Unlocking Success: Enterprising Skills for Fashion Designers

Today's lecture by Kay gave some insights on NTU Enterprise, freelancing and business development. While I do not envision myself starting business or starting freelancing in next 4-5 years but still, I believe there were some important aspects of the lecture which could be implied to my profession as a full time designer. 

In fast paced and ever - evolving world of fashion design, success is not only solely reliant on creative talent but also on enterprising skills.  Cultivating these skills can significantly enhance career prospects and propel you towards success.  

Business side is important for designers, aiming to succeed in the industry. From marketing and sales to budgeting and project management, having solid understanding of these concepts helps designers to create designs that aligns with consumers while aligning with market trends and demands. In addition to this, creative problem- solving skills are necessary in overcoming challenges encountered in design process.

Self-promotion and networking are other important aspects of enterprising skills that helps designer to showcase their work and build themselves as a brand, and to build connect with industry professionals. This opens doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and mentorships, accelerating career growth and advancement.

Finally, embracing innovation and experimenting with new materials, techniques and design concepts can inspire and create new trend in future of fashion. In conclusion, while starting a business or freelancing may not be immediate goals for some designers, but enterprising skills are invaluable for success in the dynamic and competitive world of fashion design.

Building Career- NTU Employability

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Today's Lecture with Jo Jackson was very insightful and great overview of resources provided by NTU Employability for crafting our career paths. Jo guided us through the important tools and support available for us and emphasized on importance of using resources like LinkedIn to create professional profile.

 Being an International Student, I recognize the important to understand the different cv styles, interview etiquette and work culture in the new country because every country has different challenges and different norms in workspaces. I have previously attended sessions on NTU Employability about Networking and Psychometric Tests, but Jo's lecture introduced me to new resources which I didn't knew existed like Prospects and the NTU alumni page on LinkedIn for networking. 

The Creative Future event was particularly beneficial, and I booked some sessions which were relevant to me. It was a really great opportunity to listen to firsthand experiences and advice from industry professionals. Highlight of the event for me was the panel discussion that I attended was about the early progression in the career. Some of the key aspects that stood out for me from the discussion was to importance of networking, stepping out of comfort zone and not hesitating to learn if you don't know certain thing. I also had opportunity to take advice from Louise Sullivan (Senior Buying Designer) about how to start my journey as a fashion designer. Overall experience was very enlightening and inspirational.

Overall today's lecture was good reminder of the resources available to us and I look forward to utilizing these as I continue my journey as a designer.

Beyond Fear: Empowering Self-Promotion for Personal Growth

Image Source- IIAD

In today’s world social media has emerged as a tool, for promoting oneself and gaining visibility. While I've always acknowledged its advantages, I've been hesitant to utilize these platforms to showcase my work. As someone who strives for perfection the fear of not presenting my work to the world has held me back causing me to doubt myself and hesitate.

However, after engaging in discussions and interactions with professionals like Stephy Fung I've come to understand the significance of self-promotion and marketing in today’s competitive environment. It's clear that if I don't actively showcase my skills and accomplishments there's a risk of getting lost in the crowd without recognition.

Motivated by these insights I've started taking steps towards putting myself out. Beginning with platforms like LinkedIn I'm actively building connections. Learning from the experiences of others in my field. This initial action has motivated me to consider expanding my presence to social media platforms like Instagram or even creating a dedicated website solely focused on showcasing my work.

By overcoming my tendency for perfectionism and embracing the concept of improvement I'm gradually discovering how to navigate the realm effectively while seizing opportunities, for personal growth and acknowledgment.

Although the path ahead might seem challenging, I am determined to push beyond my comfort zone and embrace the opportunities that await me.