Bonnie Godsil
Fashion DesignerWhat have you been up to since leaving University of the Arts London?
A bit of travel then one year with a small Turkish supplier designing casual wovens (New Look, Primark), then two and a half years with a UK supplier working with River Island, Miss Selfridge, Mosaic Group etc). I’m currently a senior designer but recruiting for my own role as I’m due to take a sabbatical.
Are there any particular skills that you have come to rely on?
Good leadership skills, tenacity and self reliance have pushed me on. My design work takes up probably only 10% of my week, the rest is organisation, prioritising, delegating, forward planning, client facing. My communication skills and ability to problem solve are as vital as my ability to sketch.
Did you feel prepared when you graduated? If not, was there anything else you wish you’d done, any opportunities you wish you’d seized?
I got a good degree and felt reasonably well prepared. I think I could have benefited from some further help organising my portfolio. I would have liked the opportunity to view the professional portfolios of people working across differing disciplines and market levels before having to go out with mine.
What, if anything, would you do differently?
I would have liked to have taken a sandwich year during my degree to work abroad or in London in order to have helped build up my work experience. I think a mentoring scheme would benefit students - I would have really benefited from the opportunity to meet, talk to, view the portfolio of an industry professional whilst studying.
What would be your advice to a student graduating now?
Be clear about the type of work you want. If you can afford to intern, this will help you get into luxury market. Commercial work can be forthcoming and lucrative but you MUST have a practical design basis and have your feet firmly on the ground.
