“Don’t wait for opportunities, create them!”

Competitions could be the beginning of anything you want. If you win, it is great. If you lose, at least you learnt something new. There is never anything to lose as students.

No matter how small you start – always dream big.

There are numerous success stories before us which start with a small effort to participate in a design competition.

Sabyasachi Mukherjee, a leading fashion designer, won the Femina British Council’s most outstanding young Designer of India award in 2001, which took him to London for an internship with Georgina von Etzdorf, an eclectic designer based in Salisbury. Returning home with ideas, Sabyasachi started his own label and now retails at all major stores in India.

In January 2018, the International Woolmark Prize 2017/18 was awarded to designer brand Bodice and it changed the fortunes of the brand overnight.

One of our fellow UID ian Urvi Bansal (LSA) recently qualified as one of the finalists in the Artisan Jewellery Design Competition hosted by The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, India. This helped her meet the best in the industry and network very early in life!

Competitions often handle the lack of funding and industry contacts positively. A win at a prestigious competition can flip limited resources and fleeting opportunities to a world full of opportunities and exposure.

A competition that lasts an evening can transform the winner’s fortunes.

The industry is also almost always on a lookout for fresh talent. Competitions are a platform that the biggies of the industry keep a keen eye on!

For YOU are the future of design

For YOU are tomorrow!

Author:
Kavita Chauhan, Assistant Professor, Lifestyle Accessory Design, Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)

Disclaimer: The opinions / views expressed in this article are solely of the author in his / her individual capacity. They do not purport to reflect the opinions and/or views of the College and/or University or its members.