FOUND Magazine 2019

F E AT U R I N G ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆

Street Art Grime Music The Yes Theory Life behind the Assignments Creating your Own Portfolio Fashion Sketch Books Face the Fight Trash Chic London a City made for Students Rainbow Sketches Photography

FILM

MEDIA

DESIGN

FASHION

—

Research & Photography: Yara Al-Hasawi Agrima Dave Cristina Gonzalez Pons Design: Galya Avramova

2

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

W

ritten by Foundation students, for Foundation students, Found Magazine aims to share an insight into student life.

As well as showcasing the work of UWL’s foundation students, this year’s Found Magazine is focused on helping you! Yes, you!

Whether you’re studying media, design, fashion or film, you’re guaranteed to find something in this magazine useful.

Having just started a university course, I’m sure you have plenty of questions still left unanswered.

How do you progress your career outside of uni?

Are you on the right course for you? Whatever it is you’re unsure of, I’m sure we have the answers you’re looking for.

So, without further ado, welcome to FOUND magazine, and welcome to UWL… CO N T E X T

F

oundation Students at the London School of Film, Media and Design are taught across four pathways.

The students are taught in four pathways (Design, Media, Film and Fashion) to prepare them to progress onto their chosen degree pathways.

The foundation course supports students on the following courses ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆

Graphic Design Interior Design Photography Advertising Content, Media & Film Production Games Design & Animation Visual Effects English Media & Communications Media Production English with Media & Communications ◆◆ English with Film ◆◆ English with Creative Writing

T H A N K S TO : ◆◆ Fashion & Textiles ◆◆ Fashion Imaging and Promotion ◆◆ Fashion Buying & Management ◆◆ Fashion Branding & Marketing In undertaking a degree with Foundation a year, students achieve a 420 credit degree that equips them for a professional career in the creative sectors.

In Semester 1, students undertaken three modules all of which are aimed at increasing student’s personal and academic development, their contextual understanding of the world we live in and their creative and visual research capabilities. In Semester 2, personal and academic skills continue to be taught alongside a module on the creative sectors – where most of our graduates intend to be employed, and the Major Project module where students produce all of the work featured in this magazine, as well as the magazine itself.

◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆ ◆◆

Dr Sumaya Alnahed Daniel Brennan Sue Bowerman Tim Bowerman Kristin Brewe Dr Joao Cordeiro Maggie Danquah Natan Fowles Dr Andy Fox Ali Hawkings Simon Hanna Jo Henderson Lisette Johnson @ Screen Space Dr Dennis Olsen Mark Owen Katie McNamara Krystel Quilantang Sam Ratzer Lee Sargeant @ Calverts Jo Tidy Brian Whiehead Ben Whiting

3

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

003 ISSUE SPRING ‘19

A R T I C L E T I T L E S CO LO U R CO D E D BY S E C TO R Design

Film

Fashion

Media

6-7 …..... Street Art 9 …........... Social Media Impact on Generation ‘Z’ 10-11 ….. Grime Music 13 …......... The Yes Theory 14-15 … Life behind the Assignments 17 …......... Creating your Own Portfolio 18-19 … Movement Café Brand Design 21 …......... The Castle Inn – Ealing 22-23 .. Fashion Sketch Book Pages 25 …........ Face the Fight 26-27 ... Trash Chic 29 …........ What does Brexit mean for International Students?

30-31…. More Fashion Sketch Book Pages Front cover and index: Photographer: Imaani Iris Erdogan 32-33 ... London a City made for Students Graphic Design: Malak Markus

4

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

2

34 …....... Everything you need to know about Fashion Blogging 35 …........ The True Cost – Review 36 …........ Creating an Online Fashion Brand 37 …........ Coco 38-39 .. Sky Garden – is it worth visiting?

40 …....... Rainbow Sketches 41 …......... The advantages and disadvantages of being an International Student 42 …........ Film Group Projects 43 …........ Secret Shopper 44 …........ The Photography Section

5

—

F O U D M MAGAZINE A G A Z I N2019 E 2—0 1 9 —N FOUND

—

SHOREDITCH

L

ocated in rapidly developing East London, Shoreditch is a burgeoning neighbourhood praised in hushed tones. The area alongside the Old Street Roundabout has become a popular headquarters spot for tech companies earning it the nickname of the “Silicone Roundabout”. Additionally, Shoreditch is spoilt for choice in terms of bars and night-life strengthening the youthful gravitation to the neighbourhood.

Regarding Shoreditch’s street art, many of the pieces have a mature undercurrent with work done by Banksy, Bambi and Ben Eine. Unlike Camden Town, there are no centralised locations with abundant street art however notable streets include Rivington Street, Buxton Street and Great Eastern Street. Socially conscious art is most likely a by-product of the influx of millennial residents, a generation marked by their precocious hyper-awareness to the ills of the world due to the calamity of events such as 9/11 and the Great Recession of 2009.

Organisational bodies have also capitalised on Shoreditch’s up-and-coming street art scene to regulate its growth and funnel enthusiasts’ money into the area.

Shoreditch Global Street Art (GSA) has been responsible for the creation of over 1,500 legal murals within London since 2012 and partners with commercial brands for a variety of commissions (events, licensing and advertising).

The Shoreditch Street Art Tours offer tourists and inquisitive Londoners a chance to thoroughly view the talent manifesting itself in this trending district.

6

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

CAMDEN TOWN

2 0 1 9

By Emmanuel

—

Osei-Asibey

K

nown for its eclectic character, Camden Town is internationally renowned for its high calibre and variety of street art. Multiple prominent artists, as well as local artists, have used the area as a canvas. Kobra, Otto Schade and even Banksy are notable examples who have all graced the neighbourhood with their artistic prowess.

Camden Town’s art is varied, but mostly very illustrative and visual. This trend has been co-opted by store-fronts creating a kaleidoscope of colour walking along Camden High Street. Socially conscious art appears ephemerally in Camden Town: mostly by Banksy. Recently however PANG was commissioned to create a large scale piece on the Syrian refugee crisis. Local initiatives recognise the area’s reputation and work to foster and support talent such as Real Art for Street Art (RASA) and Camden Town Unlimited.

Certain locations have a constant change of street art ready for viewing; for instance Hawley Mews, Stucley Place and Hartland Road. Overall Camden Town is London’s prime location for viewing street art alongside with myriad tourist attractions; cementing the area’s reputation and appeal for the young and old alike.

Spanish street artist Sr.X’s piece “Bullshit” although illustrative, leaves much to the imagination for interpretation.

7

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 1 Design

8

Film

Fashion

Abisha Smale

Agrima Dave

Andreea Crisan

PHOTOGRAPHY

INTERIOR DESIGN

ADVERTISING

Andrei Vasile

Angela Onorato

Anusha Perera

GRAPHIC DESIGN

FASHION & TEXTILES

FASHION & TEXTILES

Aran Jassy

Ben Jamieson

Charlie Fulcher

GRAPHIC DESIGN

JOURNALISM

MEDIA PRODUCTION

Media

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Lily Erinmez

S

ocial media is used every day in a number of different ways and on numerous platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook and Tumblr. Social media continues to become a larger part of our everyday life and has increased over recent years. Statista states that, “The number of worldwide users is expected to reach 3.02 billion monthly users by 2021”.

The number of social media influencers that now exist across all platforms has grown considerably. On Instagram alone in the last 6 years it has gone from 40 million to a billion. This in turn, has changed the patterns of consumption as people will turn to social media instead of a magazine or catalogue. Said Influencers establish themselves on their own from becoming popular on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and Tumblr.

Continuing on, the Influencer Marketing Hub stated, “people are turning to their favourite Instagram models, twitter personalities and YouTube stars for advice and recommendations on purchasing decisions”. Consequently, the celebrities that have aided the most turnover with particular brands have collaborated together and now have their own clothing lines. For example, 2018 Love Island contestant Hayley Hughes, has her own line with Lasula Boutique, a well-known online fashion brand. She continues to promote her own line, alongside other brands such as; Pretty Little Thing, Motel Rocks and Carter Beauty.

However, many influencers, who are in the public eye today, come from one of many reality TV shows which become popular and then gain an immense following.

These shows include; Love Island and Made In Chelsea. As these shows are so popular with generation Z, it is inevitable that after these shows, or during their airing, this generation will perhaps feel obliged to follow the cast members closely. This however, is not always important to everyone and some do not show any interest or feel they have to commit to using social media all the time. PR Week states that “34% of Gen Z say they’re permanently quitting social media, and 64% are taking a break.”

