crunch time

I may be delirious on red bull and lack of sleep but here I am, updating you all on my university work. Tomorrow I have a hand in for a two modules which is a huge chunk of work! I cannot wait because then I can completely focus my attention on my honours project and make sure it is all perfecto. So as a treat I thought I'd show a few images from my booklet that I have to hand in for my Exhibition Design module. Don't say I'm not good to you.

digital portfolios

Having applied for many, many jobs recently I have noticed quite a few asking for examples of my work or portfolios either with the application or to be brought in with the interview. After 4 years of doing Fashion Textiles/Visual Merchandising & Promotional Design I know all too well the pain of dragging an A2 plastic folder around with examples of my work in. I was having nightmares about digging that plastic folio out so I decided to step into the 21st Century and create a digital portfolio.

work hard..

play work harder.

honours project photo shoot.

As part of my honours project I am required to create a promotional campaign, including a photo shoot, logo, slogan etc. With Easter approaching and me planning to head home for the two weeks we were off I wanted to get the photo shoot done before then so I could have time to edit them.

work it.

So the job hunt continues. 

linkedin

In my last few posts about job hunting I've mentioned LinkedIn but haven't gone into detail on what it is about. Basically its a networking platform for professionals where you can upload a digital equivalent of your CV, link with your peers, follow potential employers and search for jobs. Its really handy to have whilst applying for jobs, like when I was filling out the application for the industrial placement at L'oreal it allowed me to link it to my LinkedIn which filled in all my details automatically. It also meant that the HR team could check my details quickly by looking at my LinkedIn profile.

on sundays I apply for jobs

and on Wednesdays we wear pink. Get it? 

milan: day three

Ok, our last day wasn't exactly spent in Milan (but the day did start and end there), we had a day out in Venice. The bus trip there was really long but absolutely worth it once we got onto the boat that ferried us to the main part of Venice.

milan: day two.

Our second day in Milan was spent acting like complete tourists. So be warned, this post is going to be very picture heavy. We started the day off with gelatos and sat by a fountain on Piazza Fontana.

milan: day one

Way back last year my university began to arrange a trip away to Italy, I had never been before so jumped at the chance to go. Coincidentally it landed on my birthday weekend and being in Milan for my 24th birthday was perfect. 

honours project update.

A quick update on my window display for my honours project; I cannot believe I only have 11 weeks to my degree show. The panic is setting in. This past week I took on the mammoth task of painting the wall behind the display. Its around 4 metres wide and 3 metres tall and I probably would have collapsed in a heap midway if it wasn't for Kate's help. I chose a turquoise as I chose a lot of greens and coral pinks for my rope and I think the backdrop will make these colours pop.  

masters research

Whilst searching for some direction in my life I stumbled across www.findamasters.com, a search engine that lets you look for masters courses using specific criteria.

blogging careers

I can't pin point the exact moment I started reading blogs avidly, it was a slow descent into addiction which kicked off around 2011 and now I can't go a day without reading a beauty product review or DIY tutorial on how to make your very own plant pot holder.

l'oreal industrial placement

As previously promised, I said I'd keep you updated with information on my job hunt. Obviously I knew the search would have some highs and some lows (spoiler alert on this one; I didn't get the job). I was really disappointed at first but I've had a week to get over it and I can see that even just applying and interviewing for jobs is good experience. 

what a tangled web we weave

I'd apologise for the title but I'm not sorry at all, its much more exciting than 'honours project update'. No Regrets. So, an update on my honours project is more than due. University has been so full on lately and I've barely had a minute to spare - let alone time to collect my thoughts and write about it. But with the help of a (read: twenty) to-do lists I finally have time to update this! 

who you know

You know the old saying, 'Its not what you know, its who you know.' It has probably never seemed more accurate more accurate to me that when endlessly applying for jobs.

ashish a/w 2014

burberry prorsum a/w 2014

Burberry Prorsum is always one of my favourite shows to watch during fashion week. The high profile audience (and models) are almost as anticipated as Burberry's collection and this year was no exception. For those of us who aren't lucky enough to be there in person, Burberry stream the show worldwide anyone can watch it as if they are front row. The latter works perfectly for me as I can watch from the comfort of my sofa without having to even brush my hair. (This is the life, believe me.)

tate modern, london

As far as London tourist attractions go, I think the Tate Modern is one of the best. Apparently others agree because it is the most visited modern art gallery in the world with around 4.7 million visitors per year. And its free, students rejoice! You could spend hours here, there is so much to take in. The first thing that struck me was the sheer size of the building. You can't miss it! It is located in the former Bankside Power Station and you can actually see the tower from the nearest tube station (Southwark) so its hard to get lost!

when in London

Do as Londoners do.. Ok, maybe not. I wish I could act like a cultured city dweller but until then I'll continue to be a tourist taking photos of everything and anything. Obviously there was the obligatory trip to Topshop because they don't have one in every single city in the UK.. oh wait. I actually ventured to the first and second floors to Topman this time to have a nosey and I'm so pleased I did. On the first floor they have a area where you can customise your own t-shirt and on the second floor there is a barber, suit fitting service and personal shopper.

