well as work for brands like Guinness & Roe & Co. through their Creative Studio.

AILEEN FALLER – Costume Supervisor at Netflix

Since graduating from Wimbledon College of Art- London; Aileen Faller always had her eyes on the ‘Big Screen.’ Now, as a Costume Supervisor working in the Film & TV industry for ten years, she attributes her success to having a relentless work ethic, kind team spirit, Teflon shoulders and a gut full of passion. As a child, Aileen made extravagant, homemade costumes for Derry’s Halloween carnivals every year. Unaware she was planting creative seeds for a career in costuming the biggest A-listers in the Film industry. From Matt le Blanc on the Hollywood Hills to Bradley Cooper conducting at Ely Cathedral. The Trolloc battles with Rosamund Pike in The Wheel of Time to a War of the White Walker’s on Game of Thrones. Boat chases in Venice with Kevin Hart and shootouts at The Garrison with Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders – Aileen’s career has been nothing but challenging and thrilling.

MARK DOUGLAS – Post Production Senior Manager at Trueblack Studio, London

Mark is a multidisciplinary photography and videography creative who currently lives between London, UK and Neuchatel, Switzerland. Mark’s creative journey began at the Ulster University where he studied Design & Communication, before moving to London after he graduated in 2011 to pursue his career. Skills diversity underpins Mark’s creative work, and he has a breadth of multidisciplinary experience; from photographing global beauty campaigns, to shooting film in Ghana, to editing & grading marketing films and television commercials. Mark’s current role is as a Post-Production Senior Manager within the Rankin Group, where his work has focused on delivering projects for automotive accounts, such as Rolls Royce, Aston Martin & Mercedes AMG.

STEPHEN FAGAN – Managing Director at Studio Meala.

Stephen has a passion for big ideas with purpose and believes that creativity and empathy are uniquely human and apply that belief by supporting purposeful growth in those I work with. He is an experienced managing director operating in the creative industries, an award-winning animation producer and an accredited coach. Stephen is currently the Managing Director/ Producer of Studio Meala where he oversees the production and development of high-quality animation content for all screen sizes. He also works as a freelance Designer and Animator, working on various projects through a number of different mediums e.g. web design, print, e- learning and 3d animation as both member of a team and independently. Managing projects liaising with clients/team members and working effectively to tight deadlines.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER – MARY DOHERTY – IDI & Red Dog
Buncrana-born Mary Doherty is Managing Director of Red Dog, which she founded in 1993, nurturing the company and maintaining its position as one of Ireland’s leading and respected creative agencies. Her vision and steadfast demand for excellent design has helped drive the creative team forward to becoming an internationally recognised, award-winning brand agency.

Mary has a significant level of expertise in helping brands that are now ready to move on, re-invent themselves or have found that they have simply ‘outgrown’ their current visual and verbal brand identity. Mary has never worked anywhere else as Red Dog was established the morning after she graduated from college and still lives to their mantra of ‘We are good at what we do because good is just never good enough’. Mary is on the board of The Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) and the Merrion Fertility Clinic, she also sits on a committee with NGO Concern Worldwide which raises funds to highlight the issues around ‘Women of Concern’. She is the newly elected President of The Institute of Designers in Ireland.