Students can use social media to their advantage in order to enhance their learning and social and business profile, especially fashion and journalism students. Fashion students in particular are keen social media users as they are able to promote photo-shoots and clothing designs

that can be shared on, for example, Instagram thus allowing them to gain a following. Journalism students are able to create their own blog via Instagram and/or Tumblr and therefore use it as a platform to share and display both their personal and academic work.

A recent article from the Influencer Marketing Hub on social media influencers explained that, ‘numerous people get inspiration from these influencers as well, this can be from what they are wearing to where they go on holiday.’ The article also stated that, “86% of women use social media for inspiration and fashion guidance off influencers for purchasing advice”. It also claims that 45% of women are more active on social media than they were over the past 2 years. This could be due to the amount of time they are spending time browsing for assistance with their fashion.

Over recent years, the number of women alone making purchases due to influencer posts on popular platforms such as Facebook and Instagram has increased significantly.

6 in 10 teens follow advice from influencers over celebrities.

This may be because influencers will share personal stories about the products they use. 57% of fashion and beauty companies engage in influencer marketing. This is where budgets are used on influencers as a way of marketing their brand and products, targeting these teens that will invest time into their influencers. “More and more consumers are seeking out reviews and trusted voices when making a purchase decision, and that creates a huge opportunity for influencers and brands to team together”.

Many of the better known love island contestants were swarmed with companies wanting them to promote their brand and especially their products; many of these, consist of beauty products such as; teeth whitening kits, tanning kits and hair growth tablets. Many clothing brands also reach out, including companies such as Lasula boutique, Shien, Zaful and more. With these celebs becoming brand ambassadors, they are given their own discount codes to lure in the public to consume these particular products.

As a result, we perhaps do not recognise the extent to which we are influenced or lead by people in the public eye. We continually take on board advice from influencers who are active on social media. It is perhaps seen as the norm by generation Z to turn to influencers before they make any decisions.

9

—

D

-Block Europe are now at the point of potential stardom.

Sharing their raw tales of the streets in melodic fashion, Dirtbike LB and Young Adz have undoubtedly perfected their sound and nurtured a style of music synonymous to their name.

Hailing from South London, D-Block Europe are a collective of artists led

by Young Adz and Dirtbike LB. Not being constrained to one genre, their music explores different sound ethos while showcasing their impeccable bars and staying true to their individual styles.

They’re inspired by legendary New York rap crew The Lox (AKA D-Block) and have even gained the attention of their heroes, with Young Adz A L B U M S O F D - B LO C K E U R O P E

T

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

touring with Jadakiss a few years back. Forget just this continent – the world awaits D-Block Europe.

—

By Aran Jassy

The group have made a serious of successful well-made songs such as their most anticipated album ‘Home Alone’ which got more than 1,000 listen on Spotify in the first 15 minutes of release.

Their success has been an unstoppable passion to make and create songs that have not only multiple meanings in their past life in South London. It was their experimentation with different flows and sounds in search of defining their own style which has won the heart of thousands of their fans with uniqueness but still staying real to the rap game. and popular song ‘Gucci Mane’ getting 1 million views in the first day of release on GRM

he most viral songs of D-Block Europe come from their two biggest albums ‘Any Minute Now’ and their latest album ‘Home Alone’ in which they include the collaborations of many other well-known artists.

◆◆ E xperienced summer chart success at top 20 which exhibited their ability to create tracks which not only resonate with the streets, but the entire UK rap scene.

◆◆ ‘ Any Minute Now’ is the collaboration album between D-Block’s autotune flows and Yxng Bane’s afrobeat flows combined into one album, released by Columbian record label and became an instant hit with fans with the most viewed

◆◆ ‘ Home Alone’ is the latest album of D-Block Europe the collaborations included some of the most renowned artists in the game, it became another great success and is packed with a range of exciting and emotive tracks.

D-Block Europe: Young Adz & Dirtbike LB in the sets of ‘The Shard’

10

F O U N D

T

he US-influenced rap troupe remain with their silky beats, wavy melodies and intensely auto-tuned vocals. They have created their own genre in US/UK hybrid of hip-hop trap, which has swept the whole nation under their spell.

T

he duo formerly met as high school buddies, Young Adz began his rap career at age 11 in which his best mate LB decided to join him, unknowingly this became a stepping stone towards the most successful grime rappers.

—

TO P S O N G S O F D - B LO C K EUROPE

D

-Block Europe have got some of the most lyrically exciting and emotional tracks such as their No 1 hit single ‘nASSTY’ which demonstrates how the duo (Ft Lil Pino) can deliver a catchy thrilling and pumping song to the UK rap game: ◆◆ ‘Tell the truth’ allowed D-Block Europe to end 2018 with a collaboration with US rapper ‘Rich The Kid’ bringing the UK and US rap scene together for yet another banging tune.

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

◆◆ ‘nASSTY’ proved to be one of the top NO1 singles by D-Block Europe being their most viewed and played single on Spotify with over 9 million replays, D-Block Europe offers a brilliant exciting and heart-pumping vibe with this song. ◆◆ ‘Kitchen Kings’ from their 2019 album ‘Home Alone’ brings a chilled and relaxed vibe, but yet excites the mood of the song with a cold bass to keep fans hooked to overload on this tune.

V I S UA L S O F D - B LO C K E U R O P E

V

isually, D-Block Europe have the most creative set of aesthetics that set them apart from many of the other UK rappers using merely Suave as their main graphic designer and director of their music videos: ◆◆ ‘nASSTY’ gained more attention due to their creative and aesthetic colour palette that was visually put together by Suave ◆◆ D-Block Europe came up from being a regular South London duo to becoming a dynamic force in the rap game, they display their greater wealth throughout their videos and are starting to succeed in their quest to becoming the top UK grime rappers.

Living the lavish life: The duo demonstrated their growth to success on the sets of ‘Tell the Truth’, a sensational calming beat produced by Suave productions, that ended their output in 2018.

The Dynamic Duo: Young Adz & Dirtbike LB creates an sensational buzz for the crowd on their ‘Home Alone’ tour at 02 Greenwich

Never forget your roots: Young Adz & Dirtbike LB Live at the hood, displaying the duo’s rise from the traphouse

11

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 2 Design

12

Film

Fashion

Media

Chevon Blanc

Chiara Party

Cristina Gonzalez Pons

FASHION & TEXTILES

ADVERTISING & PUBLIC REL ATIONS

INTERIOR DESIGN

Daniel Lawton

Dion Ferati

Dion Hosseini

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

Domenico Di Lillo

Donatella Onori

Emily Hardcastle

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

FASHION & TEXTILES

PHOTOGRAPHY

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Ricky Carson

R

emember that viral picture of Justin Bieber eating a burrito sideways or the time Will Smith bungee jumped out of a helicopter over the Grand Canyon? Well, the masterminds behind those viral sensations was a group of guys called “Yes Theory”.

They are a gang of creative friends that make and produce their own videos for their YouTube channel.

Now, normally their content focuses on inspiring people to break out of their comfort zones and to “seek discomfort” – not to troll the internet

with fake photos of a famous celebrity eating a burrito improperly. However, the video they made with Will Smith is who they are. Jumping out of a helicopter or traveling around Europe and staying with people they met on Tinder is who they are. To “seek discomfort” is the philosophy that they live by. And when we look at their followers, the Yes Theory creators may be onto something.

legit social media influencers. But they began their success at a university much like yours, with nothing more than a diverse group of university students and a camera.

We will track the journey the “Yes Theory” guys went on and how students like yourself could be missing out on the most important part of university: the time you spend outside of your classes.

With nearly 3.5 million subscribers and a viewing average per video succeeding 2 million views, they have firmly placed themselves as

PR O J E C T 3 0

2

Advert by Andreea Crisan

Project 30 was a challenge that two of the founding members, Matt and Thomas, came up with. Their challenge was to do 30 things they have never done before in 30 days. It was an ambitious project, but it’s what brought the two other founding members, Ammar and Derin, to the team. This dynamic group of guys were able to create a brand for themselves by coming up with an idea and actually carrying it out.

Growing up in a world where media technology has been democratized, people our age may find it hard to see what’s been under our nose this whole time.

If you want to create/produce media content or film, you don’t need a fancy camera or an expensive microphone to get started. We live in a world where people are afraid to fail and failing on the internet does not sound like the best place to do it. The internet can be brutal at times, but it’s important to remember you will make mistakes. You cannot escape so you may as well embrace failure likes it’s an old friend. If you do that then nothing can stop you from achieving your goals. You may only have a phone camera right now. That’s all right. You may not have the ideal equipment for your creation, but at least you’re doing something to show the world what you have to offer. Go out, create, and make your own luck because it all depends on you.