They also had this installation suspended above their selection on suits which I thought was so so nice. It just loads of chains hanging but the window above meant the light was shining through them and the overall effect was really pleasing.  

Light fixture at Bertie shoes. I love the rustic look of the fixture and how it is obviously in keeping with the brand and merchandise.

Last time I visited London I didn't get the chance to look in Liberty so it was on my list for this time around. There is far too much to get round in one visit; we wandered around the first floor and then skipped up to the top floor where they have all their antiques and fabrics. After looking at the prices of a few items (and then trying really hard not to touch, knock or bump into anything) and browsing the fabric sections we decided to call it quits and return next time when we're millionaires.

After minor tube confusion we visited the Tate Modern (I'm going to write about this in a separate post) which was so interesting but so huge! By the time we left it was dark and we headed for the Millennium Bridge, which we had vowed to walk across earlier; something along the lines of: 'That's the one from Harry Potter!' 'We have to cross it!'.

 St Paul's Cathedral from the Tate Modern

 The Shard from the Millennium Bridge

Finally, we wandered around Soho looking for somewhere to eat. We passed this store, Cheap Monday, on Carnaby street and I had to stop and get a photo. I've heard of the brand but never bought anything from them but I adore this display, a little bit grungy and a bit different, it lit up pedestrians as they passed. I think its the simplicity of the combination of a standard window display and lighting that resonated with me. Simple but effective. 

urban outfitters oxford street, london

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had planned a trip to London for researching my honours project. I booked my train a couple of weeks ago to give myself time to prepare (panic about getting lost/trapped with a pigeon on the tube). When it dawned on me I might need emotional support in case either situation arose I asked one of my oldest friends to come with me to help navigate. What I didn't realise is that he hadn't been to London since he was 13 (TEN YEARS AGO) and was therefore even more stressed and useless than me. Thankfully we didn't get lost and after some speculation over at what was classed as peak times (4.30am - 9.29am fyi), whether I would appear a complete tourist with my printed off tube map and how to get through the ticket barriers, we were on the tube to Oxford street.
My main aim was to get into Urban Outfitters to get some photos of the interior and get an idea of the space that I'm using for my project. We came out of the underground and there it was, like something out of a hipster's dream.

 The store has three huge windows running along the side of the store which looked typically Urban Outfitters, young and trendy with graphic prints. They had the graphic design running through all the windows, even the smaller sash windows on the first and second floors.

 Once we ventured inside I resisted the urge to shop and had a look around. The first thing that struck me was the lighting. I managed to photograph my two favourites. The first image below was in the basement between the mens section and the music displays. I loved the mix of colours and sizes and how it acted as a focal point within the room. I always like that although Urban Outfitters are really merchandise heavy on their fixtures they don't mind having other points of interest in their stores.

The second fixture is actually one of many similar ones which were hung at different heights all the way up the stairs, from the basement to the second floor. I think the mix of lights is so interesting and provides so much light within the space without using standardised lighting like some stores do.

There is so much floor space in this branch, it has 4 floors, but I felt as though there was so much crammed into all the fixtures, until I reached the second floor. This is where the fitting rooms are along with displays for some of the designers that Urban Outfitters stock. I felt like this floor was such a breath of fresh air as there was more open space and the rails and shelves weren't brimming with merchandise like the other floors. They also had wall space to display images and a little section where customers could put on headphones and listen to a playlist made by Urban Outfitters. 

On the second floor they also had space for customers to shop online, I'm assuming if something isn't available in store then staff will refer customers to this space. I think along with the little music section this showed how Urban Outfitters could incorporate digital in store to enhance customers' experience. The brand has a heavy social media presence and it was nice to see some of it reflected in store. 

job centre plus

When home for a visit I decided to pop into the local Job Centre Plus. Having only been in once before with a friend in the distant past (high school) it was (almost) a new experience.

urban outfitters glasgow

For my honours project I'm designing a visual merchandising formula for Urban Outfitters. I'm trying to gather primary research and having exhausted the Liverpool branch and planned a trip to London for more research in February, I couldn't help but feel like I should take advantage of my pals north of the border. After sending a pleading text (as if she needed persuasion to shop) to a friend I managed to persuade her to visit the Glasgow branch of Urban Outfitters to get some sneaky pictures for me. She may have been grumbling about 'hipster emporiums' but I know she loved it really. 

