For our March meet the team feature, get to know all about our creative genius and PPR Graphic Designer, Karenza!

How long have you been at Prohibition? 11 months, very nearly a year and most of that time has been spent in my spare bedroom!

What do you love most about your job? The variety of projects and clients makes every day different. One day I can be creating an animation about water, the next a series of social media assets for a dentist. Also working with such a wonderfully talented team that makes you laugh daily.

Tell us a bit about your journey to working at Prohibition. I studied Visual Communication at Leeds College of Art (now Leeds Arts Uni) and whilst in my final year I went for an interview at Johnson & Johnson thinking that the role was part time and I could finish university alongside it, I was very wrong. The job was actually a 12 month contract and it would start as soon as I’d finished my uni course and luckily I got the job! After working at J&J, I worked in house for a property and leisure company but dreamed of working in an agency. So when I saw the job at Prohibition advertised I had to apply. I remember the exact moment when Chris rang me offering me the job, I’d never been so happy!

What’s your top tip for someone looking to get into the PR industry? I’ll be honest, I haven’t got a clue about PR but I can give my tips for getting into design. Experience is everything! Offer your services to anyone and everyone. It’s rubbish at the beginning when not many companies will pay you for your time or talent but stick at it and take in every single bit of information. And always have good, genuine reason behind your design. I hate when people say ‘make it look nice’, no good design just looks nice – it needs to have meaning to really convey what you’re trying to achieve.

What’s your favourite social media platform and why? I’ve got two, Instagram and Pinterest. I’m obsessed with anything visual and I love colour. My favourite things to search at the moment is house inspo and trying to find solutions on how to make cheap alternatives to very expensive pieces of house furniture/decorations.

What do you love most about working/living up North? EVERYTHING! I am a Yorkshire lass through and through, and I’ve got the accent to prove it. The people are so friendly and down to earth (mostly) and having both stunning countryside and vibrant cities on your doorstep really is the best of both worlds.

What three things could you not live without? My dog Bruce, as much as I love my job I get so excited to finish work so I can play with him and take him for walks. My family and friends, I don’t know what I’d do without them. And wine, I LOVE white wine.

Give us your favourite quote.
If it’s not from Yorkshire it’s shite.

If you could switch places with any celeb for the day – who would it be and why? Probably the Queen. I’ve recently finished watching The Crown and I’d love to know exactly what she has to do on a daily basis, also I’d love to be surrounded by her Corgis.

What’s something you’re secretly (or not so secretly!) really good at/passionate about outside of work? I’m passionate about designing and crafting my house, whether I’m that good at it I’ll tell you when I’ve finished decorating. I love the sense of satisfaction when a room has been transformed from drab to fab. The house is still a massive working progress, I’ve finally finished painting the dining room and my next task is making our dining room table. I might let you know how I get on depending on the final outcome!

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About Abbey Gray

Account Manager at Prohibition PR. First class journalism graduate, passionate writer and novice baker! Based in Leeds.