13

— F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9 —

LIFE BEHIND

THE A SSIGNMENTS

By Dion Hosseini

T

he rise in students seeking support for mental health, draws attention to the idea that there is more to university life than PowerPoints and worksheets, it is about growing as people and feeling comfortable in the university experience. The reason why I decided to write an article about mental health in university is to advise students about adjusting to life at university. This article will discuss two different perspectives of mental health; one by an experienced clinical psychologist, and the other by a student who has had experiences with mental health and knows how complicated it can be.

PSYCHOLOGIST’S VIEW

I

ntroducing Ann Lane, she has been a clinical psychologist for 23 years, and has had many patients who have been to or are currently attending university.

H OW C A N U N I V E R S I T Y B E B E N E F I C I A L T OWA R D S A S T U D E N T ’ S M E N TA L H E A LT H ?

U

sually, students find university beneficial towards their mental health when they have made friends, felt respected by the staff team, felt that they were supported through difficulties, enjoyed lectures, had good relations with staff, made connections with people academically who can help them with their future, and enjoyed the ideas discussed. There are some universities where students have more access to the staff department, they get to know the staff team, and they start working alongside them. So, sometimes when they go into their third or fourth year into their dissertation, they have more access to the staff team and share some of their ideas, and I think that has been really helpful to students when they find someone they admire or someone who is interested in their learning. I think that feeling that there is a close connection, when they can go back and have those prolonged discussions has been helpful. It is important that this idea of learning doesn’t just take place by looking at material online, it takes place through conversations with people, enjoying the conversations, and how people explain things to them.

H OW C A N U N I V E R S I T Y B E D E T R I M E N TA L T OWA R D S A S T U D E N T ’ S M E N TA L H E A LT H ?

T

here are some times when students go to university, because they believe it is expected of them to. I think that it’s very hard when you’ve got very high levels of anxiety to concentrate on academic work. People are constantly in a distracted and uneasy state, because they find it difficult to persevere with the work, and enjoy doing it. So, I think that can make it very hard for them to get their work done, and meet their deadlines. I think it’s also difficult, because sometimes if you’re on a campus or living near to university, then there is a nice community sensation.

Sometimes people live long-distance from their university, which can feel very empty and isolating for students. So, I think if you are moving away from home, often people aged 17-19 are developing

14

mentally, so people are more likely to experience distress and anxiety, and are likely to feel emotions very strongly compared to people in their 20s, because of the heightened level of emotion. It is time where you want to make friends, you want to be with people, and it’s a time where living far away from other students can be harmful towards your mental health.

C A N U N I V E R S I T Y WO R K L OA D B E D E T R I M E N TA L T OWA R D S A S T U D E N T ’ S M E N TA L H E A LT H ?

I

think that if they start falling behind with work, and they’ve got a feeling that all the deadlines are being extended, but they are all ultimately squashed into one, then that can be very pressurising. I think that the university has to hold the right balance, in order to help the students to get their work completed to meet the deadlines.

Sometimes when you miss one deadline, the temptation is to extend it by a week or two, but then it starts overlapping the other deadlines. So, it is rather difficult, because on the one hand it’s helpful to have some flexibility on deadlines, but on the other hand, you can get too flexible which can set the student up into a bad routine, so that they don’t take deadlines too seriously, which causes them to delay them later and later, which then results in them having a lot of pressure at the end of term.

—

C A N H AV I N G A N O CC U PAT I O N W H I L S T AT T E N D I N G UNIVERSIT Y INCREASE A STUDENT’S ANXIET Y AND STRESS LEVELS?

I

t truly depends on the character of the person. I think that if people have more organisation to their time, it is better for their mental health. So, if they know that they are only able to do their coursework at a specific date and time, then they don’t spend the whole day trying to do it, because spending the whole day trying to do one piece of work makes your concentration poor, your decisiveness poor, you start day-dreaming and procrastinating, and doing things that are not very effective.

If you know that you’ve got less time to do a piece of work, sometimes people are much more disciplined and they get it done.

STUDENT’S VIEW

I

ntroducing an anonymous Foundation year student, they are currently studying at the University of West London, and have been experiencing mental health problems for 7-8 years.

E X P L A I N YO U R E X P E R I E N C E S W I T H M E N TA L H E A LT H

I

have been experiencing mental health problems since I left primary school in 2011, as I struggled to cope with transitioning from primary school to secondary school. It felt like my younger-self had died and I always

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

struggled to say that. So, when I began to attend secondary school, it was very difficult for me. I hated everyone and everything, because I didn’t want to be there. I would spend my break-times and lunchtimes alone in the disabled toilets. I became highly unsociable and bitter towards people, which is one of my biggest regrets. I did that, because I felt isolated within myself, because I felt as though I couldn’t talk to anyone who could understand how I was feeling. I didn’t even realise that I had depression until 6 years after I had begun to have these feelings of trauma and numbness. I only began to realise that I might have depression when I typed in my feelings into a search engine and it came up with depression, which led to me taking a quiz on whether I had depression or not and my score was really high. I didn’t feel as though things were going to get better, and I believed that I was going to be feeling this bad forever. However, I am in a much better place than I was in before, because I am currently seeing a clinical psychologist for cognitive behaviour therapy and as a result of it, I am in more control of my thoughts and feelings, despite the fact that my feelings of depression are still not in the best place.

H A S U N I V E R S I T Y C AU S E D YO U R M E N TA L H E A LT H T O I M P R OV E O R D E T E R I O R AT E ?

W

hen I first came to university, I felt overwhelmed, because one of my main difficulties is adjusting to new places. In addition to that, I couldn’t cope with the workload, which then resulted in my mental health deteriorating, because I became more stressed and anxious, as I left my work to the last minute before the deadline.

However, as time went on, I began to work more efficiently in the time period that I was given, I started to take on more feedback from my teachers and apply that to my work, and now I feel mildly satisfied in my progress in university, because I have definitely come a long way from where I first started. Also, I feel supported by the staff at UWL, because they have helped me as much as they possibly can by putting support systems in place when I need it, by offering extensions for my assignments, and by simply being friendly and understanding towards my mental health which is the most important of all. Also, the students in my classes are amazing to be around, and despite the fact that I don’t talk to them much, they are still a lovely and friendly group of people.

W H AT A R E YO U R B I G G E S T B AT T L E S W I T H M E N TA L H E A LT H ?

I

have a few big battles in mental health, one of which is talking to people, because it takes a lot of courage for me to approach someone and start a simple conversation with somebody. Another big battle for me is coping with workload, and getting my work completed on time at a high standard. Finally, another major problem for me is simply coping with the intense levels of stress and anxiety, and not crumbling all the time.

H OW D O YO U R L I V I N G A R R A N G E M E N T S E F F E C T YO U R UNIVERSIT Y LIFE?

I

live in a shared accommodation with my mum, my dad and my older brother. This is difficult for me, because I live far away from university, and I feel as though I am being deprived of having my own independence and living around people who are usually my own age which is what I would have had if I lived at Paragon.

15

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 3 Design

16

Film

Fashion

Media

Emmanuel Osei-Asibey

Emmanuel Villanueva

Eyobel Dawit

GRAPHIC DESIGN

GRAPHIC DESIGN

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

Fatbardha Salihu

Gabrielle Newton

George Pantazescui

PHOTOGRAPHY

VISUAL EFFECTS

VISUAL EFFECTS

Grace Torrance

Imaani Erdogan

BROADCASTING & DIGITAL JOURNALISM

PHOTOGRAPHY

Yee Ting Neoh English & Creative Writing

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Ben Jamieson

T

he year 2017 was the worst year of my life. Having finished college with A-levels a hair’s width from failure, the most notable being a D in Computing, I decided that my best bet would be finding a programming apprenticeship with the little knowledge I had attained. I was even less successful than you’d expect.

However, I was able to learn two things from this experience. The first being that, as much as it claims to weigh ‘hunger’ and ‘willingness to learn’ as the most important features of a potential candidate, the apprenticeship system will always grant opportunities to people with enough work experience to have already left it and be earning real money. And the second being that, if you have no solid proof of your skills, or the ‘value’ you’re claiming you could bring to a company, it simply does not exist.

It’s easy enough to tell someone you have an interest in design, or film, or fashion, but without a portfolio, those are hollow words. Employers and institutions will ask you for examples of previous work. So, to make sure you’re prepared, I’m giving you the advice I wish I’d received all those years ago.

