Creative Shift X The Kusp: Take your ideas to the next level

CREATIVE SHIFT X THE KUSP:

TAKE YOUR IDEAS TO THE NEXT LEVEL 2023

By Renzo Allen

TAKE YOUR IDEAS TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Foreword

Creative Shift are based in the Academic Enhancement team at University of the Arts London (UAL). We believe in shaping diversity and equity in the creative industries and aim to empower UAL students who are least represented in the creative sector

At Creative Shift we run a varied programme of extra-curricular activity that offers an alternative model of enterprise learning and employability education. This focuses on a ‘learning by doing’ approach, centering the student voice, having a compassionate approach to their personal circumstances and valuing their lived experiences We encourage students to take ownership of their progression into the creative industries – be that in employment or self-employment through harnessing the power of community.

Our industry partners support emerging creatives to develop their professional practice and build their network We work collaboratively with The KUSP - a social enterprise dedicated to supporting diverse creatives from underrepresented backgrounds to excel within the creative industries, specialising in fashion and Film & TV

Together we have co-created the “Take your idea to the next level” programme, that provides students with holistic, wraparound support over a 6- week period Students get tailored feedback from industry mentors and access to group workshops to support collective troubleshooting, confidence building, and learning about intellectual property. There is always an elective mix of ideas, ranging from product-based work to service-based experiences and beyond!

We are so proud of all the students that have taken part in the programme and can’t wait to see how they continue to take their ideas to the next level We hope you enjoy learning about who they are, and what ideas they have been working on. Enjoy!

Creative Shift & The Kusp

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

Nance Synthia K is a Celebrity Makeup Artist, Content Creator & BBC GlowUp S4 Finalist based in London She has been doing makeup for over 8 years, with extensive experience in this field She has worked on Film/TV sets, Online Ads, E-com, Photoshoot sets, Fashion Shows, Video shoots, collaborating with brands and touring with Artists Her work has been published in Vanity Fair, Elle, Mixmag and Dazed Beauty and her client list includes Selfridges, New Look, You tube, MTV Base Lizzo ENNY and more!

@thenskbeauty

Mia Sakai is an image maker, creative director and founder of Aether Magazine Mia has worked as an editorial image maker over the past 8 years which led to her developing the colourful, distinctive vision that she names 'The Aetherverse' Aether Magazine is an independent print publication that celebrates the work of young creatives ether focuses on rising talent across all artistic practices, with a big emphasis on fashion and photography Through Aether, Mia often hosts events that bring the creative community together through networking, pop-ups, seminars and launch nights Alongside this, Mia is currently a producer at Coolr Studios where she works with household brands to bring creative ideas to life @miasakai95

Roxanne Peters is a Creative and Cultural IP Rights Specialist, based at UAL, working internationally at the intersection of IP, ethics, creative education and enterprise She connects with creatives, encouraging selfled approaches to value IP as creative agency, as part of their business strategy and as a tool to activate positive change She specialises in copyright law and related rights in digital culture

@roxrocks04

Amos Eretusi is the founder of The Kusp which is a gateway for the next-generation of diverse creatives from underrepresented and underprivileged backgrounds The Kusp aims to excel within the creative industry - particularly fashion and film & television They host intimate masterclasses with reputable brands and have an active online community where we share tools, resources, advice and exclusive opportunities

@the kusp

architecture students and individuals interested in creative arts the opportunity to collaborate with established artists on summer projects to address the difficulty of breaking into the architecture industry without a mentor

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

To take my idea to the next level, it could be helpful to focus on developing clear goals and objectives, creating a structured plan that aligns with those goals, learn how to secure partnerships with established architects and creative professionals, and continually assessing and refining the program based on feedback from participants and mentors.

h4essa + hn arc

Hani A.

hanneia@outlook.com

What idea are you developing?

Design For Change is a non-profit, social agency, dedicated to taking on projects using design thinking and community workshops to tackle and solve a range of real world, social issues. Working locally with different communities through facilitation and co-design methodologies. We aim to bring together underserved communities and talented, socially conscious, designers, facilitators and creatives.

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

Design For Change is a non-profit, social agency, dedicated to taking on projects using design thinking and community workshops to tackle and solve a range of real world, social issues. Working locally with different communities through facilitation and co-design methodologies. We aim to bring together underserved communities and talented, socially conscious, designers, facilitators and creatives.

hafizonitolo design

hafiz onitolo@gmail com

Hafiz Onitolo

Websites:

https://hafizonitolo myportfolio com/-HafizOnitolo

https://wearedfc myportfolio com-Design For Change

Looking to address the negative views of Arabic Culture using bright, fun illustrations

Leena Buhajar

on her statement

for her webpage

Tia-Shari Mclawrence

(Left) Tia-Shari worked

and bio

CAT

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

I would like to fine tune the performance/film aspect of my idea, particularly focusing on translating emotion and (loose) narrative into moving images/shots

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

We are TobebookFair, a social enterprise that sells children’s books at a discounted price. The profits will go towards supporting libraries and other organisations in purchasing the books and resources they need. We cater to ages 6-16, and our book selection is curated by an ex-school librarian.We also aim to shine a spotlight on underrepresented writers as well

tobebookfair

TobebookFair & Jetha Kaur jethakaur@outlook

g p y g yp characters- I’m interested in the provess of transformation- external and internal.

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

I would like to start as a way to help myself and others. I struggle with perfectionism/ procrastination and confidence and I would like to get out of my comfort zone and just start creating. I have so many different ideas for photoshoot/events – eventually, I would love to start a collective. I want to gain confidence and self trustlearning how to express myself creatively and be comfortable taking up space.

