Viktoria started life at Leighton in UX but quickly came to realise her creative passion lay in graphic design.  

In this month’s colleague spotlight, we chat to Vik as she reflects on some of her favourite career highlights to date, why she enjoys working at Leighton, and what she gets up to away from work.  

Can you tell us about your role and responsibilities as a Graphic Designer?  

My role sits within Leighton’s marketing team, but it extends across the wider business, supporting multiple disciplines. I help to bring the Leighton brand to life, ensuring everything is visually engaging and that all communications look, feel, and sound consistent with the brand.  

Graphic design is inherently subjective, with people often having varying expectations or visions. My role is to translate those ideas into effective, visually engaging outputs, bringing concepts to life as closely as possible to what’s envisioned.  

Adapting to different briefs, interpreting feedback and refining work is a crucial part of my day-to-day responsibilities, ensuring the final result meets both creative and business objectives.  

How long have you been with Leighton and what drew you here initially?  

I’ll have been at Leighton six years this year. I joined shortly after graduating from university, where I studied 3D animation and visualisation at Glasgow. At the time, breaking into the industry was challenging. Many roles required several years of experience, and not to mention it was the start of the pandemic, meaning very few businesses were hiring at that time anyway.  

Fortunately, I came across a UX role at Leighton and decided to go for it. The interview process was a positive one. It was open, transparent and felt like an honest conversation. We discussed not only the skills I could bring, but also the areas where the team would support my development. That approach, combined with the culture I experienced, made it an easy decision to join.  

What inspired you to pursue a career as a Graphic Designer?

It was never something I originally set out to pursue. I’ve always been a creative person and have enjoyed art, but early in my career I found it challenging as I didn’t feel I had the same depth of experience as others in the profession.  

During the start of my time at Leighton, the marketing team began to grow and there was an increasing need for graphic design support. When that opportunity came up, it felt like a natural fit to move across from UX into graphic design. It allowed me to lean into my creative strengths, and from that point I knew it was something I wanted to pursue long term.  

What are the most important skills you’ve had to develop in your role?  

Whilst the last five years have given me the opportunity to grow and develop my design skills, one of the most important things I’ve learned is how to embrace constructive feedback. Early in my career, I found it challenging when my work needed to be changed or refined. Over time however, I’ve come to really value feedback and the importance of seeing things from another person’s perspective.  

Design is rarely just about your own vision. You’re bringing someone else’s ideas to life, and without fully understanding their thinking, it can be difficult to align perfectly. I’ve found that clear workflows, open communication, and a “less is more” approach helps avoid overcomplicating things. Ultimately, strong collaboration and regular communication make the process more efficient and lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.  

What accomplishment are you most proud of in your career to date?

Mastering the art of getting print materials right has been a big milestone for me. I’m not afraid to admit that I used to find it quite daunting. There’s very little room for error, and it can be challenging to ensure everything is set up correctly before it goes to print.  

Now, however, I feel much more confident. Whether it’s a booklet, name badges, or other printed assets, I’m comfortable managing the process from start to finish. With print, once it’s produced, there’s no going back, so attention to detail is critical. That’s something I’ve really developed over time, giving me the confidence to deliver high-quality work.  

What do you enjoy most about your work?  

Having the freedom to bring my own creative perspective to projects. As a designer, it’s important to maintain that creative mindset while still delivering against the brief. Striking that balance can be challenging, especially as styles, trends and requirements are constantly evolving. But once you find that formula, it gives you confidence in the work you are delivering.  

What’s one thing about Leighton that stands out to you?  

Leighton has a completely open culture which is built on a lot of trust and transparency. There’s a strong level of trust in colleagues to get on with their work, which I really value. The flexibility is also a huge positive, being able to work where and when you’re most effective is something I haven’t experienced elsewhere.  

What stands out most is the openness across the organisation. If someone has a concern, they feel comfortable raising it. Colleagues are encouraged to have honest conversations, regardless of seniority, and that level of transparency makes a real difference to the overall working environment.  

What’s your favourite memory or moment from your time at Leighton so far?

One of my favourite memories is my first time working from our office. From the moment I arrived, there was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and it was a great opportunity to meet some of our colleagues in person. Everyone made me feel welcome straight away, which really reflects the culture of the business and the people within it.  

What’s one thing you want to accomplish in your career that you haven’t yet?

I’d like to reach a point in my career where there’s a strong level of trust in my work and creative opinion, so feedback becomes more about refinement rather than direction. Of course, feedback is an essential part of design at any level, but the goal is to minimise the need for significant changes by consistently delivering work that closely aligns with expectations from the start.  

I understand that even the most experienced designers receive feedback, but being able to keep revisions, especially around visual aesthetics, to a minimum is something I see as a real mark of progress and confidence in my role.  

What’s a fun fact about you that most colleagues might not know?

I’m a self-confessed geek! I love playing video games, reading comics and watching horror movies in my free time.  

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?  

I spend a lot of time with my husband, and we try to see friends whenever we can. We also watch a lot of movies, and I’ve recently started writing my own comic.  

What’s something people might not know about your role?

I think there’s a lot of work that happens behind the scenes that can sometimes go unnoticed. A significant amount of time and effort goes into the content we produce, but it doesn’t always receive the recognition it deserves. That said, I understand that’s just the nature of the role. When things are working well, it can appear effortless from the outside.  

Ultimately, knowing the impact the work has and the value it brings to the wider business is what really matters.  

What’s the best piece of career advice you have ever received?

Less is more. I think this can be applied to life outside of work too, keeping things simple often leads to clearer thinking, better decisions, and stronger outcomes.  

What advice would you give someone starting in this industry?

Don’t take things personally. Feedback isn’t a reflection of you, it’s about what the work requires, and different briefs call for different approaches. Accept that perfection isn’t the goal. Growth comes through experience, not getting everything right every time. Everyone makes mistakes, and that’s part of the process. Stay open, keep learning, and don’t take yourself too seriously.