Here’s everything you need to know about building your own portfolio.

R E P R E S E N T YO U R S E L F

(The What) The first question you’re asking is obviously: what in the world do I put in it? Simply put? Your best work, and the work that best represents you as a creative individual. If you as an artist have a clear and unique style, then do your best to illustrate it here. Make it clear exactly who you are and what you can provide, so that employers can decide whether you’d be a good fit for whatever you’re applying for. If you’re in a situation where a portfolio is necessary, then there’s a good chance you’ve already had an interview with the person examining it. You’ve already

listed your skills and experience, boasted of your creativity and your passion, and now’s your chance to show proof. Give your evidence.

K E E P YO U R WO R K CENTR ALISED

(The Where) OK. So you’ve collected your work. But where do you put it all? Do you build a website? Do you collect physical copies of your work in a folder? Well, that’s up to you, and is largely dependent on what you’re actually showcasing. If you’re trying to show off footage you’ve filmed or edited, then you’ll obviously be putting them online, unless you’re interested in carrying around a collection of flipbooks and narrating the scenes yourself.

The main point I’d stress is to keep everything simple and presentable. If you’re storing your work online; then keep it all on one, easy to understand, personal website. Your online presence is larger than a single website, you say?

You have 3 different pages all dedicated to completely different potential lines of work? Many of which you’ve completely lost interest in and have since separated yourself from?

Then simplify it to the best of your ability. Cut off what you no longer consider useful, relevant, or representative of you, and provide links to external work you’re actually interested in showing off. Of course, it’s good to have proof of growth, and to show an interest in a variety of fields, but don’t make employers have to crack the Da Vinci code to make sense of any of it.

PU R P O S E A N D CO N S I S T E N C Y

(The Why) Lastly, the most important question to ask yourself is of course, why you are building a portfolio in the first place.

After all, if you don’t what your goals are, then how will you ever know if you’re reaching them? WordPress, for example, is a great platform for

showcasing your work or managing a blog, but ultimately provides little in the way of immediate engagement or growth opportunities. Would this be the right website for you?

If you’re posting work online with the goal of building a social media presence and finding fame, then don’t expect it to happen overnight. None of the most successful and popular online content producers ever expected to be in that position. They didn’t write, film, and edit in their spare time because they knew they were destined for fame, they did it because they enjoyed the process, and you’ll have to too.

Remember that while a portfolio is proof of effort and skill, it’s unlikely to be reflective of the first few forms of employment you find. Some graphic designers for example, enter the job market having only ever worked on coursework and personal projects, which they likely would have had complete control over. When asked to produce art assets for businesses in fields they don’t care for, many of them lose interest. It’s unlikely that the first job you land will be designing scenery for an Obsidian game, and will instead probably involve designing graphics for the website of a small business. The same can be said about working in the film industry, where your knowledge on the use of equipment and video editing software will at first be used extensively when you’re hired to capture weddings.

Remember that it’s still ultimately your portfolio, and how you structure it is up to you. Want a website that showcases your best work and provides proof of your skills? Sure go ahead. Want to keep a weekly blog to show your consistency and dedication to your field? Fantastic. As long as your portfolio is a genuine showcase of your abilities, and easy for others to understand, it can give you a competitive edge in the creative industries.

17

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

MOVEMENT CAFE

By Emmanuel VillanuevWa

LOGO DESIGN

T

he brand is inspired by a cafĂŠ shop and my love for dancing. The purpose of the brand is to raise awareness as well as help improve the lifestyle for those who have disability. This will be done through a form of donation, where half of the money from dance lessons will be used to give disabled people a chance to move forward. With this in mind, I have decided to name the brand ‘Movement CafÊ’.

T Logo Design # 1

Logo Design # 2

18

he logo is designed to create a minimalistic, yet modern look. The letter ‘M’ was intentionally created in italic form to give the logo a sense of motion, hence why the word movement was used for the brand. In addition, I have also included mock-ups to demonstrate how the logo will be presented in the materials and merchandise, found within the shop.

Final Logo Design # 3

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

MOCK UPS

Movement Cafe | Business Card

Movement Cafe | Coffee Cups

Movement Cafe | Jumper

19

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 4 Design

20

Film

Fashion

Media

Jobyna Oukhouya

Kalum Duckett

Katarzyna Chrapczynska

MEDIA PRODUCTION

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING

Khadijha Fontaine

Kyran Rai

Lia Thompson

JOURNALISM

GAMES DESIGN & ANIMATION

ENGLISH & FILM

Lidia Lopez

Lily Erinmez

Lloyd Springer

PHOTOGRAPHY

ENGLISH & MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Photograph © by Agrima Dave

New Interior Design Researched Article by: Yara Al-Hasawi Agrima Dave Cristina Gonzalez Pons

F

ullers, is a well-known brand loved by young and old alike.

Alongside their brewery, Fuller’s own and operate over 380 pubs and inns, the Castle Inn being one of them. The Castle Inn is located in a prime location just opposite the St Mary’s Road campus of the University of West London and attracts a range of clientele. It is renowned for the relaxed atmosphere, chilled out vibe, and regular entertainment.

Fullers teamed up with design company Shown to give a new twist to this local pub. The newly renovated Castle Inn took on a new look all thanks to the innovative interior design changes made.

Photograph © by Abisha Smale

Interior design is a collaborative discipline in a sense that you can find inspiration for it wherever you are and it can be implied in multiple ways. It merges into different fields

in order to come out with different outcomes. The study of design itself shows “the existence of certain social distinctions”.

university across the street, we decided to update our interior to cater to the student audience as well as the locals.”

We all know people who enjoy a night down the pub and with regular music and quiz nights, alongside coverage of major sporting events, the Castle Inn attracts a wide variety of people.

W H AT LO O K W E R E YO U GOING FOR?

In the day time it provides a quiet place to study and catch up and the award winning garden provides seclusion and tranquillity.

Additionally the wide ranging tapas style menu has vegan and vegetarian options and is particularly good values for money when the 10% student discount is applied to your bill.

THE REFURBISHMENT “ The Castle Inn hadn’t been refurbished for 20 years but with the

“The new refurbished pub has a very chilled and relaxed vibe maintaing elements of a traditional pub whilst creating an environment where people can also enjoy a coffee or a meal or snacks at any time of the day.”

By combining these elements The Castle Inn has successfully created an environment which appeals to different audiences of different ages. The landlord and the interior design agency Shown worked together to create a multiple use space that appeals to regulars and students. Make sure that you check out the Castle Inn.

Photograph © by Abisha Smale

—

21

Sketchbook page © by Anuska Gurung

—

22

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

F O U N D M AG A Z I N E 2 0 1 9

Sketchbook page © by Wicktoria Labaz

— —

23

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 5 Design

24

Film

Fashion

Malak Markus

Matty Venning

Mireia Cuevas

GRAPHIC DESIGN

ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING

JOURNALISM

Media

Mohammad Naja

Naveeda Khoshbo

Qianen He

GAMES DESIGN & ANIMATION

JOURNALISM

FASHION BUYING & MANAGEMENT

Paulina Sebastiao

Pedro Guerreiro

Rebecca Nieznanowski

FASHION & TEXTILES

GRAPHIC DESIGN

FASHION BRANDING & MARKETING

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Yee Ting Neoh

S

tarting and settling at a university is definitely a new experience. You begin enrolling on your chosen course. You get to know your course staff and also, you meet other people and start to build friendships. However, settling in might not be as easy as it’s made out to be, since students may run into certain struggles that could affect their experience. In order to get a clearer insight, we conducted a survey of the LSFMD foundation students 2018-19 to reflect their experiences so far, and to voice any issues they might be facing.

From this survey, a number of issues arose, which we explored further in our interviews. Below each highlighted issue will be a tip or piece of advice on how to cope or try to overcome said issue.

T R AV E L

S

ome students choose to live at home instead of the student halls, since it is quite expensive to live there. However, they are a lot closer to campus, and this is particularly useful if your university has a 24/7 library.

Our survey shows that 32% are currently doing this. Although living at home may seem less stressful, the issue of travel can pop up, especially if you live quite far away. One student we interviewed stated, “It takes me over four hours to get to uni and back home.”

The student also said that travel does cost a lot of money, and that they spend their time worrying about where the money will come from a how this issue will fix itself in the end.

Tip: Think about where you want to stay. If you do live further away, you could stay in student halls. However, it’s still your decision, and you can still live at home if you want to.

