1990s

Roderick Rose

Designer/ Developer | Atomic Concepts

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I first learned about Making The Leap (or LEAP, as it was called back then) when I was walking down Harlesden High Street. I saw a poster in LEAP’s window – it said something like, “If you’re looking for work, come in and check us out!”. I had recently completed a HND (Higher National Diploma) in graphic design, and I was hoping to follow a creative career path. But I hadn’t yet found the right role, and I was actively looking for work at the time. So I thought, “why not?”, and went into LEAP’s office. I was met by Betty, who was so warm and friendly – I remember feeling so welcomed. Betty got me registered on LEAP’s system, and talked to me about what I was interested in doing.

Over the next couple of weeks, Eugene and Betty helped me sort out my CV, and kept an eye out for relevant opportunities. On one of my visits, Eugene said he thought I’d be suitable for one of LEAP’s vacancies, as a Community Liaison Officer. The role involved going into local estates and helping people get into work, and I thought it would be a nice role to explore while I was figuring out what I wanted to do. So I applied, got the role, and stayed for the next 10 years!

Working at LEAP really kicked off my career. It was so fulfilling to help unemployed people into work, and it gave me a real sense of self-worth – I was doing work I could feel proud of. I also honed my communication skills by working with people from all walks of life – from people looking for work to Job Centre managers and employers. This proved really valuable later on, when I became a full-time graphic designer, as good design is all about understanding and communicating to a wide range of audiences.

In the 2000s, I started to make the transition to graphic design work, which was my first love. I actually met a designer out in the community through my work at LEAP, and got an opportunity to work with her on a freelance project. After that, I worked for a few design agencies, and then decided I’d go fully freelance. LEAP was so supportive of my career change, and actually made it possible – they commissioned me to do a lot of their design work, from creating a new logo to building their website and developing print materials. This helped me to build up my portfolio, and by the early 2010s, I was working full-time as a freelance graphic designer.

I’m still passionate about doing work that makes a difference. In addition to Making The Leap, my clients include Brent Council, Haringey Council, and the Windrush Foundation. I have such a sense of achievement and pride knowing that I’ve been part of Making The Leap’s journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

You can learn more about Roderick’s work via his website.