pLATFORMS FASHION AT NORTHUMBRIA
CONTENTS
Featuring
PLATFORMS: fASHION AT NORTHUMBRIA NORTHUMBRIA SCHOOL OF DESIGN NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Fashion LIVE PROJECTS Fashion Marketing Fashion Communication PLATFORMS: THE BLOG CREDITS
Hannah harrison Laura CAMPBELL MARTIN PERCIVAL SIMON WONG LORNA ANdERSSON EMILY INSCH IMOGEN DAVIES LUCY TOPPING ROSIE BARNES CHRISTOPHER HODGE
PLATFORMS
FASHION AT NORTHUMBRIA
PLATFORMS IS here! Showing you what's really going on at Northumbria university, PLATFORMS IS HERE TO INSPIRE AND EXCITE YOU! Through an exclusive inside look at what Northumbria Students are doing, we're allowing you to really get a feel for what fashion at northumbria is all about ....
NORTHUMBRIA SCHOOL OF DESIGN
As impressive in as it is out, the School of Design is home to students from all design disciplines. Built with flexibility in mind the stainless steel and glass structure means that there is literally creativity spilling out in to the corridors. Want to know if it's for you? ... Come along and see for yourself!
QUAYSIDE
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
ANGEL OF THE NORTH
bALTIC
Whatever it is your looking for you'll find it in here ... With a diverse student population, Newcastle upon Tyne is alive with culture, history and of course, night life. Whether it's the quayside, the beach, the countryside or the city, you'll find it all in and around Newcastle. From hidden vintage shops to contemporary art galleries there's always somewhere new to explore.
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FASHION
Creative? ... Committed? ... Passionate? BY Mixing design elements with a year's industrial placement, NORTHUMBRIA gives STUDENTS studying fashion the chance to graduate with more than just a degree. By offering students the opportunity to decide on their own path way, specialising in menswear, womenswear, textiles or knitwear Northumbria produces talented fashion designers, who also have a thorough understanding of industry.
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FASHION DESIGN PORTFOLIO Learning Skills Through Fashion Intro: Garment Construction Intro: Fashion & Textile Research & Development Contemporary Design Influences Historical Design Influences
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Photography: Christopher HOdge
laura campbell
Moving to Newcastle from Barnsley in South Yorkshire, Laura is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Her choice to come to Northumbria to study Fashion Design was influenced by the opportunity to study a placement year, and her choice paid off! “I lived in London for 6 months with my best friend, and even though we didn’t have that much money, because it was London we found the most exciting and cheap things to do. We learnt life experiences and skills that we would carry onto university when we returned for 3rd year.” Laura’s industrial placement allowed her to intern for up and coming designer Julian J Smith before moving on to work with the sampling and production team at Erdem. “I would sell the course to someone looking to come here by saying that placement year might possible be one of the best years of your life. You have the opportunity to go wherever you want, live in whichever country and apply for whatever job you want.”
Focusing on outerwear and dresses, Laura’s final collection builds upon her chosen pathway of pattern cutting, adding dimension to her garments through focusing on the neck and shoulder area.
“I chose pattern cutting as my option for final year because I knew I wanted to create complicated silhouettes as the foundation for my collection, and then build on top of that. For inspiration I begin by looking in books and magazines. Since a child I have also had ripped out images and pieces of inspiration stuck on my bedroom wall, I think that makes it subconsciously sink in. Blogs are also really good sources for imagery but I think the biggest forms of inspiration are your peers and the people who you surround yourself with.” What’s next? “After Northumbria I hope to move onto bigger and better things. I am hoping Graduate Fashion Week will bring me some exciting opportunities. But who knows what the future will bring?”
“My de gree e words xperience in Excitin would be... g,Fun and H ard work”
"From my tribe I take nothing,
I am the maker of my own fortune."