L A N G UAG E F LU E N C Y

S

tatistically, 29% of students said that English wasn’t their first language. This is almost a third of this year’s foundation students.

Another student had concerns about their fluency in English, and their ability to study at degree level.

“In the first months, I thought I couldn’t reach the level for passing the degree. I wasn’t sure about my fluency in English.”

This again is another issue that should be highlighted. Non-UK students are also adapting to a new country, and concerns about their English aren’t surprising. However, there will be support available.

Tip: Don’t stress too much over your fluency in English, the more you hear, the more you’ll pick up.

DISABILIT Y

O

ur survey showed that 22% of students declared a mental disability, which is an issue that has attracted a lot of attention. However, alongside mental health concerns, there are also physical disabilities.

One student we spoke to stated that she had a visual impairment.

“Because I’m visually impaired, I use a laptop with speech software on it.

However, not everything is compatible with my laptop, which includes Blackboard. This means I couldn’t access all the lecture PowerPoints straight away, so I had to ask my course staff to convert them into PDFs and email them to me.”

Of course, there are many other disabilities to consider, and although our survey concluded that 52% said that they didn’t have one, it’s still a significant issue.

Tip: Ask for help if you need it. Tell your lecturers, tutors, or the well-being team if you have any problems.

Overall, students come face-to-face with quite a lot of struggles. Although adapting to university or liking your course may be at the top of the list, there are other issues, such as the ones that were brought up in our survey and interviews, should be greatly considered. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. All the students that were interviewed stated that they were enjoying their courses. When asked about how their struggles would affect their future experiences, the students gave positive answers.

One student stated that they will have more of an understanding of managing money and what it takes to become dedicated. Another student said that they were improving their skills every day. What’s even more encouraging is the fact that all the students who were interviewed felt supported by the university, and that it was made clear to them the help that was available. So, remember, it may seem hard at the beginning, but with enough resilience, you will get through it.

25

Sketchbook page © by Chevon Blanc

—

26

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Design by Chevon Blanc Photographs © by Alessia Pozzi

27

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

STUDENT PORTRAITS 6 Design

Fashion

Media

Ricky Carson

Sahar Halimi

Telma Santos Cabral

MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

ENGLISH & CREATIVE WRITING

CONTENT, MEDIA & FILM PRODUCTION

Toby Spyropoulos

Wiktoria Labaz

Yara Alhasawi

PHOTOGRAPHY

FASHION & TEXTILES

INTERIOR DESIGN

Credits to the Photographers: Lidia, Imaani, Toby, Emily, Fatbardha and Abisha.

Supported by UWL photography technician Simon Hanna.

“Working with Simon was a learning curve, some of us with experience and some without.

Organising photo shoots with all the other Foundation students was a challenge and meant that we all had to find solutions and work consistently as a team.”

— Abisha “It was a great experience working in the studio and getting to be practical with equipment. It also taught me how to lead a team and to make sure we meet deadlines.”

— Imaani

28

Film

“Loved working in the studio it was all new to me and it helped me have the knowledge to work with the Fashion Students for their FMP.” — Lidia “It was my first time being in the studio, I really enjoyed doing the portraits as it was an eye opener to what working in this industry is like.”

— Fatbardha “I’ve never worked in the studio before but I found it very rewarding. I loved working with a strong team and gaining the experience that I did through this project.”

— Emily “It was my first time working in a studio. It was enjoyable and interesting to see how everything worked.”

— Toby

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

By Naveeda Khoshbo

U

ncertainty over the outcome of Brexit (the UK leaving the EU) talks has created an unclear situation for international and European students applying to UK universities. At the time of writing, UK prime minister Theresa May has been granted an extension until the end of October. However there are many who want the withdrawal to take place before then, for some ideally before the European Elections in May. But there are still questions regarding whether Brexit be delayed further or even cancelled?

Could there be another referendum?

The Brexit train lurches forward with no clear direction, so politicians, business people, the general public, and students from other countries studying in the UK all have some concerns. This article questions whether international students are still welcome in the UK. As Brexit turned into an international debacle, I panicked about the impact that Brexit may have on international students merely since I heard rumours of how Brexit may have impact on international students. It is always worth researching before you get too worried. Many UK universities are pro-European, University of Glasgow, for example, announced that: “Colleges, universities, trade unions and the Scottish Government have agreed a united approach to protect Scotland from the worst effects of Brexit”. The University of Aberystwyth in Wales appreciates that as the UK prepares to leave the EU, Brexit will affect students from Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA). The University of West London, where I am studying still welcomes students from around the world and has published a

statement declaring that it will remain a European university, despite the outcome of the Brexit. The UK Government has confirmed that EU students enrolling in the 2018/19 academic year will be eligible for the same funding and support as offered in 2017/18. The tuition fees of international students for the 2018/2019 academic year is 12,000 however, in most cases the amount will increase by 12,500 in 2019/2020 academic year.

Commitment has already been made

by UK government (4,1, 2019) that students accepted onto a degree course in 2019 will be extended the same rights as EU students currently have, however, as a degree course is traditionally 3 years long, international students applying for a degree with Foundation year, may need to check their eligibility for a four year duration.

International students are indeed still welcomed by UK universities, but there will be changes in the law and visa policy. There may be policies making it harder for international students to study in the UK, in the future even though, the Dept. for Education has announced that: “there is no limit on the number of international students who can study in the UK”. The super good news which I am delighted by is that international students will be given visa extensions of up a year to look for work in the UK after Brexit, international students need to switch their visa to a work-related one if they wish to extend their stay in the UK. Despite the great news many students are now thinking about other countries in Europe that offer English-language degree programs, like Germany, Ireland or the Netherlands due to fees increase fears. Some international students have

—

no concerns and are happy they think they will take benefits from Brexit.

Media student Ricky ‘Carson’ has come from America to study here in the UK says: “Brexit does not really mean much to me because it is not going to affect me in a negative way. Infact when it happens, I think the pound will go down in value so it might actually help me when I convert US dollars to British pounds”.

As stated, the immediate effects for international, non-European students are probably small. If you are classified as an “international student” by universities – on a Tier 4 visa Brexit will likely not have a serious impact on your plans to study in the UK however it is not clear what rights international students will have to work in the UK after their course finishes.

The answer about tuition fees is that you will handle the tuition fees the same way you do now, if you are an EU citizen, you are currently treated the same way as UK students. It is very likely that Brexit could change this situation and if European students are no longer treated like domestic students, their tuition fees may increase. Even without Brexit it looks as though the funding system for universities is likely to change however, the department for Education has not confirmed this issue yet.

As UK is the second most popular study destination worldwide, according to official international enrolment statistics, 458,490 international and European students were attending university in UK in 2017/ 2018 probably most of them are worried about the current talks on Brexit. What if policy makers inform these students about some serious changes after Brexit? What if (247,685) new enrolled overseas students could not bear the presumable changes?

Leaving EU for UK is not like Grexit (Greek leaving Eurozone) as every area of life may be affected. Therefore, International and European students in the UK need to keep track of news regarding Brexit and make sure they know about possible changes which may affect them.

29

Sketchbook page © by Donatella Onori

—

30

F O U N D M AG A Z I N E 2 0 1 9 —

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Sketchbook page © by Ivan Martins

—

31

—

By Mireia Crespo

W

hy study in London? That is the question which we all ask ourselves when friends tell us their experiences in this big city. That is the point: everyone knows someone who lives in London, who tells us amazing stories about life, and bit by bit without realising , it sparks a desire to experience this in our own skin.

According to the statistics of the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) for the academic year 20172018, there were 2,343,095 students enrolled in their courses, and 458,490 of this total were non-UK students.

During the same academic year, according to the information provided by the International Students Office (ISO), the 30.43% of students were coming from international, (i.e. NonEuropean) countries. London alone is home to over 100,000 international students from over 200 different nations, more than in any other city in the world (theguardian.com). Students come to the UK from all different countries, but the USA would be the number but American students are the most likely to study in the UK, one in the list with 17.580 current students in Britain followed closely by students from Hong Kong (16.680) and Indian students (16.550) (Ukcisa.co.uk).

In terms of European students, according to 2016-17 UKcisa statistics, the population from Germany is the most likely to come to the UK to study (13,739 annually), followed by France (13,560) and Italy (13,455). My own country, Spain, is in the 7th place after Cyprus, with 8,820 students placed in UK. So why is the UK such a popular study destination for European and International students? Several factors

32

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

contribute to the popularity of studying in the UK, such as subsidised ‘home’ fees for European students and the availability of student loans. Also, the proximity of the UK to the Continent (some European students even use the Channel Tunnel to commute to their UK institutions) and the world-class British education system influences people to come to the UK to study. The opportunity to learn in the global language of English is also an important factor, particularly for those who want to work in the creative sectors.

