Nagnata’s Digital and Social Coordinator on why you should always “get the coffees”

“Pay attention to the environment but stick to your brand DNA, otherwise, you can lose yourself in trends.”

Have you ever stalked someone on LinkedIn and wondered how on earth they managed to land that wildly impressive job? While the internet and social media might have us believe that our ideal job is a mere pipe dream, the individuals who have these roles were in the same position once, fantasising over someone else’s seemingly unattainable career.

But behind the serious titles and fancy work events lies a heck of a lot of hard work. So what lessons have been learnt and what skills have proved invaluable in getting them from daydreaming about success to actually being at the top of their industry?

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Welcome to How I Got Here, where we talk to women who are killing it in their respective fields about how they landed their roles, exploring the failures and the wins, and most importantly the knowledge, advice and practical tips they’ve gleaned along the way. This week, we hear from Hannah Brooks, Nagnata‘s Digital and Social Coordinator. 

Like many of us, Hannah dove into a university degree without a strong sense of direction. Eventually, she landed on a Bachelor of Communication Design, specialising in graphic design. “Whether it was a strong typeface or the way light hit a surface, I was always drawn to creating and capturing visual moments,” she says.

From there, Hannah worked her way up in a design agency in Adelaide before relocating to Sydney and landing a role as a Junior Graphic Designer at Gritty Pretty Magazine. It was there that Hannah realised how much she loved going on photoshoots. “I learned early on the importance of creating a positive and collaborative feeling on set. Energy is everything,” she says.

After a little over two years, Hannah relocated again, this time to Byron Bay. “My current role with Nagnata is a real hybrid mix, I’m learning the ins and outs of marketing while refining my graphic design skills within the business.” And from the outside, it looks like the dream job: she’s on set one day, attending Australia Fashion Week the next.

But Hannah’s realistic about what it’s taken to get there. From saying yes to any job thrown her way, to getting coffee orders, “no job is too small”. And her advice? Take the opportunity and figure the rest out later. “If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be working in a marketing role for a fashion brand in Byron. I’d be working as a graphic designer in a creative agency in Adelaide, 80 kilometres from my hometown.”

Fashion Journal: Hi Hannah! Tell us a bit about who you are and what you do.

Hannah: I’m the Digital and Social Coordinator at Nagnata. It’s my job to tell the story behind each collection, collaboration and moment the brand encounters. I’m constantly stepping into the shoes of our audience. How can we pull back the curtain? How can we invite them in to connect more deeply with the brand? It’s about creating a dialogue and bringing them into the world of Nagnata.

Take us back to when you were first starting out. Did you start as a junior and climb the ranks?

After starting university without a clear sense of direction, I realised I was always gravitating toward design. My love of beautiful things. Whether it was a strong typeface or the way light hit a surface, I was always drawn to creating and capturing visual moments. I decided to follow that feeling and went on to complete a Bachelor of Communication Design (specialising in graphic design).

My focus at university was often split between study and work. While I would have loved to intern during my studies, I was working three jobs to support myself, one of which was with Red Bull Australia. That role taught me the power of collaboration, creativity and the importance of building a strong brand voice and visual identity. 

My first full-time role was at a small, female-led design agency in Adelaide, where I wore many hats. From writing call sheets to designing large-scale storefront installations, I was exposed to the many intricacies of working in a creative agency. 

Eighteen months later, I made the decision to move to Sydney. I accepted an apartment before I even had a job –  pressure makes diamonds. As fate would have it, a week before I left, I was offered the role of Junior Graphic Designer at Gritty Pretty Magazine.

My time here was truly transformative. I stepped into the office and became a sponge. I just wanted to absorb everything I saw. Every day I would go in thinking it was a privilege just to be at the table. I said yes to everything in this job. I remember listening to Laura Brown at an industry event. “Always say yes,” the former InStyle editor-in-chief said. “Each opportunity is a little step in the right direction.”

