Passionate about graphic design and brand communication I’ve decided to interview some young blood, to showcase fresh talent in the UK. Earlier this week I had the pleasure of interviewing the Fashion Promotion undergraduate, Jasmine Macphee.
Don’t forget that you can check out Jasmine’s blog, Fashion From Dusk Till Dawn.
Tell us a little bit of history about yourself?
I grew up in Falmouth, a typical Falmouth gal I suppose! But I always wanted my life to entail more than staying in a small town and working a mundane job. I always had a lot of drive and wanted success over everyone else. Fashion was only career choice from a very young age and London was within my sight from about 9 years old. My older sister was there so I experienced it from a really young age and I couldn’t wait to leave!
I went to Falmouth school where I did my GCSE’S and A-Levels. Apart form Art, Media and Textiles I didn’t really take school seriously (I practically failed all of my GCSE’s) until it came to my A-Levels, in which I specialised in these areas. I Passed my A-Levels with an A, B and C and went to Falmouth University to do an Art & Design Foundation in which I specialised in Fashion. I applied for BA Fashion Design at Falmouth University, but after a swift break up I decided that I couldn’t stay here to do Fashion, what the hell was I thinking, Fashion in Cornwall?!
-If I have one piece of advice it would be don’t loose sight of what you want for a relationship, they come and go quicker that you can reverse your mistakes!
From Falmouth I went to Bath Spa and did a Fashion & Textiles Foundation Degree (as I didn’t know what I wanted to specialise in). I learnt how to make and design clothes but I severly loathed it. The main part of it I loved was the presentation/digital side to it. I could digitally design a print easily but when it came to pattern drafting I was literally throwing scissors and pins around the room. But I did it and graduated with a distinction. Subsequently I got my place at Ravensbourne to study Fashion Promotion where I was put straight into second year.
What inspired you to start blogging and how long have you blogged?
I always planned to start a blog when I was in Bath but quite frankly I was petrified! I felt like I didn’t really have anything to say at this point. I think the fact that I was studying Fashion and I hated making and designing clothes I hadn’t really come into my own yet. When I started at Ravensbourne I wanted to get myself onto as many digital platforms as possible and I felt that my time was now. I now felt I had something to say and therefore entered the world of blogging.
Why did you decide to Fashion Promotion at Ravensbourne?
When applying I chose mostly Creative Direction courses (I applied for LCF but got declined as i didn’t have a GCSE in English) but also Fashion Promotion at Ravensbourne. When thinking of promotion I thought of marketing, PR and advertising but this course was highly creative. It was a digital University and I am very digitally minded. Everything is digital now and every single platform is just growing and growing and I was ready to make my mark. It had a high emphasis on creative direction, branding, graphics and communication.
Who’s your inspiration?
Here’s the point where I say some hot shot designer or artist, but that’s not real, I don’t know them. So, Probably my Mum! At one point she juggled about 4 jobs and had 3 kids. All this hard work is to eventually secure my beautiful town house in West London and a family. Maybe even a country pad with a Land Rover, oh and pigs!
What’s your greatest accomplishment?
To be brutally honest probably passing all my A-Levels after my mum tragically died when I was revising for my exams. All I could see at the time was getting my A-Levels in order to go to Uni and ‘fulfil my dreams’. Recently, securing a work placement at Cosmopolitan Magazine!
What do you aspire to do in your career?
Such a cliché, but I want to wake up in the morning and want to go to work. If that didn’t have a hefty salary then so be it (but it would definitely be nice). Specifically, initially creative branding or magazine layout and then move onto being head of those areas. I love delegating but I would also love to have the creative reign.
Your house is on fire, which one item do you run back in to retrieve?
Without a doubt my iMac, its literally my life. I don’t even want to leave it when I walk out my front door! If I had more time definitely my laptop and my hard drive (my iPhone would already be in my pocket). That definitely says something!
What’s the biggest tip you have for anyone wanting to start a blog?
Find your voice. If you have an opinionated, potty mouth get that across in your blog! Don’t always think what people want to hear! Write about what you want to write about and own it. If its real, organic and honest it will be lovingly received. There are so many blogs out there that have pictures of pretty food and a review on the latest catwalk show. What makes yours different? If you don’t feel you bring anything new to the table, don’t do it your a small fish in a big pond.
If you could travel back in time and give your younger self some advice, what would it be?
Don’t rush. It honestly gets you nowhere! I mean that in terms of generally just rushing around when you think you have loads to but even small things like writing an email or ordering something online and it’s all goes wrong, every time you’ll look back and you’ll think why did i do that?!
I was rushing when I was applying for work placements and I put the wrong name in a really important email. It could of potentially ruined that whole opportunity just because I was being silly! Funnily enough I don’t think I heard back from them..
I mean the Fashion industry is very fast paced and you need to be constantly on the ball. There is rarely a time when I think I have nothing to do but just breathe. You will make a mistake and you will kick yourself for it! It will take you longer to rectify a mistake as opposed to taking your time doing it in the first place. I guarantee that.