One of the main reasons why London is such a popular place for students from abroad is simply that it’s such a great place to be one: the British education system really cares about students, in comparison to many other countries, There are also discounts in living costs and leisure, such as transport and cinema. What a great way to enjoy all this amazing city has to offer! London is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city which provides different cultural perspectives and must-do activities, and these facts make it the perfect city for students from abroad whose aim is getting involved with different people, places and experiences.

So,why did I come to London then?

Nothing better than the experience of an European student in order to understand the reasons which might lead millions of foreign people to come to this great city.

It all started with emptiness, a sense of wasting time. Don’t get me wrong. I was well settled in my small but beautiful city of Palma, in Mallorca, Balearic Islands, where it only rains once a month in winter (if so), and where the closest beach is in a 15 minutes walking distance from the city centre. Spain is a sunny and easy-going country, many people think of it as a holiday destination, all ‘fiesta, paella and siesta’. But for residents it is not like that. I had a good job in which my colleagues were more family than work mates. I had my own rented apartment where I lived alone but was surrounded by my childhood friends. I had everything one can dream of, right? I kept telling that to myself, but the

—

feeling of emptiness kept growing, and I could not stop thinking: ‘I could do more than this, I could do more’ but in Spain there are not the same opportunities or access to education.

It felt as if my own country did not support me, the economic situation and government do not allow the population to fulfil their potential.

There are large numbers of families (including those with post graduate members) who struggle to reach the end of the month. This situation is even worse in the Balearic Islands, where prices are higher due to tourism, but the minimum wage is low. I started travelling, unconsciously searching for that ‘something’, and when in 2016, my best friend and I came to London I found it. I had been to the UK before, but not to London. I was really excited about it, as although I was also scared as well, because I had great expectations about the city (for me, the most multicultural and cosmopolitan city of Europe), and I did not want to feel disappointed.

That did not happen: I found myself not only fascinated by the city as a tourist, but imagining myself living in it as well, making my dreams come true. When that thought crossed my mind, I felt both excitement and vertigo at the same time: I knew that if I let that thought grow, I would end up living here, and leaving everything I had known so far. The thought settled inside me, and in less than a year I found myself living in this city having been accepted onto a degree course I could not have studied in my own country. I believe that most of the people come to London sharing the same reason: the aim to be better. This is when the willing to explore and the sense of adventure wins against comfortableness and routine. The reason I decided to leave the Spanish island was to have an opportunity to shine and expand my horizons London is the city of possibilities, with a welcome and open attitude to young people from around the world, who chose to study here makes it the perfect city for those who dream of improving and flying high.

— F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9 —

Photography & Design by Dion Ferati

33

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Tori Gabb

A

Fashion Blog is a website and/or an account on a social media platform that discusses a range of fashion-related topics that jump from beauty tips to haute couture, street fashion to celebrity airport fashion, and Primark to Chanel.

According to statistics there are over 440 million blogs globally, creating endless amounts of content. However, there are some fashion blogs, like my own: Love Tori, that choose to stick to one or two topics, such as reviews based on the latest designer collections or the day to day life of a fashion blogger; which is popular YouTube content that fashion bloggers can decide to do.

I used to think of a fashion blog being a website through Wix or Blogger, but with the rise in Instagram users going up to one billion monthly users, it’s becoming apparent that Instagram is a strong foundation for a fashion blog without the struggle of setting up your own website and paying for your own domain. Before I started using Instagram as a blogging platform, I set up a blog through Wix where I continue to post reviews on the latest designer collections as well as sharing some of my personal thoughts on companies and giving advice. The day to day life of a fashion blogger varies depending on the audience; bloggers with a large social following will have more content than a part-time fashion blogger. Many of us are in fact students or have jobs and keep fashion blogging as an extracurricular activity with the goal of it being a full-time job in the near future.

However, there are also many fashion bloggers where fashion blogging is their job and they make quite a profit.

The fashion industry heavily relies on advertising and media. We often see incredibly popular fashion bloggers

34

uploading photographs in brands like Chanel, Nike and Balenciaga, proudly showing that they are the brand’s new ambassador. Award-winning fashion influencer and blogger Sarah Zerafa, sports luxury and up-coming brands in her glamorous Instagram posts and ‘how to style’ videos. The carefully thought out photographs that are selected to feature on her Instagram page are what entice her followers to seek these brands out for themselves.

While Zerafa gets discounted, sometimes free, clothing, these brands are gaining new followings and exposure from a well-known and award-winning fashion blogger and influencer. Although not a fashion blogger, Kendall Jenner revealed on TOP 5 STEPS TO HAVING A SUCCESSFUL FASHION BLOG ◆◆ Have a consistent theme ◆◆ Keep a posting schedule ◆◆ Know your target audience ◆◆ Keep your posts relevant ◆◆ H ave fun! Your work looks great when you have fun doing it.

Instagram that she had become an ambassador for Adidas. The high culture catwalk model had a large following of 81M Instagram followers, now 105M, when Retail Dive revealed that the German brand had regained its position as number two in the sports gear retail.

The film, ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ opened up an opportunity for Asian bloggers and influencers to immerse themselves into an industry that has been lacking in Asian representation.

Let’s take a look at the crazy rich Asians of the fashion blogging society; a few fashion bloggers whose content

is exciting and definitely worth subscribing to.

Korean-American fashion and lifestyle blogger, Chriselle Lim, uses Instagram as a base for her blog, leading intrigued followers to her very own website (thechrisellefactor.com) where she explores fashion, beauty and lifestyle. Her website enables viewers to shop her Instagram, subtle promoting the brands she wears.

Lim’s extensive fashion blogging has lead her to releasing her very own fashion collection that has its own Instagram account and can be found on popular websites such as Nordstorm, Shopbop and Bloomingdales.

Aimee Song is another fellow AsianAmerican fashion and lifestyle blogger who has risen to mega-influencer status in the past year and has seen herself featured on the Forbes 30 under 30. Alongside fashion blogging, Song has released two books based on fashion, lifestyle, travel and how to build your very own social media brand. We also get to see her favourite looks of all time.

Wendy Nguyen is an inspirational fashion and lifestyle blogger in more ways than one. Nguyen has opened up about her troubled childhood and her road to recovery in her fashion blog. Not only does Nguyen display her fabulous style on her well organised blog, she also reveals that she is just as much brains as she is beauty. Her work with the juvenile justice system and being board member of InsideOUTWriters.org, a company that focuses on reducing the juvenile recidivism rate by providing services, like creative writing, which aim to meet the needs of incarcerated youth. Nguyen excellently showcases that there is a lot more to fashion blogging than what meets the eye.

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Directed by ◆◆ Andrew Morgan ◆◆ Produced by ◆◆ Michael Ross Release Year Available Netflix

◆◆ A ) Deny any personal responsibility for the actions of the industry as a whole,

By Ben Jamieson

T

he True Cost is a harrowing documentary exploring the devastating effects that the evergrowing fashion industry has had on both the planet, and its people.

Through a combination of interviews with industry professionals, footage taken of work within the fashion industry, and cuts of news broadcasts, the film aims to cover as much of the fashion industry as it can in its 92 minute runtime.

A significant portion of the film is dedicated to interviews, varying in point of discussion, as well in relevance, importance or interest.

For every heart breaking, insight into the life of a sweatshop worker, there’s a segment dedicated to promoting a fair trade clothes company, and a series of selfcongratulatory talking head segments following it. The interviews that I found by far the most interesting were the ones with CEOs, and owners of multi-million dollar clothing companies and fashion brands, who would all either:

◆◆ B ) Explain how working in a sweatshop is actually a positive employment opportunity, or ◆◆ C ) Justify their business’s actions as necessary in order to maximise profit.

These portions of the film made it very clear why the fashion industry is in the place that it is, and why it’s unlikely to change. The film clearly illustrates that those in power, capable of making great change across all fields of the fashion industry, simply see that change as unnecessary and irrelevant to their personal goals and responsibilities.

This lack of interest in changing such an important part of the fashion industry would ultimately lead to the Savar building collapse in Bangladesh, the deadliest structural failure accident in modern history, in which 1,134 people lost their lives. The film shares an important insight into the causes of the disaster, as well as the effects it has had on the country, its people, and the fashion industry as a whole.

