Julianne Lavery

This course will teach the fundamental principles, inspiration and techniques involved in visual merchandising. The key focus will be on lifestyle interiors. Dressing a window and merchandising with interior products traditionally fall into the category of retail establishments. We will look at how this role can diversify into different vocations, such as events. Students will learn how to understand design concepts, design skills, (colour, form, balance, pattern, texture, scale, grouping), presentation skills, company branding, practical techniques and trend forecasting. The group will have a half-day retail excursion to analyse merchandising techniques. Project one will test practical skills, using methods and products for a table-top presentation. Project two will harness conceptual thinking and work on design and presentation skills. A lifestyle board will be produced and a verbal critic presented to the group.

Julianne Lavery is an interiors stylist and dresser who works for a number of individual and corporate clients including Conran and events companies.