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Industrial Placement Digital Presentation and Illustration Techniques Fashion in Society Fashion Garment Fashion Textile/Knit Portfolio Fashion Design Portfolio
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MARTIN PERCIVAL
Staying close to his Northern roots, one of Martin’s main reasons for choosing to study Fashion at Northumbria was the School of Design and the facilities it offers. “I chose to study fashion because being from the Lake District; I've always been into outerwear and outdoor sports. So it went from wearing the clothes, to wanting to know how the functionality of outerwear worked, to designing it (or trying to).”
“I’m greatly inspired by history and archive clothes. Clothing with its own history, makes it almost like the pieces have a story to tell. Garments such as donkey jackets and trench coats are just iconic never changing pieces due their own heritage! That’s why I’ve based my final collection around the 1911 Captain Robert Scott expedition to the South Antarctic.”
“I’m greatly inspired by history and archive clothes. Clothing with its own history makes it almost like the pieces have a story to tell. Garments such as donkey jackets and trench coats are just iconic never changing pieces due their own heritage! That’s why I’ve based my final collection around the 1911 Captain Robert Scott expedition to the South Antarctic.” With a higher number of female applicants than male, Fashion’s class of 2012 is a female led cohort, yet studying on a programme where he is outnumbered by females didn’t put Martin off ... “Being one of the few males, it’s just an added bonus!” Selecting Menswear as his final year route just ‘kind of happened’ yet Martin’s work has seen influence from a variety of sources, including by the opinions of his friends and peers “The fact I’m male designing for men definitely helps with looking into detail and fit. I just have to think would my pals or I wear it.” What’s next? ... “I’ve been looking into studios around Newcastle and Manchester to perhaps set up. I’ve found factories in the UK still in production. It’s just something I’d like to try out but wait and see what GFW brings.”
EXPEDITION
FInal line up
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Final Collection Stage A: Preparation Final Collection Stage B: Production Fashion Portfolio Final Collection Option Design Report
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HANNAH HARRISON
Born in Brixton Hannah made the move from South London to study at Northumbria University. After completing placements at Angel Jackson and John Lewis where she was assistant to the accessories designer Hannah has found her specialism in Textiles. Following this route for her final collection Hannah has based her collection on the concept ‘I Travel for Travels Sake’.
“For Spring Summer 2012, Susie Bubble is jet setting across South East Asia. Arriving by private jet to Shimla then travelling through India to Bangkok. This trip is not a backpack/budget affair and no expense is spared thus one needs an extensive wardrobe to match. Prints are derived from the transport, sights and entertainment she sees on the trip and become brighter, brasher and more clashed towards the end of the trip. Garments and accessories are designed to push the boundaries of Travelwear.�
I travel for travel's sake ...
Photography: Christopher HOdge
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Industrial Placement Fashion Option Fashion Garment Fashion Textiles/Knit Portfolio
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Live
Projects LIVE projects are Northumbria's way of giving our student's an insight in to what it's like working in industry. WITH PREVIOUS BRIEFS BEING SET BY THE LIKES OF Dunhill, Mulberry and Topshop , Student's open themselves up to endless opportunity. The proof is in the internship ... Representatives from American clothing brand Old Navy visited Northumbria University in April 2012 as part of a live design brief. Selecting the most impressive portfolios, 3 Northumbria students were selected for a 3 month paid internship with old navy in San Francisco. Opposite are the sketches of one of the winners, Adam Hogarth.
Adam Hogarth: Third YEAR Fashion
FABRIC SWATCHES
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FASHION MARKETING
Primarily a design led course, Fashion Marketing allows creative individual's the opportunity to gain a foundation of knowledge based around the marketing and promotion of product, learning how to do so in an innovative and relevant way. Offering the opportunity for industrial placement, fashion marketing allows students to build upon the experience the have gained in industry with a final year long project in their chosen route of fashion product or graphics and illustration. The range of modules offered combined with the industry experience gained during the programme has made fashion marketing students some of the most employable graduates to leave Northumbria. With a current employment rate of 91%, fashion marketing students have gone on to embark on careers in fashion related industries including fashion forecasting, graphics, styling, illustration and promotion.