The main problem I had with the film however, and the reason I’m now realising why it failed to keep my

attention, was that it never spends enough time on a single topic of discussion to say anything new.

Although covering so much ground gives the film much to discuss, it feels like it spends less time actually exploring each point then it should, and would rather rush onto the next point than explain the importance of its last. The film pushes through example after example of environmental consequence or human rights infringements related to the fashion industry, separated by short segments on less significant topics like marketing, and wastage, but ultimately achieves very little other than informing you that these things are happening. The best analogy I could use to describe the film would be a YouTube play-list on shuffle, playing a series of vaguely related videos at random.

Viewers leave the film feeling guilty about taking part in an industry that would condone such atrocities, and hopeful that some kind of change is orchestrated, but without any idea of what they could do as individuals to improve the state of affairs, or much of a personal stake. The film provides little in the way of actual solutions, or advice for individuals to consider as consumers.

35

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Matty Venning

T

he creative world in London is a

was always at the back of my mind. I have

likes of Refinery and the New York Times.

saturated market, with young

always wanted to create and sell my own

Much to the astonishment of her fellow

creatives struggling to get their break.

garments, but was lost as to how to begin

editors. This takes a similar approach to

In London, in particular, there are a

doing this, so I delved into the history of

that of Earle, but in a completely new era.

wealth of opportunities right at our

fashion to take a look at one of the most

This kind of rapid progress is something

feet, with some of the biggest media

successful self-made fashion brands.

that we are seeing less and less in high

companies in the world, as well as being considered one of the worlds fashion capitals.

One great example of someone successfully creating content is Johnny Cupcakes, a t-shirt brand created by

street stores, as “51% UK consumers prefer to shop online than in-store” (Ecommerce News, 2019).

According to UCAS, “a total of 411,860 have

Johnny Earle who initially sold his t-shirts

In January 2019, Katie Lundin published an

been placed on an undergraduate course,

out of the back of his car, but through

article on ‘How to Start a Successful

so far” (UCAS 2019), meaning that there

persistent selling he gained a loyal

Clothing Brand or Clothing Line From

are of thousands of students who I will be

following, the experience and knowledge

Scratch: The Definitive Guide’, and states

competing with when I leave university

of the industry that he needed to created

that brands often become successful

with a degree in creative writing.

this into a globally recognised brand.

because they are started by people who

However, this brand was created in 2001,

are passionate about creating something

and times are different. We are in an age

new that sets them apart in the industry.

After coming to university and seeing the huge mix of students that walk through the doors of the University of West London everyday, it occurred to me that I was unaware as to what made me any more different or unique from the crowd that I was looking at.

where a strong online presence is crucial to being recognised. Johnny Cupcakes is a great example of how starting your own fashion brand can be a great way to make your own money and build your own brand outside of university, but how do

Am I more creative? Am I more talented?

you go about starting this in the era of

These are variable things that are hard to

social media?

answer, but through looking at the people that surrounded me I realised that the people who were making the biggest names for themselves, were the ones creating content. Musicians, designers, bloggers, the people that put themselves out there with creating content to further their own future and career.

This got me thinking about starting to create my own content, a thought that

36

In a May 2018 article on the rise of ‘Instagram’ brands’ Dhani Mau suggested that the platform is levelling the fashion

Lundin also expands on the idea that there are several steps of creating a fashion brand, with a lot of it focusing on the business side of what you are doing.

You need also have a working knowledge of how your business will work financially.

One effective way to gain this knowledge can be done through your

playing field as traditional retail business

university, such as starting

models continue to crumble, Instagram

internships at fashion

offers a new way to launch a fashion

brands, which can be

brand — but is it sustainable?

Mau notes how brands like Paris 99 started on Instagram, and within months were being noticed and publicised by the

applied for through the employability section of your university website.

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/713679872179683660/

—

W

e are in an age now where technology and the ways we communicate are rapidly evolving through social media. One of my close friends from school, CoCo, managed to utilise this aspect of social media to help her brand of earrings become a successful online business. While still in secondary school, CoCo amassed over 25,000 followers on her Instagram account, @ aehrt, and decided to hone in on her creativity to make her own line of hand made, and often bespoke earrings. I decided to ask her a few questions about how she started this business, and her experience in the creative industry.

By Matty Venning

Q

: I’m curious about how you started your online brand of earrings, and how do you think you managed to break into this crowded market while still being at college?

A

: At the time there wasn’t anything like the products I was producing in the market, as this was two years ago before this kind of trend took off in the mainstream market. But now in the market there are a lot of brands which are similar to mine, so back then the market wasn’t as crowded in present day. From a younger age I realised that marketing myself as a brand was important so having that backing of people supporting me as a brand really helped my company as a whole.

Having this online following has allowed me to create a good connection as people understand me and my ethics; creating a good company customer rapport.

Q

: Over the past few years, you’ve gotten to do some really exciting projects in fashion. What were some of the most exciting ones for you to do? And What was your first experience with being approached by a brand to represent their product?

A

: One of the most exciting projects for me was working with ASOS/Collusion as Collusion was a new brand tailored specifically to us and our demographic, and we share

the same ethics and morals such as being a cruelty free brand without extortionate pricing creating a seamless collaboration. Another one was my first campaign I ever did with Urban Outfitters, which was specifically exciting as they chose 5 young creatives who weren’t just models and they all represented something. I thought it was really cool that they approached me as the recognised me for that which is something I always want to keep integral to me.

Q

: Has your attitudes towards being a brand ambassador changed since you became a part of this industry? A: Something I’ve always strongly stood by is not accepting any job offer; if I don’t think the company represents me or has my moral standing I won’t take the job. I feel like my following appreciate what I stand for and therefore I should always push out good moral

and genuine companies to encourage my message.

Q A

: What has been a highlight for you career wise?

: I think everything is a highlight to me I cant necessarily pin point one thing, I’m grateful for all the opportunities that come my way. A few of the big things I should mention are: The three music videos I’ve done, Rita Ora, Cardi B and Charli XCX’s music video for ‘Girls’ also Stefflon Don’s “Pretty Girl’ and Mahalia’s ‘DnD’ video. I’ve worked with a lot of the same production companies as well, and I’ve run into the same crew members in different jobs. Also a huge highlight was my first commercial for Linda McCartney, her campaign was ‘Kindness Forever’ and getting to know Mary McCarney (her daughter) was really nice experience.

Q A

: What do you credit as being the key to your success?

: Persistence, and a strong drive.

If I want to succeed at something badly it becomes borderline obsession, maybe it’s my Scorpio rising ahah but it’s ingrained in me.

Also not being afraid of rejection, and when rejection does happen know that something else will come. The thing I always say to people is if you want something badly enough there is no chance you won’t get it.

37

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

LO N D O N ’ S H I G H E S T PU B L I C G A R D E N . . . LOW E R T H A N YO U R E X P E C TAT I O N S ?

L

Photograph © by Emily Hardcastle

ondon’s ‘Sky Garden’ is located in what has been nicknamed the ‘Walkie Talkie skyscraper’, a 35 storey building located on Fenchurch Street. It sits at the heart of a lively city, giving its visitors the chance to experience what it is like to view England’s capital from far above the bustling streets below. But does it live up to its impressive name?

If there’s one thing that the Sky Garden can be admired for, it’s the price. Or lack of price, to be more specific. As long as you book far enough in advance, a visit to London’s highest public garden won’t take anything off of your budget.

But bookings should be made at your own risk...

On a sunny day, the Sky Garden truly lives up to its known hype. The views are incredible, with surrounding windows allowing you to see everything from Tower Bridge to The Shard.

Without the cost, it holds all the magnificent sights that you’d get on a trip to the London Eye and allows you an hour to take in and witness the truly awe-inspiring views instead of the brief fifteen minute ride you’d get otherwise.

Photograph © by Fatbardha Salihu

The rooftop garden’s interior itself is beautiful; a perfect balance of contemporary decor and unique greenery. It’s the perfect location for impromptu photo-shoots, or simply to sit in and pretend that you’re somewhere much more exotic.

38

This stunning garden was landscaped by ‘award-winning’ Gillespies and without a doubt, it’s easy to see why their designs are considered ‘award winning’. Even if you don’t enjoy heights, you’re bound to be captivated by the year-round blooms that can be found hidden at the top of this looming skyscraper. If you aren’t a fan of nature itself, there’s also a vast area of seating that still allows you to fully enjoy your time there.

By Emily Hardcastle

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

SO WHERE DOES THE PROBLEM LIE?

