Thoughts for beyond graduation

Today was the day, show time; time to install the degree exhibition ready for the opening evening on Friday. Along with a team of dedicated staff, technicians and fellow students it was time to transform the second floor of Alexander building into our surface pattern exhibition.

With the show in the process of being installed and final deadlines looming, my degree is nearing to an end. This marks a celebration of the achievements I've made, the last three years has seen me grow as both an individual and a designer. Throughout my studies I've rigorously strived to improve my drawing, pattern design and technical making skills. I feel this has been crucial to leading me to develop my design identity and shaping me as the designer/ maker I am today. Allowing me to discover my inspiration in botanical forms and luxury materials; metal and glass. The three years has seen me develop strong commercial skills, which will enhance my employment prospects in the competitive world out there. From drawing, pattern design, research, knowledge of materiality and traditional and technological processes, it's safe to say surface pattern design has equipped me with a tool kit of knowledge to form the foundations of my future.

Whilst the degree show will mark the end of the journey with surface pattern design it fundamentally opens the doors to the next chapter of my creative journey. Following successfully completing two internships last summer I am enthused by employment prospects within the industry. These experiences enabled me to gain confidence in my ability to thrive from working in a creative studio environment. I enjoyed working as part of a team and individually on tasks working towards completing set client briefs. My internship experiences have transformed my working methodologies and thought processes, which have been fundamental to the progress I've made with my major project this academic year. Seeing me work with 3d design objects alongside 2d surfaces, my second internship also strongly opened my mind to how my work could be applied for visual merchandising, which alongside interiors is a context my major project is tailored towards.

I feel my BA experiences have prepared me to take the plunge and proactively seek work opportunities with in the industry. I feel gaining hands on experience will equip me with new experiences, knowledge and inspiration and I'm excited by where this will take me, as they say knowledge is key! In the future I aspire to study a MA to collate and consolidate the new knowledge I've gained from working within the industry, along with my current design inspirations and skills.

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