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Design and Illustration Fashion Trend Research Brand and Message Learning Skills through Fashion Marketing Design Realisation Contemporary Design Influences Fashion Marketing
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EMILY INSCH
Fashion Marketing has allowed Emily to find her niche in graphic design. Finding inspiration for her final major project in her own long distance relationship, Emily has developed her initial idea in to an original and innovative concept. Culminating in the production of a visual graphics journal, X: Read Y and a garment collection, which has been developed from typography and photography used within the journal, Emily’s concept is an individual take on the topic. Seeing inspiration in everything from architecture to typography Emily’s strengths have developed through the module’s she has studied and tutoring she’s received. Originally from Oxford, Emily felt at home as soon as she visited Newcastle and the School of Design, feeling Fashion Marketing would set he up for the future, by not only guiding her in creating a collection but also giving her the grounding on how to market it.
“X : READ Y
Combining illustration, photography and fashion, X : READ Y is a graphics based label who’s humorous narrative provides the playful and personal backdrop to its range. Influenced by the relationship between men and women and the long distance relationship the brand brings digital prints to casual menswear shirts and womenswear knit
and jersey mixes.” “Based on personal experiences, xreadyy arose from a long distance relationship and everything that comes with it. The graphics capture the hilarity that arise from the intensity of a long distance relationship and the crossed wires of communication that invariably go hand in hand with such an existence. The name xready originates from the genetic differences
between men and women, directly contrasting man’s XY chromosome genetic make up to woman’s XX. However, differences stretch far beyond base level and for this reason, the brand name also acts as a marker for the increasing ‘language barrier’ that exists between the two sexes and for woman’s tendency to say ‘one thing’ and for men to hear ‘another’.”
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Fashion Marketing Industrial Placement Design Realisation and Promotion Concept Generation Consumer Behaviour
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Lorna ANDERSSON
With her sights set high Lorna has grasped every opportunity that has come her way with both hands. With a job offer under her belt Lorna is set to graduate as one of the 91% of students who leave Fashion Marketing at Northumbria and head straight in to employment!
Why did you choose to study at Northumbria? “I choose to study at Northumbria due to its internationally renowned reputation, and the fact that the course housed a year within industry, something that I felt was imperative in gaining a full understanding of the way in which the fashion industry works. I also liked the way in which the course manages to combine graphics, illustration, fashion design and promotion all under one roof. This is something which is difficult to find elsewhere, and as I equally love all these aspects, it just
seemed the only choice for me.” What aspects of the fashion marketing programme have you found most enjoyable? “The most enjoyable aspect for me is the ‘Final Major Project’ brief, where you are given the creative freedom to follow your heart, explore and discover, using a commercial mind or a market niche in order to create something new. Or not even necessarily new, it’s a bit like redesigning the wheel, it’s been done again and again, all you need is a slight different angle.”
“Northumbria offers the opportunity; it's your decision to take it.”
Has the experience you gained during your industrial placement influenced the rest of your time at Northumbria? “Without a shadow of a doubt, nothing has ever impacted on my work as much, and probably even my life. I spent a year working as a graphic designer for Topman within Arcadia head office, London. A role which didn’t see itself as a placement, but a full time working role. Meaning I was able to grasp an understanding for the professionalism, work requirements and creativity necessary. By working within industry, you learn to better understand the process in which fashion takes. And in order to create fashion, the
most important thing is to know the process behind it.” Why did you decide upon the fashion product route for your FMP? “To be honest, I don’t see myself as a fashion designer. I am, and always have been an illustrator. So the logical path seemed to tailor the collection toward something that I really enjoy. And so I have created a ‘British baby shower’; a book notating the ins and outs of how to create a baby shower, alongside a gift package, including a co-ordinating pyjama range for both Parent and Baby. It takes a quirky and heavily graphical format - encouraging fun and silliness.”