Cat Poon

Image of Cat's spoken word poetry

What idea are you developing?

Creating a 3-D footwear brand which changes the way we experience heels and elegance

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

Creating a branding strategy and learn how to launch and maintain a fashion brand

What idea are you developing?

A social enterprise that will empower young people by teaching them skills through creative projects based on their cultural identity to also help them reconnect with their culture.

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

I’d like to take this idea to the next level with the Kusp through connecting with likeminded creatives who would possibly want to collaborate with me in future projects also I’d love to get a bit more specialist guidance on my next steps as I feel like I'm currently stuck.

a.marvy.art.thing thefoundfabric

KHADIJAH

What idea are you developing?

To create non-profitable platform on womens health especially ethnic minorities. To create a outlet where I offer my services in the creative industry by freelancing.

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

I’d like to take this idea to the next level with the Kusp through connecting with likeminded creatives who would possibly want to collaborate with me in future projects also I’d love to get a bit more specialist guidance on my next steps as I feel like I'm currently stuck.

Khadijah Omer

What idea are you developing?

I want to publish a collection of poetry alongside three tea towels which are an extension of the writing.

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

I've always wanted to be a freelancer and show my talents. However I've struggled with how to manage and what service I can bring. I want to combine my love for photography, makeup, video editing and fashion into one as I'm a multidisciplinary artist. My main goal is to have fun within my creative journey and freedom to explore, which is important to me as I want to offer my services at a later date when I feel more confident in myself and going full time! Also a bonus collaborating with other like minded people and just connecting with our passion.

LEENA

What idea are you developing?

Embroidered designs centered around Arab culture, featuring traditional clothing / Arabic writing / Islamic art

How do you want to take it to the next level during this programme?

Specify what exactly I want to achieve and then start the journey to altering it. I want to create a Strong brand identity and start developing a website. I want to start creating the products.

TIA-SHARI

What idea are you developing?

To work on making my social media platform, portfolios and websites easy to navigate for different audiences and clients when working on different projects or disciplines.

by tia shari

SESSION PHOTOS

GROUP PHOTOS

Image Credit: Aaliyah Jackson, 2023

Left to Right top: Amos Eretusi, Hafiz Onitolo, Hani Ali, Lora Ghany

Left to Right bottom: Renzo Allen, Nicole Yip, Jetha Kaur, Cat Poon

CLASS 2023

Left to right: Hafiz Onitolo, Hani Ali, Cat Poon, Nicole Yip, Jetha Kaur

Image Credit: Aaliyah Jackson, 2023

CLASS 2023

HANI ALI

HAFIZ ONITOLO AISHAH SIDDIQUA

KHADIJAH OMER

JAYDA DEANS

JETHA KAUR

LEENA BUHAJAR

NICOLE YIP CAT POON

Aaliyah Jackson Photographer

Class of 2023

Polariods - Aaliyah Jackson

STUDENT FEEDBACK

I really appreciated how accommodating the team were, I had a lot of personal stuff / work commitments going on for the duration of the program and still found the sessions i was able to attend really insightful and non judgemental Thank you all!

The 1-1s were super useful and supportive, lora summing advice in notes was amazing

It was nice to see that people in the industry had the same nervousness with simple stuff like public speaking or photo shoots. Made me feel like I don’t need to have this overwhelming confidence to achieve what I want to.

I really appreciated everyone who took their time in creating this I will always be ever grateful for this opportunity

I really appreciated the 121s and the overall atmosphere esp from Lora and Renzo

I appreciate how good the structure of each event is whether online or in person

I love you all and the work you do <3 :))) Thank You!

Contributorsquotes

I think one of the most important aspects of this project is supporting students to identify where they are at with their idea, and defining what ‘taking your idea to the next level’ means to them.

Its a person-centred approach that recognises success is nuanced for each individual This is combined with providing community support to break down ideas into manageable steps and actions, and in so doing, creates a space for accountability and encouragement

Over the past few years, I've witnessed how this program has had a huge impact on its participants. What's clear is that each person who takes part in the program experiences personal growth and becomes more aware of their own potential Each person's journey is unique, and we treat it that way That's why we often see participants gain more confidence and belief in themselves after they set goals and milestones with the help of experienced industry specialists

Every year, we come across amazing and thoughtful ideas that have the power to propel communities forward, both socially and creatively. The 'take your ideas to the next level' program plays a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of diverse innovators in the UK and beyond

As I joined the program towards its ending stages in 2022, I could only witness the end results of the students' work However, having worked on this year's program from the start, I wanted to document and capture the progress of the students and ensure that they have visual proof of their growth

Throughout the program, I was focused on the students' ideas and provided them with a space to express themselves. Watching the students' ideas come to life was an amazing experience, and I created this yearbook to showcase their work and the people who made this program possible

Lora Ghany (Creative Shift) Employability & Progression Manager

Renzo Allen (Creative Shift) Community Engaged Officer

Amos Eretusi (The Kusp) Founder & MD

THANK YOU

INDUSTRY MENTORS:

Amos Eretusi

Mia Sakai

Roxanne Peters

Nance Synthia K.

CREATIVE SHIFT:

Lora Ghany

Renzo Allen

STUDENTS:

Aishah Siddiqua

Cat Poon

Gem Bryant

Hafiz Onitolo

Hani Ali

Jayda Deans

Jetha Kaur

Khadijah Omer

Leena Buhajar

Nicole Yip

Samira Jafri

Tia-Shari Mclawrence

YEARBOOK PHOTOGRAPHER:

Aaliyah Jackson

SPECIAL THANKS

Shani-Louise Osei

Tessa Read