I pushed to go on as many photoshoots as possible. It was here I learned most. Not only from a graphic design and art direction perspective, but from watching how the team flowed. How each photographer would set the mood differently, how the digi or gaffa operated, I asked them what their little tips and tricks were.

I learned early on the importance of creating a positive and collaborative feeling on set. Energy is everything. You have to lift everyone up to create the magic and from there, you can refine. Eventually, I became the Art Editor, assisting on both editorial and commercial projects. The role grounded me in brand communication and visual storytelling.

I’ve now found myself in Byron Bay where I work and reside. My current role with Nagnata is a real hybrid mix, I’m learning the ins and outs of marketing while refining my graphic design skills within the business. Communication is everything in my job – I get to visually unfold moments with the brand, which is a true privilege.

Have you faed any hurdles in getting to where you are now?

I grew up in Victor Harbor, a coastal town in South Australia. Growing up in a small town meant that I wasn’t exposed to a vibrant creative community. As I started work, I had to make these connections myself. I soon learned that connections are everywhere, you never know who you’re talking to. For that reason, you should always be honest about who you are and broadcast your interests. 

What do you wish people knew about the realities of working in digital production and fashion?

Social media plays a huge part of my role and the nature of the medium is constantly evolving and can be overwhelming. It’s a real balance between following trends and sticking to your brand values. You can’t be everything to everyone. 

Being in the luxury fashion industry means you have to expose yourself to competitors in the space but it’s critical not to get caught up in what other brands are doing. Pay attention to the environment but stick to your brand DNA, otherwise, you can lose yourself in trends.

What’s the best part about your with Nagnata? 

This might sound cliche or overused but honestly, it’s the people and the experiences. I’ve learned so much from Laura, Hannah and the team. If I were ever to leave this role, I wouldn’t just walk away with more knowledge, I’d walk away remembering how my colleagues balanced life and work, the intentionality they lived with, and everything else they imparted on me beyond the nine-to-five. 

What would surprise people about your role? 

The versatility. Often people see the negatives of a small team but not only are you really close and collaborative, each role has a lot of adaptability. Technically, the majority of my role is to cultivate and grow our digital presence, but the reality of my days involve much more than sitting in front of a screen. I’m attending shoots, hosting retreats, capturing events and other behind-the-scenes moments. 

Most recently, I spent a week in Sydney with the team preparing and executing Nagnata’s biggest fashion show yet, Return To Earth at AFC Australian Fashion Week. It’s one of those experiences that leaves a mark – it’ll always be a reference point for me.

What skills have served you well in your industry? 

Adapting is everything, particularly in this climate, when the online world is moving faster than anyone can predict. While the apps and programs continue to change, what remains stable is our ability to always learn. So find comfort in that as an individual. 

You can always learn and upskill – say yes, then figure it out. If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be working in a marketing role for a fashion brand in Byron. I’d be working as a graphic designer in a creative agency in Adelaide, 80kms from my hometown.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be in a role like yours one day?

Get the coffees, not just when you’re the intern or the most junior on set (I’m now very good at repeating a complicated coffee order). Get the coffees when you’re unemployed, looking to change industries or simply wanting to move up on your own. You’d be surprised at how often emailing someone you admire for a coffee date will lead to a ‘yes’. They probably won’t give you a job upon meeting but they will always remember your face and your energy. Often, they’ll remember you when they are looking to hire someone. If not, I can promise you you’ll still leave that coffee with a heap of advice you wouldn’t have otherwise. 

But also on set. I wouldn’t have built the relationships I have with the photographers, stylists and senior members of my team if I hadn’t had those small intimate moments that when taking their coffee order. No job is too small and I’m good at balancing 10 iced matchas.

What about a practical tip?

Constantly expose yourself to different forms of creativity or art. Whether it’s attending an exhibition, taking yourself to the cinema, or discovering a new playlist, there are tiny things you will subconsciously absorb that will indirectly inform and inspire your work. 

Keep up with Hannah here.