Where did the inspiration for your FMP come from? “I visited Stockholm and Copenhagen as an ‘inspiration’ trip, looking at design, artwork and culture in a different climate. I’d always been interested in childrenswear, but whilst away I noticed a huge difference, something that England lacks. People really invest in their children. From an early age, everything is about the children, what they wear, where they go and the fashion they do it in. I arranged a meeting with my favourite product designers in Copenhagen, Camilla & Camilla from Lucky Boy Sunday, and asked why they had not expanded further in the UK, and she replied ‘there’s no money for childrenswear in the UK’. And it was from here I saw my opportunity. Asking myself if there was an all British product, targeted directly at the British consumer, would they invest? And research has proved they would, and so Oiski Poiski was born.”
“The facilities are excellent, it offers a course like no other in the world, believe me i looked. It gives you a commercial understanding whilst allowing you to develop your creativity. Fashion Marketing acts as a map, of which you are able to path your own way through. The fact that you are offered a chance to work within industry for a year is priceless to any employer in the future. The connections are excellent with John Lewis, Topman and Jack Wills but to name a few. I will constantly look back to my days at Northumbria. It’s not something I will forget, just something I will continue to build upon.”
What’s next for you after you graduate? “A holiday... hopefully. No, I have just accepted a job with Abercrombie and Fitch in Ohio, USA as a print and pattern designer. Which is a fantastic opportunity, my initial contract is for two years and from there on who knows. I'd like to say How would you sell Fashion my sights are set on New York, Marketing to someone looking to but we'll just have to see what study at Northumbria? comes my way.”
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Fashion Marketing Industrial Placement Design Realisation and Promotion Fashion Futures Marketing Research Methods
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SIMON WONG
Thinking of applying for a MA after graduating from Northumbria Simon was drawn to study at Northumbria for its location. “I liked the idea of moving away from home, but still being close enough that I can travel back when i wanted too.” “The course reputation and the idea of having one year in industry appealed to me too, having a mixture of design with business really suited me, as I think I will open more paths for me in the future.”
Much like Fashion, the majority of the current FM cohort are female ... “I think people generalise studying fashion as quite a feminine thing, but it’s far from that. Especially with Fashion Marketing, there’s a lot of opportunity to select pathway’s which interest you, such as graphics, it’s doesn’t have to be all about garment production.” What was the inspiration behind your Final Major Project? “My inspiration would be my
childishness! I was influenced by current children’s fashion and how it all seems to be progressing too fast for young children, the idea of growing up too fast. I wanted to create a collection I could look back on and see how much I had progressed as a designer since university, a reminder of my achievement here!” What do you hope to do after you graduate? “I haven’t thought that far yet! I’d like take a year out and then possibly apply to do a Master’s Degree.”
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Major Project Research Concept Realisation and Promotion Research Report and Marketing Plan Portfolio Designer Fabrics Fashion/Form/Texture: Digital Output Graphic Promotion Pattern Cutting
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READY
ALREADY?! Show your potential by completing the mini design project on the Northumbria University website. Set to encourage fashion drawing and development, the mini project draws on the skills you should be demonstrating in your portfolio. Use the Male and Female body templates to get you started!
FEMALE
body template
male
body template
PANTONE COLOUR CHART
Pantone 012
Pantone 021
Pantone 032
Pantone 1935
Pantone 253
Pantone 7742
Pantone 072
Pantone 306
Pantone 334
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FASHION
COMMUNICATION
Unique to Northumbria, Fashion Communication is a course where innovation and originality are encouraged. Not suitable for students who are looking to design and make product, Fashion Communication looks to encourage students TO become visually literate in the arenas responsible for the promotion and communication of fashion. The multi-disciplinary course covers product launches, store events, exhibitions, journalism and magazine production preparing students for employment within the diverse industry of fashion. A knowledge of cultural factors affecting fashion is vital, as Fashion Communication is about relevance and originality; promoting both brand and product through a range of channels and techniques. Whilst AN industrial placement is not a requirement, students who have taken on internships during their own time have BUILT UPON THEIR SKILLS BY doing so.
