Jessica Hogarth was the worthy winner of the 2013 bursary, so I was keen to catch up with her to see what she’s been up to since she won and what advice she might have for this year’s applicants. Jess has very kindly agreed to take on the role of this year’s “buddy” – someone who will be on-site at Home London (she’s exhibiting in co-located Top Drawer) for any last minute questions or panics! Make sure you check out her new website which launched today! Over to Jess…
“The year has flown by since winning the bursary! I have had a busy year for shows. After doing Home in January, I launched new products at the British Craft Trade Fair in April and Pulse in May. These products included notebooks, cushions and some new cards and tea towels. They have been well received and I am pleased to have expanded my list of wholesale stockists and seen online sales increase too.”
“I have just exhibited for the first time in the North East, at the Globe gallery in Newcastle, alongside confessions of a design geek bursary shortlisted designers Psalt. It was a wonderful exhibition featuring surface and furniture designers, as well as jewellery makers.”
“I have worked on a number of freelance collaborations this year too. It’s really exciting to see my work appearing on new products. I have had a paper craft collection launch with Trimcraft, which sees 24 of my designs in repeat format on scrap book albums and premium paper pads.”
“Other freelance work has included designing cards and gift wrap for a UK card company, licensing a print to fabric company Dashwood Studio for release in November, and a very special bespoke commission for a private client for which I created a bespoke buildings design on a large one off canvas.”
“The most exciting thing to happen since winning the confessions of a design geek bursary in January is being selected to collaborate with wallpaper company Graham and Brown, with a specially created design due for release in January 2014. The project is a celebration of British surface design talent, and I am thrilled to be included alongside 11 other unique British creatives.”
“I have just booked Top Drawer for Jan 2014 so I’ll be right next door to Home. I am planning new stationery to launch there – and I’m working on various freelance projects, which I look forward to sharing news on soon!”
“Katie’s asked me to share some advice, so if you’re thinking of entering the bursary, I think the best piece of advice I can give is to make sure your passion comes through in the application. The bursary is a fantastic opportunity and it is bound to be even more competitive this year, so do something to stand out from the crowd in order to get shortlisted. Once you’ve entered, keep an eye out for the email with news of whether you have made the shortlist as a public vote will follow. I managed to start promoting the voting poll as soon as it went live and was able to make the most of the time we had to secure votes.”
“It is worth thinking about how your stand will look too. I had a big space and with little time needed to think carefully about how I could make my products fill the area I was given. Remember that Christmas comes in the run up to the show and many manufacturers shut down their factories over the festive period, so plan promotional materials as early as possible to ensure they can be printed in time.
Finally, it really is an amazing opportunity, so enjoy it!”
Don’t forget to get your entries in by midnight on Friday 8th November 2013 – click here for full details. And spread the word on twitter using #coadgbursary.
With thanks to confessions of a design geek bursary partners: Home London, the Southbank Centre Shop, wallunica, Yeshen Venema, R&A Collaborations, Seen PR, Mini Moderns, HAM, Decorum, October Communications, The Design Trust and Jessica Hogarth.
Woohoo! Any new designer would be missing a wonderful opportunity if they don’t apply to this.. there’s not many chances to get a break early in your career, it’s super competitive out there… some good tips from Jess here, take heed!