Kate Collins, Mia Castenskjold

The importance of incredible research in every project in your portfolio can never be underestimated. Strong researchers make strong designers and this course offers a step by step guide through one project, from initial inspiration to final outcome. 

Whether it be fashion, textiles, 3D design, painting or many other design disciplines, the aim of the course is to establish yourself with a personal and inspiring formula for creative research that will ultimately lead you to a fantastic final outcome. 

By examining your surroundings, photographing, drawing and collage making, you will in turn, change that research into wonderful ideas and universes that make for the most superb fashion collections, products and works of art.

All of your ideas and research will be narrowed down and clear threads will start to emerge. This will establish the direction that your project will take and with one-to-one and group tutorials, you will really examine and push your work to an end result.

We will visit some of London's most magnificent, bizarre and exciting museums, galleries and curiosities. You will hear from industry researchers who work for some of the biggest creative companies and get the opportunity to view professional portfolios to inspire different ways of getting your focused research into your sketchpad or 'presentation' of choice.

By the end of the course the outcome will be a full body of work with designs generated towards your final outcome. This will be the beginning of continuing development within your portfolio and you will have created a full and exciting sketchpad, including illustrations, collages and 3D design mock-ups for future expansion. 

This course is designed to help student understand how to work on a project, and will be particularly useful to those planning on studying at Foundation or BA level.

Kate Collins and Mia Castenskjold formed the London based Creative Consultancy, CastenskjoldCollins, in 2010 after working within the Illustration and Fashion Industry since graduating from BA (Hons) Fashion Design & Print at Central Saint Martins in 2009.  Both have had previous worked for companies including Balmain, Vivienne Westwood and Marc by Marc Jacobs. They now split their time between London and Copenhagen working in styling, production, exhibitions and events.