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Experiential Design in Fashion Public Relations Learning Skills Through Fashion Communication Fashion Installation Contemporary Design Influences Fashion Publication Process
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Lucy TOPPING
Finding her niche within Fashion Journalism, the range of modules studied during her degree has allowed Lucy to really understand how the industry works as a whole. Why did you choose to study at Northumbria? “After having researched a few fashion courses at different universities, I felt that Northumbria had the most to offer me in terms of what the course entailed as well as the reputation of the university in general. When I visited the Design School during an open day I was really impressed with the quality of the facilities and the standard of work which was being produced by the students. It also had a really welcoming atmosphere and most importantly I could see myself studying here for the next three years.�
Why did you choose Fashion Communication? “When I was first applying for courses I wanted to study something quite broad which would allow me to experience different elements of the fashion industry before choosing something to specialise in. I found this to be the case with Fashion Communication at Northumbria, which was unique in both its approach and content. It has such a wide range of modules during the three year course and gives you a great skill set which you can apply to various disciplines within the field.” Have the range of modules offered allowed you to gain a broad understanding of the industry? “Definitely, through the modules on offer I have been able to learn more about PR, journalism, magazine creation and trend prediction, all of which have been incredibly useful in regards to understanding how the industry works as a whole. The knowledge and skills you learn on each of these modules can also be applied to other creative disciplines, meaning there are a significant range of opportunities for students post-university.”
Lucy Topping Concept Realisation and Promotion: CityScape
How have you put the knowledge and skills you’ve learned through these modules in to practise? “I’ve completed six different placements throughout my time at Northumbria, in both events and journalism. I worked for two consecutive seasons at London Fashion Week, interning with different P.R. companies, which allowed me to experience working in an exciting, fast-paced environment, during one of the biggest events on the fashion calendar. I’ve also completed a few placements within fashion journalism, including for 1883 Magazine, which I hope to pursue further after graduation. Through these writing positions I have managed to build up an extensive portfolio of published work, which is an invaluable tool when it comes to applying for jobs. I’ve learnt a huge amount through interning and have made some incredibly useful contacts through doing so.” Have you always had an interest in journalism and writing? “It was actually one of the things I used to hate most at school! It was always something I was good at but I never really enjoyed it much. However as I started to apply my writing skills to topics which were of interest to me, as opposed to subjects which were forced upon me, I found that I actually really enjoyed the act of writing. I got my first internship within fashion journalism, for an LA-based fashion and entertainment website, which then reinforced the idea that this was something I wanted to pursue further, causing me to seek out further writing positions. I think these journalism internships, as well as academic writing for university, have really helped me and encouraged me to pursue something that I’m good at and which I enjoy.”
“For my Final Major Project I have created a style-oriented travel guide series called CityScape, with the first two titles focussing on the cities of London and Newcastle Upon Tyne. I have photographed various areas within each city, showcasing and analysing the street style and art, retail, architecture and leisure pursuits in each destination. I wanted to create books which approached travel from more of a visual and creative point of view compared to the overly commercial guides often found in stores, which focus solely on tourist attractions. CityScape takes an ‘off the beaten path’ approach, encouraging readers to look beyond the obvious.” Where did your inspiration come from? “Originally my idea was rooted solely in street style, however as I developed my concept I wanted to include additional elements and turn CityScape into a visual city guide. I love to read street style books and blogs so my initial inspiration came from this and then I chose to combine fashion with my love for travel to create a unique book series.” What’s next for you? “After graduation I would love to work within fashion journalism, preferably within magazine publishing, which would hopefully allow me to complete pieces for both online and print platforms. I am also hoping to have the opportunity to work in another part of the UK or the US, which would give me the chance to work in a career I love whilst being in an exciting new environment.”
