starting your design career? Here's what you need to know...

Following a prompt from fellow designer Jonathan Mitchell I was delighted to be contacted by four talented young women hoping to take their next steps in their fashion careers and seeking an eye to be cast over portfolios and cvs. An often missed step during the degree process, grads who nailed presenting their work can be left at flumouxed when it comes to how to best present themselves.  

So if you’re looking to take the first steps into a design role here are my suggestions: 

• Be confident. Apply for positions even if you’re under qualified or feel nervous about it. Look at our last three Prime ministers…
• Remember to remove the fluff. Like overused tumble dryers our CVs also get packed with the unnecessary. As you progress in your career, remember to remove the bits you padded your graduate CV out with... your work experience in Greggs can probably stay secret. 
• Sell yourself. The people looking to hire want to know what you can do to help them, after all they will be the ones paying you. So sell your abilities not your needs. 
• Give your work space. Portfolios are a highlight reel not a chance to show everything you’ve done ever. Be confident in your work and create a gallery aesthetic. 
• Make sure anything you’re putting out: your cv, portfolio, any social media is all cohesive to your brand. You are your brand so represent it well. This covers the big bits like the actual work but also goes into the smaller details of how you lay it up, font choices, text etc. 
• Check your links. Polish polish polish. This is your best self. 
• Consider doing self set projects. Work at Bon Marche but wish you were at Nike? Create some pieces with your dream brand in mind and pop them in your portfolio. Better yet contact them or smaller similar brands and ask to do a live project for free.
• Don't forget your LinkedIn and other social medias. Use these as free portfolio spaces and be aware that a potential client or hirer can see anything you put on the internet - including that Prosecco tree incident! 

And what did I learn?

That the next gen are on their A game. Yes they have some tricks to learn but the raw talent level has never been so high. It’s been a delight to spending time chatting to four young women who will clearly go far.

If nothing else I’m hoping they’ll give me an internship in the future. 

P.S Should you be looking to make your next hire I can highly recommend these ladies, stay tuned for polished up profiles coming soon: 

Jessica Boylett a talented print designer with a clear and modern aesthetic. Jess has plenty of work experience behind her and will be an asset to any team. 

Lauren Thompson currently works at Boohoo gaining knowledge on all sides of the business that will serve her well should she move into a design role. With a strong and full on aesthetic that will create Gen-Z bestsellers and tiktok gold. 

Lucy P. a fellow Falmouth graduate is a skilled technical designer with a strong CAD game, knowledgable and professional with a scarily high level of presentation. 

Chloe Donlevy is a stylist after my fashion heart. With a cheeky aesthetic, ready to make her mark, she’s more talented than she knows and I’m not sure the world is ready for her.