Evaluation

Throughout this year, well in fact throughout the past 3 years i have really learnt how to manage my time, through growing The Prawn Shop along side my degree which not only allowed me to have a career to step out in to after graduation, but also understand my practice and cement myself within the design world. I have also learnt the value of collaboration, it has allowed me to gain new contacts in terms of photographers and future models, it has also allowed me to generate new clothing ideas, maintain my creative flow and also create excitement within my brand through bringing out new items and collections frequently. Above all, the most valuable experience I've gained is understanding that i should be working On my business, not IN my business. After hearing this, i released that i needed to make changes, otherwise i wont be able to achieve the things i want for the brand, since realising this, i have set up a new system with my supplier in which he now packs and posts everything from his warehouse, which not only means that people get their orders sooner, but it also free ups over 2 hours per day which i normally spend packing orders. I am really excited to start working on the prawn shop full time, hopefully this year hosting a pop up event, starting my freelance practice, more collaborations and continuing to grow The Prawn Shop as a brand and as a community platform.

'portfolio'

As right now in my career a portfolio isn't needed, as i will be continuing to work on The Prawn Shop, i thought that it would b more useful and appropriate to create a small portfolio type attachment to send off to possible future collaborators. Below is a mock-up i made of how i might approach a future collaborator, informing them who i and the brand are, the brand intentions and personality, examples of my work, and the offer to collaborate. I believe this will be a really good way of ensuring both my self and the collaborator are on the same path, and above all make my enquiries as thought out out as possible.

Graduate Collection

Before graduating, i thought that i would take the opportunity to collaborate with Jay and Amin for a new prawn shop collection. Within the collection we touched on the concept of education, or rather more importantly finally leaving education and stepping out in to the world alone.
As this collection was used as an EP brief, we intend to have the collection and all collateral finished, however due to the photographers and models having deadlines also, the really shoot has had to be pushed back until after the hand in.

However we did take this opportunity to conduct a quick test shoot, trying out the concept (of a school picture style Throughout the course of my three years at university, i have developed not only a clear set plan for my future as a designer, but also a strong interest in current social issues that effect myself, and many women i know. My work outside of university consists of running my growing unisex clothing brand The Prawn Shop, inspired by female equality, sexuality, diversity and consent, this year i want to continue to push my beliefs through visually interesting and vibrant designs. The work i create will comment, challenge and raise questions about issues which women face within today's society, whilst developing my personal style through a number of different contexts. I intend to continue to push and challenge my self as a designer and a business owner, accepting and creating new opportunities in order to gain new voices and opinions around the work i create.
Throughout the module i intend to create a clear time plan and stick to it, i believe setting a clear time and end date will provide a realistic time frame for m to complete the work within.
I intend to utilise my brands Instagram page to collect primary research throughout briefs where necessary, as i currently have customers across 37 countries, the varied amount of potential responses i could collect would be very valuable in terms of making an informed piece of work. photo-shoot with a 90's aesthetic) in one of our graphic design studios, both so we could see how the collection photographed, and also to gain an insight in to what poses and props work, and would be needed for the actual shoot.
We intend to release the collection in late may/early June (see the test shoot above), which leaves me in a good position to settle in to running the prawn shop full time, without the immediate pressure to release a new collection straight after graduation, however designs have already begun to be produced. By creating this collection with Jay and Amin, not only has it produced some really nice pieces for the brand, but i believe it will also introduce more of a male audience to the brand, whilst still offering classic prawn shop pieces for my target primary audience.

Language

Within my practice i often communicate over email with a number of different people, i have realised that the language i use depends on who i'm talking to, i understand that whilst talking to my supplier who's first language isn't English, that i should be very clear and concise with my responses and enquiries.
When it comes to communicating with my customers i tend to replicate the type of language they're using, for example if they use emojis within the conversation i will reciprocate, whilst still ensuring the responses are professional and clear.
Whilst i have been seeking out collaborations this year, i again take aspects from the collaborators language, such as the conversations i had with Sophie Brampton, as can be seen below she uses a lot of emojis and terms such as 'girl', i also reciprocated and i wanted to make the exchange as comfortable for her as possible.
I wouldn't say that i change the way i talk depending on each person, however i do adjust my language to suit the tone of the conversation.

manifesto

I have decided that the most appropriate and useful manifesto i can write, will be about the prawn shop as that is currently my creative identity and outlet. By creating this manifesto, not only will it provide a clear vision of who i am and who the brand is, which will come in handy for interviews, but it will also provide me with a succinct explanation of the brand on my future website.

The Prawn Shop embodies the experiences of young women in today's society, through bold, unapologetic, vibrant designs, created for every person who has had to apologise for taking up space in this world, the designs stand out, they start conversations and above all they don't censor the natural form. Often in society women are shamed for having bodies, shamed for growing our body hair and shamed for rebelling against societies expectations. Through accessible, comfortable and diverse pieces of clothing, The Prawn Shop aims to break down the stigma and spread the message of the beauty within our differences. The brand will continue to grow in to a community where everyone can see themselves through pieces of art, where insights can be given, and honest conversations can take place.

work placement

As i intend to carry on with the prawn shop after i graduate, and i don't really consider myself to be a graphic designer i didn't feel as if i'd benefit from the traditional placement of going and working in a studio for two months, however i have arranged/am in the process of arranging a series of industry engaging activities to do after the submission, due to time constraints and money.

• Visit manufacturer, see how and where the t-shirts are made, discuss the shoes we will be designing and bringing out later in the year 
• Conversation with ex-pretty little thing employee, to learn about how their company is run, what went wrong for them as a brand, any anything else she may be able to give me insight in.
• Meeting with ex-topshop buyer, to learn about how brands go about stocking other brand sin their stores, what are they looking for, what should i avoid, how and who do i contact 
• visit the royal academy renaissance nude exhibition- inspiration for compositions and forms for a new collection
• Visit a possible new supplier to see what they can offer me, new products, a new business relationship 

cover letter

session: the art of the cover letter, and although it isn't something i feel i need at the minute, one day in the future i'm sure this knowledge will come in handy.

Within this session we learnt what a cover letter is, and what it should do. 

• skills and personality in a to a narrative/story 
• show you've done your research 
• sincere 

shouldn't: 

• waffle 
• general statements 
• informal 

important aspects: 

• clear, concise, confident 
• make sure the spelling and grammar is correct
• have personality, stand out from the rest (but in the appropriate context)
• finish strong 
• don't be afraid of humour, if appropriate