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Events Management Media and Public Relations Fashion Interpretation Audience and Brand Experience Contemporary Design Influences Editorial Journalism
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IMOGEN DAVIES
Not afraid to get her hands dirty, Imogen’s experience has seen her start from the bottom and work her way up to calling her own runway shows. Why Northumbria? “I came from the Isle of Man and a lot of students at my high school had made their way here, and I was eager to see what the university had to offer me. I came to an Open Day and was very impressed with what the School of Design offered, both in structure and organisation. Northumbria seemed like a small, friendly university with a great design environment.” Why Fashion Communication? “I knew I wanted to study fashion and work in the industry but that fashion design itself was not for me. What attracted me to the course was the variety of disciplines explored within the three years – from PR to events management, journalism to filmmaking, and I wanted to enter the industry with as many skills as possible to maximize my employability in this economic climate.” Fashion Communication doesn’t offer industrial experience as part of the programme, was this something which effected your decision? “At the time of applying, I was not influenced by this factor, but now that I am coming to the end of my degree I feel gaining industry experience would be hugely beneficial for any future students on Fashion Communication. Hands-on experience in your chosen field can really pave the way for a design graduate’s career.”
SHOW'S WORKED ON: SEASON ONE AW12 Fam Irvoll A La Disposition Anne Sofie Madsen Heohwan Simulation Myrza de Munck Nova Chiu Phoebe English Georgia Hardinge Elisa Palomino Mattijs Dans La Vie Alice Lee Spijkers & Spijkers Carlotta Actis Barone Prophetik Ubuntu International Project House of Evolution Rafaelle Ascione Inbar Spector Prose Lako Bukia Ji Cheng Rohmir Leutton Postle MATH E. Tautz Baartmans & Siegel T. Lipop Asger Juel Larsen James Small Produced: Krystof Strozyna Florian Jayet
What industry experience have you gained whilst studying your degree? “Since February 2011 I have worked for Vauxhall Fashion Scout during London Fashion Week. Vauxhall Fashion Scout is the biggest independent event during Fashion Week itself and showcases designers from the United Kingdom and all over the world to international press and buyers..” How did you go about finding an internship? “I simply sent an email to Vauxhall Fashion Scout asking to gain experience during Fashion Week and I was asked to work for the entire week! It was a real eye opening experience into the workings of a fashion events company and how the industry works. From that initial week long internship, I was asked to return and was given more responsibility in managing the backstage area, which then turned into another call back and more creative input in the event. In the space of a year, I’ve gone from never even attending a fashion show to working on the management of over sixty, managing a team of over forty interns.” What has been your most exciting experience as an intern? “Last season I was asked to “call” two shows. This meant I was solely responsible for sending the models onto the catwalk at the correct time, wearing the master headset, and planning the choreography and finale. Being told minutes before producing your first show, that British Vogue is on the front row, was a real “pinch myself” moment! Celebrity spotting is another perk too, with figures such as Kate Moss & Jamie Hince, David Gandy, and Henry Holland watching shows I’ve worked. I’ve also booked models with Carole White from the Channel4 series The Model Agency, and other agencies like Storm, Elite, and Models1. I also source props for designers – no request is too bizarre – last season I was asked to source a 6 ft tall gold Buddha statue which led to some very strange phone calls around Central London! However, it is hard work and not unheard of for me to leave the house at 5am and not return till midnight, but I can’t stress how rewarding it is. Last season I worked on nine shows in just one day!”
"Last season I was asked to source a 6 ft tall gold Buddha statue which led to some very strange phone calls around Central London..."
What effect has this experience had on the rest of your degree? “The amount of knowledge I have gained from my work outside university, without realising, has undoubtedly benefited my work within Northumbria. My Final major project is a new graduate fashion event in Central London, to shed light on new design talent, and my work at Vauxhall has enabled me to look at my work from an industry perspective, with a professional and commercially viable outcome.” What advice could you give to someone looking to gain experience in industry whilst they study? “In all honesty I would recommend just working hard. Some aspects of the job aren’t as glamorous as you might expect, for example my first season I spent a day making IKEA tables with a power drills, but where others shied away from jobs like this, I was prepared to get my hands dirty. Truth and honesty are also important, but personally I think one of the most important aspects is to be kind and fair when dealing with people – it goes a long way. “ What’s next for you? “My experience has given me a definite direction with what I want to pursue now – I love the buzz and excitement of backstage management, casting and booking models, and sending them down the catwalk to start the show. I wouldn’t change anything about my experience and it has definitely benefited my academic projects at Northumbria.”