W

Photograph © by Fatbardha Salihu

Is the Sky Garden worth a visit? In many ways, yes. Just make sure to check the weather forecast before you book...

Photograph © by Emily Hardcastle

This is all well and good if you’re willing to play a game of ‘lucky dip’ with the weather. Will the day of your reservation bring clear skies and the views that the Wgarden promises? Or will you be left struggling to make out even the closest skyscrapers because of condensation, fog or rain? It doesn’t seem fair to promise ‘uninterrupted views’ of the capital when all it takes to interrupt those views for everyone is the slightest change in weather for the worst. What should be a simple visit can become a gamble; your views on the day cannot be guaranteed to be as incredible as you expect when you book.

Photograph © by Fatbardha Salihu

hile the Sky Garden is a location deserving of its renowned adoration on a sunny day, worse weather days tell a different story. The interior is no less impressive on these days so it might be worth your time to relax in with a drink or some food from either the café or restaurant available to visit. It’s worth noting that the restaurant is a popular choice for visiting, so reservations should be made in advance to ensure that you aren’t left disappointed (and hungry) on the day! However, in all its interior glory, its main ‘selling’ point is the fact that it offers ‘uninterrupted views of London’.

39

—

40

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Chiara Party

N

owadays, many people want to study and live abroad, because they want to study in developed countries where they can have an education they can’t get in their native country.

They are eager to increase their knowledge and their dream for a better life. Certainly, studying abroad is an excellent opportunity to enrich your knowledge, to become fluent in another language, to meet new people and to learn how to be more responsible. However, there are also some difficulties that people may encounter such as homesickness, cultural shock and financial difficulties.

To start with, studying abroad gives you a chance to improve your knowledge of the language. You are in the ideal cultural context, you cannot learn faster than in these circumstances. In fact, learning a new language can be scary at first but when you are totally immersed you have an opportunity to develop your listening and speaking skills. You learn faster than you can imagine and soon start being comfortable with your second language without realizing it. Everything you absorb comes from everyday life, I suppose there is no better way to become fluent. Moreover, you get to know a new culture, history, lifestyle, customs and so on. You are not only enriching

your knowledge, but also adopting it for yourself.

Education standards in the UK are likely to be higher than in many countries and will broaden your intellectual horizon and challenge you academically. Furthermore, studying in another country is an adventure and can be full of happiness because it gives you a chance to meet people you would have never met in your native country. So, there are new experiences to live. It allows you to know yourself better. The clash of cultures will give you new eyes and open you to other perspectives that will serve you forever. You will explore the surroundings, what you might not have done if you had stayed in your country.

In addition, studying abroad gives you great resources which may not be available in your local universities.

You may be able to do a course that you couldn’t do in your country or be able to study at a college or university that specializes in your chosen area of study. Also, you have the chance to study using the newest technologies.

Finally, studying abroad looks good

on the CV. The fact that you have lived and studied abroad shows that you have important working qualities such as independence, initiative, and stress-resistance.

However, studying abroad has some potential downsides, for instance homesickness and cultural differences. The first disadvantage is that it is quite expensive. Not only because of the cost of education, but also because you have to live somewhere, and support yourself.

Finances may become the main problem. Secondly, a new environment is a big challenge for foreign students. They can experience a culture shock. Even if a student knows a lot about a country where she is going to live, there is a probability that she will be faced with some new challenges. For example, differences in students` behaviour and expectations. The last disadvantage is that you, undoubtedly, will feel for a short time at least, homesick, lost or alienated.

You may find yourself feeling alone without your relatives and friends.

Making a good friendship takes time and it can be more difficult in a country that you are not used to.

In conclusion, education abroad is a great opportunity, but there are challenges that you have to overcome but if you have a chance to study abroad, you should definitely take it.

41

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

By Ben Jamierson

E

nrolled on a course in the film pathway? Not sure what it will involve? Then take a look at the projects that this year’s foundation students are working on.

INCUBUS K Y R A N , D O M E A N D E YO B E L

I

n Incubus, Chris struggles with recurring nightmares as he is forced to face a harsh reality.

The biggest challenge this group told me they’ve faced was organization.

Managing to find an opportunity for all four members of the group to write a scene together, build a storyboard, or even to shoot the film itself has proven difficult.

In order to counteract this, they effectively communicate as a group, plan specific meeting times, and do their best to make use of every opportunity in which they are all present.

Incubus, 2019

DÉVOUÉ

SENSELESS

GABRIELLE

K A L LU M , L LOY D , T E L M A

film impossible to describe with words available to the English language, Dévoué is certainly a film open to interpretation.

n imbalance is corrected in Senseless; a wicked tale of revenge and retribution.

A

A descent into madness, Dévoué must absolutely be seen to be believed. The greatest challenge Gabi says she’s faced in the production of her film has been managing to track down all of the necessary resources, whether it be props, equipment, or even actors.

A

This group told me that they faced some creative differences. More often than not however, they were able to find a compromise that satisfied the demands of every member of the group. This group were successful in finding appropriate locations and actors, and had their friends and other students star in it.

ALPACA DASH M O H A M M A D N A JA

A

lpaca Dash is an infinite side-scrolling runner in a similar vein to that of multi-award winning game Jetpack Joyride. It was built using Buildbox, a game design program requiring little to no programming. Mohammad also designed the games art a ssets in Photoshop.

Although Mohammad had originally planned to host the game on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, this would be a lengthy, expensive process that would be unrealistic within his current deadline, and so he instead plans to have it available on his website.

Dévoué, 2019

42

—

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Photograph © by Agrima Dave

Photography taken at: 1. Peter Jones, Kings Road.

2. Homesense, Merton.

3. Primark, Wesfield.

4. River Island, Westfield.

By: Interior Design Students Yara Al-Hasawi Agrima Dave Cristina Gonzalez Pons

I

n a digital age of consumer dialogue every shopping experience enables the consumer to contribute to the brand reputation dependent on the consumer’s experience.. Retailers are becoming increasingly conscious of the service and experience they provide each customer as more and more shopping is taking place online.

We thought we would experiment by comparing interior design sections of big retailers to see how they are facing this challenge. Choosing the shops to go in was fun. We decided to go for the big names that everyone knows, such as Ikea and John Lewis, major stores and competitors in the market. We also chose more affordable retailers such as Primark, River Island and Homesense.

Ikea was the first store we ventured into; the Swedish multinational

company sells furniture, appliances, 2 home accessories and interior decoration items. The place had a nice tidy vibe to it, with objects and showrooms being top notch, and an extensive range of affordable products.

John Lewis is a chain of high-end department stores, owning many subsidiaries. The whole top floor of their flagship store on London’s Oxford Street was dedicated to interior design; the level was set up with many different rooms containing various styles of design. Kitchens, living rooms, study rooms, bedrooms, and outdoor seating areas were all showcased skilfully. We were met with good customer service within a minute of walking in as well as John Lewis having “item” specific counters for more in-depth information.

Peter Jones, a great department store, is owned by John Lewis. The ambiance adds massively to the

Primark, a shop delivering affordable and cost-effective items. At first glance, the location and lighting of the home section didn’t create a welcoming feel for the shoppers. The area was secluded and disorganised, however the range of products were of good quality and appealed to a large audience.

The next store, River Island, adopted a boho-chic style, implementing various bohemian influences. Although the customer service and range of items was smaller in comparison to the larger franchises, the products on display exhibited a regal and elegant look. The area was neat and tidy, giving off a hospitable look.

Homesense, the last place we visited, was a little less heard off but compensated for that when it came to quality and customer service. We didn’t pick up an overall setting and style, with the store being very basic maybe a little crowded at times.

There is ample variety present and the items were of high quality.

Of course different consumers have different tastes and budgets, but stores are increasingly aware of the need to ensure that they create an environment where products are arranged, displayed and priced in ways that appeal to their target audience.

3

Photograph © by Yara Al-Hasawi

Photograph © by Agrima Dave

Photograph © by Cristina Gonzalez Pons

shopper’s experience and gives the business a magnificent boost. The display areas demonstrate the essence of chic and style.

43

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Photograph © by Fatbardha Salihu

—

44

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Photograph © by Toby Spyropoulos

—

45

F O U N D

M AG A Z I N E

2 0 1 9

—

Photograph © by Emily Hardcastle

—

46

2 0 1 9

Photograph © by Imaani Erdogan

M AG A Z I N E

Photograph © by Abisha Smale

F O U N D

Photograph © by Lidia Lopez

— —

47

Photography & Design by Dion Ferati