Levin
Hlawatczek

Studying Graphic and Digital Design at TUS Athlone strengthened both my strategic and creative approach to design. Working independently on multiple projects at the same time improved my planning, research and time management skills, while studying abroad introduced new creative influences and raised my personal standards of quality.
My projects focused on branding, motion graphics, user experience and editorial design, always driven by the idea that design must serve a clear purpose to be successful. One of the most defining outcomes was the creation of a fully self-directed printed portfolio book, combining editorial design, typography and visual storytelling into one cohesive system.

During my internship at ipr Werbeagentur in Hanover, I contributed to a range of real client projects, including a magazine advertisement for Lotto Schleswig-Holstein and the website development for Kretschmer Galabau. I also gained experience presenting SEO strategies in front of the agency team, which strengthened my understanding of digital visibility and marketing communication.
I worked with industry-standard tools such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma and WordPress, applying them within structured agency workflows and client-focused processes. Collaborating in teams while also taking ownership of individual tasks helped me understand how creative concepts are developed and refined in a professional environment.
A key experience was supporting the website relaunch of Kretschmer, where I was able to work independently and apply my web design skills in a real-world project setting.

My studies in Media Design at Dr. Buhmann Akademie covered a broad range of creative disciplines, from editorial and logo design to branding, photo editing, animation, web and marketing.
As my first formal education in the field, it introduced me to all core areas of design and helped me understand the diversity and scope of the industry. This experience revealed my growing interest in marketing and strategic communication, while also building a strong foundation for future academic and professional steps.
Beyond the curriculum, I actively built connections within the design community, supported university activities, and worked in outreach roles at fairs as an alumnus. I also gained experience at Marketing Club Hanover, where I contributed to admissions and organisational processes.
Combined with my ambitious mindset, this phase prepared me strongly for my internship, my studies abroad and freelance work, giving me a clear advantage in practical application compared to other students.

During high school, my interest in design and visual communication began to develop through both school projects and personal exploration.
Working with my art teacher, I contributed to creative assignments such as a cultural information board in Poland and a farewell banner for the school principal designed in a pop-art style. At the same time, I became increasingly interested in digital design through YouTube tutorials and live streams of sporting events, which helped me understand visual storytelling in a digital context. I started experimenting with design tools using GIMP as free software, which gave me my first hands-on experience in digital creation.
Post graduation, I was offered coaching esport teams at the Dr. Buhmann Akademie and gaining a scholarship, which strengthened my teamwork and communication skills. This combination of creative exploration and extracurricular responsibility ultimately supported a dedicated path in design studies.