SEASON ONE SS12 Eudon Choi Krystof Stroznya= Phoebe English Malene Oddershede Bach Shao Yen Alice Lee Leutton Postle Carlotta Gherzi for Sado Masha Ma Jacob Kimmie Lako Bukia Fashion Mode Swedish School of Textiles Izmaylova Dans La Vie House of Evolution Ubuntu South African Showcase Fashion Shenzen: Dang Hao Xie Haiping A La Disposition Joanne Hynes Oliver Ruuger Georgia Hardinge FAD U. Mi-1 Baartmans and Siegel Kye Posthuman Wardrobe Trine Lindegaard Asger Juel Larsen Tom Lipop
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Fashion Enterprise Project Research Portfolio Concept Realisation and Promotion Fashion Communication
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ROSIE BARNES
“I chose to study at Northumbria because initially, I loved the building. The learning space I was shown during the interview period was by far the best one I had seen. It’s a great space to work in. I also fell in love with Newcastle the vibrance of the city and the people I met here. Fashion was something I had always been greatly interested in. I knew I didn’t want to design garments but I felt I had an eye for colour, style and design. I came across the Fashion Communication course and it seemed to tick all the boxes.” Treating her time at Northumbria as a learning journey, Rosie has made every opportunity to be as creative and innovative as possible. “First year, for me, was all about making mistakes and learning from them. This was a highlight as I enjoyed the freedom to be as creative as possible. Now, in my final year I take pleasure in working on my projects as I have gained all the skills to produce exactly what I want. This alone is probably the best element - the whole learning journey.”
“My Final Major Project is a pop-up store and launch of a new brand for Marks and Spencer. The concept store design is a pop-up tree house which will eventually transcend into smaller ‘sub-brand boutiques’ within M&S stores. It is aimed at 18-25 both male and females and the entire brand is focused on eco-friendly clothing, garments and the store design reflects this.” Where did the inspiration for this come from? “I visited Alnwick gardens as a course trip in first year. I was thoroughly impressed with the design and style of the tree house. I knew I would be able to take inspiration from it at some point, two years later the opportunity was there to utilise it within another framework.”
stock:
CHRISTOPHER HODGE
“After graduating from Kingston in 1992 with a degree in Fashion Design, I worked for a variety of British High street stores, before moving to New York where I worked in Fashion Trend Consultancy and Colour Forecasting for three years. Continuing to freelance whilst living back in London, I became a chef and landlord of a Public House before returning to study at Greenwich University completing a qualification in post 16 art and design education. Returning to my native North East I started working on the fashion marketing programme before moving over to fashion and am now residing on the fashion communication programme, where my specialisms are fashion styling and photography, magazine
editorial and concept generation, not forgetting trend development and illustration.” Gaining a wealth of industry experience within the UK and America, Chris is also responsible for Fashion Communication admissions, interviewing prospective students for the programme so we asked him what he’s looking for in a Fashion Communication student... “I’m looking to be engaged by people’s personalities, for someone who has character, opinions and something to say. I’m looking to see someone who involves themselves in the world around them, who looks beyond the obvious to really investigate things such as culture, film or photography,”
Senior Lecturer Fashion Communication
Photography: Christopher HOdge
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Thanks to all participating Northumbria University staff and students. Text & Layout by Alexandra Hedley, Photography by alexandra hedley, unless otherwise stated. alexandra.hedley@ northumbria.ac.uk Printing by Print northeast, NEWCASTLE Laser Cutting by Kirsty Shaw kirstyshaw_ lightingdesigner@ hotmail.co.uk For entry requirements and any further course information please visit www. northumbira.ac.uk or contact northumbria admissions by email: er.admissions @northumbria.ac.uk
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