WHAT FARAH DID NEXT

So, most of us are getting to that time of year when those daunting decisions have to be made about uni and progression. I don't know about anyone else but I find this process absolutly terryfying! So I decided to talk to a friendly face to discuss her move to university and how shes coping with the whole experience.

Most people have met Farah but if you havnt she is a past student who completed the National Diploma and continued on to the Foundation Diploma. Farah went on to continue her studies at Ravensbourne, London.


SO FARAH, HOW ARE YOU FINDING YOUR MOVE TO LONDON?
London is really great, I've been here less than two months now and it feels like home. I have a lovely house and get on well with my house mates, which is always good. I'm not in Central London. It's very suburban and quite- very different to the dodgy area of Birmingham I grew up in!

HOW IS UNIVERSITY DIFFERENT TO COLLGE?
University is a total shock to the system. Your trown in at the deep end, The tutors make people cry. You have to do twice the amount of work than at college, in half the time. Everything costs money that no-one has. It's scary. But at the same time it's great. You really have to work to be noticed in a group of 80, but the tutors make sure they help everyone. Personally, I enjoy contextual studies the most, because they really challenge the way you think, even without the context of fashion , and they make it fun with debates, seminars and magicians....

I think the biggest difference between college and university is the sence of indipendance you have. I see my tutor once or twice a week, I'm in two or three times a week but I still have to work very hard by mysef and make decisions without others feedback. You have to really develop your own style and stand up for youself if you are questioned about it.

WHATS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PROJECT YOU HAVE RECIEVED FROM rAVENSBOURNE?
We have only had one project so far. The brief was to design and make a skirt in white or nutreal colours. Our inspiration was to be anything we want! We were encouraged to go and see lots of exhibitions, try on expensive clothes and find anything and everything to inspire us. I started by going to the fashion and Fear exhibition at the V&A, and I really loved the fairytale imagery. I started to look at woods in fairytales, and how the huge proportions make them look quite menacing. I then started to look at scary creatures in fairytales and myths. The end result is almost finished. The project was supposed to be a 5 week project, but our department was closed for 10 days because of swine flu so the new deadline is friday. We will hand all of our work in and present our work in a crit. I'll be up first, I'm terrified!

DO YOU THINK TH WAY YOU WORK HAS CHANGED SINCE GOING TO UNIVERSITY?
My work has changed a lot since I came to Rave! Our tutors don't like a lot of annotation, or filling up pages. It's all very minimal. We don't do so much fabric sampling in our sketchbooks, but maybe we will do more of that as we go on. We have to work in A3 sketchbooks, wich I'm not used to at all, but I think im taking to it well so far...

I've also learnt to work alot faster. No one chases you or calls you up if you havn't gone in. It's entirly up to you to motivate youself.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK?
I don't think I have a signature style. I work best with strong sillouettes, strong colours and unusual details, but I'm certain my style will change once I lear new things and discover new ways of working.

WHAT DESIGNERS ARE INSPIRING YOU AT THE MOMENT?
I'm always inspired by Maison Martin Margeila, Commes Des Garcons and Huessein Chalayan.
But I'm personally more inspired by ideas and concepts, rather than what other designers have already done. I like to read and watch interesting films, and find out about other peoples points of view.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT BRITISH DESIGN AT THE MOMENT?
British design is really exciting at the moment. London has a 'anything goes' attitude that allows designers to challenge ideas. I think in a few years, as we come out of the recession, it will be even better. There will be so many graduates coming out of Ravensbourne, Central Saint Martins, Lcf, Westminster etc who will really push the boundries. I hope to be on of them!

WHAT DO YOU ASPIRE TO DO ONCE YOU HAVE GRADUATED?
I'm not quite sure what I want to do once I've graduated. I would love to try for a masters degree at Central Saint Martins or RCA, but I will just take oppotunities as they come. I want to eventually become a designer that inspires other designers.