As Urban Outfitters is a huge international brand their stores usually stick to a similar VM formula throughout the UK. They do the occasional artist collaboration but it doesn't seem to be rolled out through the whole country, which I understand; they can hardly force artists to travel the length of the country painting graphics onto store windows. 

I do like Urban Outfitters as a brand, I really love their values and the personalities that each store has but I've always found the Glasgow store a bit uninspiring. Even the Edinburgh branch (which is smaller) has exciting windows which change often enough. They have worked with artists and previously Noel Fielding (of The Mighty Boosh) did a window installation for them, so it can't be a Scottish thing. 

I just feel as though the Glasgow branch doesn't take advantage of the great culture they have on their doorstep. Glasgow has an amazing art, music and fashion sector, all of which Urban Outfitters class as their customers' main interests, but they remain unused. With brands beginning to offer amazing retail experiences to encourage trade during the recession and lure customers in rather than buying online, lacklustre stores just aren't cutting it any more. Basically Urban Outfitters Glasgow, up your game!

graduate jobs

As I near the end of my final (for now, anyway) year of university I am having an existential crisis, as I assume most students do. Trawling through pages upon pages of internships and graduate jobs has become a daily occurrence in my life, and usually by the end of a two hour session I still have nothing to show for it. I favourite pages and think to myself, 'I'll sort out my CV and apply ASAP'. Lies. I'm lying to myself. The pages stay in my favourites and are far past their deadline dates before I even remember they are there. That folder is like a graveyard of my work prospects. 

I think the task of actually applying for a job I have a chance of getting is so daunting. The prospect of follow up emails, applications, phone interviews, face to face interviews without any guarantee of even getting the job is a horrifying one. Sadly, I become complacent about it and end up doing course work instead (I suppose there is worse things to do). Having taken a year out to work before I know how it feels to get knocked back again and again when you're looking for a job. The lowest point is when you get turned down for a job that you know you didn't even want in the first place, like a slap in the face. So there's that too. 

I think a contributing factor could be that there are so many graduate jobs that don't really suit me. A simple google search for 'graduate jobs' returns around 702 million results and if that doesn't make you feel physically sick I don't know what will. Most bigger fashion companies have schemes for buyers, marketers, merchandisers but nothing for people, like me, that are more creative and actually want to make things. So I have decided to become more proactive. I have bought new stationery (always an inspiring task) and am prepared to take on the horrifying task of entering the world of work. I am going to source companies that I want to work for and email them asking for work and hopefully get something out of my grovelling. Hopefully something will come out of it, and if not, I suppose I can fall back on my extensive waitressing skills. Oh god.

american apparel visual merchandising

American Apparel are known for their risqué ad campaigns but this week they have shocked the public once again with their new mannequins. The New York store unveiled the new look on Thursday, mannequins with pubic hair. 

“American Apparel has always been a company that celebrates natural beauty,” the retailer’s visual merchandiser, Dee Myles, told Styleite.

American Apparel have a history of stunts like this, their campaigns usually involve scantily clad women, which the press always pick up on. It could be that the brand are trying to step away from the 'perfect' image of mannequins or it could be another publicity stunt. Either way they have the public talking.

kitsch inspiration

For my honours project I'm using the theme of kitsch. Personally I love anything bright, tacky and garish so I'm in my element with this one. I thought I'd share a couple of images I've used as inspiration for starting this project.

I'm branching out into knit/crochet/yarn from this which I'm really excited about, so I'l be swapping nights out for knit nights. I'm assuming that after this project I'll probably just become an old lady, which is fine by me.

a walk in the park.

Before Christmas, with deadlines looming, I needed to escape my house and get some fresh air, so I headed to Sefton Park. Despite living really nearby I had never been before so it was like a mini adventure. It was really peaceful and there is a pond full of swans, ducks and geese so I'm planning on coming back with some bread to feed them.

 Eros Fountain. This is a replica of the Eros Fountain in Piccadilly Circus, London, built for Lord Shaftesbury. 

 There is a huge (really, its massive) pond in the park and it has lots of little places you can cross over along the way. I liked this little bit but gave crossing it a miss as I trip over my own feet daily so the wet rocks next to open water seemed like tempting fate. 

 I made some pals on my walk, they swam straight over to me when I passed, obviously assuming I had something to feed them with (I didn't). Cue me feeling super guilty and vowing to return with bread another day.

On my walk I passed this band stand and had to take a photo, the colours were so nice against the fallen leaves. I don't know if bands ever actually use it but I want to find out because I'd love to come and sit here in the summer.