The Experience Of A First-Year Marketing Student At London College Of Fashion
Arriving at the London College of Fashion's lecture hall for my first introductory talk for the BA Fashion Marketing course, I was unsure what to expect. It was through my foundation year at LCF that I discovered the course. Still, it was only then had I received a brief overview of marketing. Now that I have completed my first year of Fashion Marketing, I can summarize my experience as a Year 1 student of the following course. The Fashion Industry From experience, I could say we are taught marketing through the scope of the fashion industry. As a fashion business school, our course is closely related to fashion and mould our studies to become fashion marketers. Although not to be mistaken, there is a possibility, later on, to direct ourselves into different sectors. I have heard of alumni who chose a path completely different from fashion, for example, airline companies. Alongside our marketing classes, we learn about the historical and cultural aspects of fashion. Learning about sustainability and the ethics behind fashion and its production is quite important too. We have classes such as Fashion Cultures and Histories that teach you about critical thinking and the different concepts behind fashion. With these classes, you will get a more pragmatic view of the fashion industry. As someone who loves discovering new cultures and history, this is an aspect I have quite enjoyed. Though I have learned a lot through the courses' curriculum, I also owe a lot of my new-found knowledge to the student life at LCF. The university features an array of students from various backgrounds, and I was able to connect with a few during my first year. I would discuss topics from my course with my friends who come from different countries and receive great insight. I encourage you to take advantage of the school's diversity, from your friends to your teachers. Independence as a Student Our assessments are mostly in a project format. We also have some essays to hand in and an exam once a year. When starting a new project, we would receive instructions such as specific theories to include in our work. Each class provides us with a foundation of knowledge which will be followed up by tutorials and drop-in sessions with our tutors. The work itself does give you a bit of leeway in terms of how you choose to direct your project (careful not to go off-topic). For each assignment, we are expected to do extra reading and research to refine and polish our work. When talking to students, some have told me they wished they had done additional reading for their "own benefit in terms of understanding and more knowledge as some are skipped". The best advice I could give you as a marketing student at LCF is to be curious. UAL has a lot of resources from its library to its teachers, who usually have industry experience. Workshops and lectures are organized with a diverse range of topics and lecturers. Take the time to look on UAL's website, to ask your teachers, to ask the librarians. I have never experienced someone being rude to me for wanting to learn more, although keep in mind, people can also be busy. If so, ask someone else and continue looking. Teamwork In marketing, teamwork is quite essential, we have group projects where we work with other students. Teamwork assignment is something we usually have once a term, hence something we can not bypass. As a marketer, you will work with others from the same field from yours but also in different areas. These group projects help us prepare ourselves for our working future. It also helps us with our communication but also listening skills. It helps you discover more about yourself and your assets as a possible leader, manager, and more. Teamwork is not always smooth sailing; here are some tips I have learned through my experience in group work:
Learn to communicate in different communication styles. For example, I have a very visual way of communicating, and when trying to explain something to someone with a more rational way of thinking there can be miscommunication. Learn to listen to others and analyze the best way your idea can be portrayed and understood.
Evaluate. I have found it helpful to understand your teammates' strengths and weaknesses before dividing the work. It helps you anticipate the positive and negative actions and help others or get help if needed.
Trust you are doing well. If you are doing good work and your teammates agree, trust that your work is good. Overanalyzing or micromanaging can create confusion and frustration within your group.
I hope this article will be useful if you are a LCF newcomer! I am excited for you to feel the same butterflies in your stomach as I have on my first day. We can’t wait to write our experience as Year 2 students. In the meantime, here are some testimonies from other Year 1 Fashion Marketing students at LCF. Enjoy! Testimonies Person 1: "Really enjoyed it however I would say for the marketing unit I wish I did the extra reading for my benefit in terms of understanding and more knowledge as some are skipped. The group projects and assignments are challenging; however, use real-life prospects." Person 2: "The course gave us not only tangible marketing skills but also key knowledge of fashion". Person 3: "To me, marketing is the creation of concepts and stories that I learn to do in a fashion context. LCF is also London, discovering its internationality, its art, and also its unique sense of style. A good amount of independent work is required in this course, the school gives you the basics and then gives you the freedom to interpret your projects and assignments your way. Although this includes a lot of personal will to learn as we often have to take the first step to look further for information."
Pictures Bibliography:
Jellyfishtimes // Psychedelic Jellyfish. n.d. Jellyfishtimes // Psychedelic Jellyfish. [online] Available at: <https://jellyfishtimes.tumblr.com/post/63662280916/shroom-doodle-art-print-by-alice-graphix> [Accessed 28 June 2020].
London College of Fashion. n.d. Your LCF Guide To Studying In Central London. [online] Available at: <https://www.arts.ac.uk/colleges/london-college-of-fashion/student-life-at-lcf/lcfs-area-guide-to-central-london> [Accessed 28 June 2020].
Simental, L., 2019. 20 Fondos Para Celular Tan Bonitos Que No Podrás Dejar De Mirarlos. [online] OkChicas. Available at: <https://www.okchicas.com/curiosidades/creatividad/bonitos-fondos-pantalla-celular-no-dejaras-mirar/> [Accessed 28 June 2020].
Comments