We previously interviewed Lecturer Amy Harris, about the longstanding collaborative project that she leads on between award-winning designers VIN + OMI and Brookes Art and Design students. We learnt just how important student commitment is for the success of Live Projects. In this article Brookes Creative Assistant. Katherine Lai interviewed Foundation students, Amelia Wylam and Ruby, about their recent contribution to VIN + OMI’s London Fashion Week shows.
Can you talk about your experience during this project and what it was like to be involved in something so influential?
Amelia: In the build up to the London Fashion Week show I went to VIN + OMI’s studio with a couple of other students to help with things like pattern cutting and making some of the headpieces. It was really beneficial to see first hand how, in order to prevent waste, the designers adapted and reused pieces from their previous shows to make some of the ‘new’ accessories. I found it particularly inspiring to learn about the sustainable motives of these designers which is a personal interest of mine.
Ruby: It was a really interesting experience. It’s very different to anything I think either of us have done. It pushed us out of our comfort zones straight into the professional industry, and what it’s really like, which is quite eye-opening. It was rewarding to work collectively with the designers themselves.
Amelia: I found it really beneficial to be involved with their timelines and work really closely to the brief. Because we have a set deadline our deliverables needed to be ready by show day. Also to know and anticipate that they’re likely to change their minds on what they want partway through the project was interesting too. A couple of times, we had to change what we were doing not because anyone had done something wrong, but because they just changed their minds. So it was beneficial to learn that’s what happens and you need to go along with it.
Ruby: So it’s more realistic, in the sense that in a professional brief, things are going to change, and a commissioner is not always going to like what you’re producing. So learning to adapt what you’re doing to what they want, which isn’t static, was intense but a good learning experience too.
Amelia: VIN + OMI also asked me to walk in their show so I was able to model one of their outfits on the runway. This was an amazing experience and something that another student has done in the past. A couple of us got to help VIN + OMI at the garment fittings for the models and others were assigned to be assistants backstage at the show.
How do you feel the role of the Lecturer on this Live Project as a supervisor has supported you throughout this experience?
Amelia: Our Lecturer, Amy Harris, was really good at guiding us through exactly what we needed to do and also communicating between us and the designers. The feedback we got from VIN + OMI came through our lecturer.
Ruby: There was constant reassurance that our ideas were being passed on to the designers and everything was communicated very well which was really important for the project, especially when it’s collaborative, so that everyone’s on the same page. Our Lecturer was also very involved in the project, which is really nice. And especially for me, this was my first time being involved so that support and guidance was very helpful throughout. I think what I also liked is that Amy kept it very professional. She always emphasised that this was a real, professional project and pushed us to work up to that standard through meeting deadlines and the quality of our work. She was firm but encouraging.
How do you think this has enhanced your experience or your portfolio for when you do have to step out for real into the job market?
Amelia: It’s been really beneficial to our CV, and being able to talk about it in various interviews. For me, I went to VIN + OMI’s studio and helped them there as well. I think the project gave me a really good opportunity that I can then go and talk about, that helps me and my portfolio stand out. I’ve learned so much from my experiences here that I can bring forward into any future jobs.
Ruby: I agree and think it was hugely influential for me as someone who wants to go down the fashion route. It gave me a realistic idea of what that face-paced industry is like. I think it’s a great experience because it completely takes you out of your comfort zone, and you’re doing things you never thought you would. It’s just brilliant!
What is it like to be working with real professionals and having your work seen on such big platforms?
Ruby: Daunting, and it’s tough, because you’ve got to expect the unexpected in the moment. It’s a whirlwind too! You blink and it’s over, because you’re just doing so much the entire day, and everything’s changing. Even the designers at the last minute might decide they want something different. So you’re just constantly all on the ball, and then it ends and you’re just packing everything down within minutes.
Amelia: There’s a certain amount of pressure to get it right. There are always things that come up that you need to react to and change your work in an instant. But seeing our work in the show was amazing.
I can imagine it was also amazing to see your work in fashion articles, magazines and billboards?
Ruby: Absolutely and the show was incredible. It was interesting to see how the tiny little maquettes that we made in the beginning came to life with these beautiful models walking down in their clothing. It was just surreal because everything we’ve planned, just came to life.
Amelia: It was nice to see our work alongside everything else, like the music, and lighting. To see how well it turned out, and to know that we did a good job of following the brief and were a part of that moment.
Do you have anything else you want to add from your perspective as students that are involved in this Live Project?
Amelia: I think we signed up to it not knowing what else it could lead to or what opportunities there would be to do other things from here. You never know what will come from it, which is exciting. And it’s really good fun.
Ruby: I think it’s a great opportunity for students as well, because for people who maybe haven’t ever had any idea of what working with professionals like is, it is such an incredible learning and life experience.
Would you recommend future students who are interested to get involved with Live Projects like this?
Amelia: Yes, definitely! 100%. I would also say that, it is a project for everyone, even though it was targeted towards fashion design students, it would also be really well suited to people who are studying 3D design, or architecture, because the actual structure of the sculptures that we’ve produced extends beyond just fashion. We were really lucky to be so involved and trusted with the shows, which has really helped with our confidence
Ruby: It was really nice, because there were so many different people there. There was such a massive mix of students from different programmes and we just all worked together in Brookes’ studios. We were all there until 11pm most nights, playing ABBA, getting our work done together. And it was just like a sense of community. It was a really nice experience.
Special thanks to Brookes Creative Student Assistant, Katherine Lai, for interviewing Amelia and Ruby. You can read more about the project in our VIN + OMI Live Lab post.