Nora Venediktova is a final year Fashion Design student who spent her summer holidays developing her pattern cutting skills on the Pattern Making – Experimental and Explorative Approaches Part 2 short course. We loved seeing her work progress throughout the week!  When asked what she believed to be integral to the work of a creative? she replied “Self education, self analysis, self understanding.”

© Nora Venediktova

Where are you from and what’s your favorite thing about it?

I am from the Russian Federation and my favourite thing is the sincerity of people and orientation on self development.

What are you studying and where?

I’m studying BA Fashion Design at Stieglitz Academy of Art and Design, I’m in my final year.

© Nora Venediktova

What short course did you to study on at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?

Pattern Making – Experimental and Explorative Approaches part 2. I consider pattern making a very (if not the most) important stage in fashion design. That is why I chose this course.

What did you enjoy most about your short course?

I enjoyed communicating with other creative minds.

© Nora Venediktova

What is it like studying in London?

The freedom to say what you want with your work and get understanding and support.

© Nora Venediktova

How has your short course benefited your education?

I’ve become more conscious about garment construction, what I’m doing, why and how I’m doing it. I also found new ways of creating patterns from my designs.

© Nora Venediktova

Can you recommend a piece of art, in any medium, you feel everyone should see?

I find the clothes of Rick Owens very inspiring. He can probably be called a sculptor whose medium is fabric.

© Nora Venediktova

You can follow Nora on Instagram to see more of her stunning work (@strudeleater).

Patternmaking  – Experimental and Explorative Approaches Part 1 & Part 2 short courses return for our Christmas School and Easter School. If you’re looking for something sooner, we also have evening, Saturday and weekend courses to choose from with Autumn Term starting on 30 September 2019.

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This statement was prepared on 19 August 2019.

For our second competition announcement today, we’re very excited to share the wonderful work @MimiZiv who has won our #MyCSM Summer School Instagram competition and a free placement upon a weekend, Saturday and Sunday, short course of her choosing! Congratulations. Mimi tagged us a few times and we loved seeing her progression throughout her Fashion Drawing Summer School short courses experience.

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

@MimiZiv

All Instagram entries received after this announcement will be added to the third competition draw and don’t forget, there’s still an opportunity to win a CSM Short Course of your choosing, up to the value of £600, by sharing your short course experiences with us. To enter simply complete our Student Stories questionnaire, to be featured upon the CSM Short Courses Blog or UAL Short Course Stories.

Week 9 of Summer School starts next week and we can’t wait to see what you share with us!

It’s competition WINNER announcement time again and we’re super excited to say that Pantaree Kambhato is our second Student Stories Summer School 2019 questionnaire winner! Congratulations, you’ve won a CSM Short Course of your choosing, up to the value of £600. Pantaree attended Jane Francis’s inspiring Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds short course and we loved seeing the progress made through her wonderful sketchbook work, “I knew very little about drawing and designing for the fashion industry beforehand … I learnt to draw in a more organic and exciting way. I thoroughly enjoyed my course.”

Pantaree Kambhato

Where are you from and what’s your favourite thing about it?

I am from Thailand and my favourite thing about my country are the people.

What are you studying and where?

I am currently in full time education, studying for my A levels at Benenden School.

© Pantaree Kambhato

What short course did you to study upon at Central Saint Martins (CSM), and what was your journey to the course?

I attended the Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds short course. I had an incredible and insightful journey; I knew very little about drawing and designing for the fashion industry beforehand, and thought that the course was going to teach us how to draw the perfect mannequin and draw meticulously – to my surprise it was the complete opposite! I learnt to draw in a more organic and exciting way. I thoroughly enjoyed my course.

© Pantaree Kambhato

What did you enjoy most about your short course?

I enjoyed learning to think outside the box, exploring even the simplest objects and understanding how to potentially create masterpieces from them.

What is it like studying in London?

I have always loved London. It is an incredibly fast-paced and energetic city and I can draw and explore so many places.

© Pantaree Kambhato

How has your short course benefited your career, education and/or personal development? What are you going to do next with your new skills?

Our tutors told us at the beginning of the week that we were going to either know if we were made for it (fashion design), or not. Post-course, I know that I want to enter the fashion industry! The course has opened a new path for me and I am now excited to draw menswear designs whenever I have any free time.

© Pantaree Kambhato

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a short course at CSM? Why should they study there?

If you ever have the chance to take one, take it. It was one of the most worthwhile choices I have ever made; CSM has an organic way of working and which you will never experience anywhere else.

© Pantaree Kambhato

What do you believe is integral to the work of an artist/creative, in any discipline?

You have to be passionate and determined to succeed in any discipline. A passion to create will get you much further than you think.

What 3 words best describe your CSM Short Course experience?

Unexpected. Worthwhile. Insightful.

© Pantaree Kambhato

Feeling inspired? You can secure your place upon an upcoming Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds course right now with one week intensive courses returning for Christmas School and Easter School 2020. Week 9 of Summer School starts next week and we’ll also be picking one final Student Stories winner in September; be sure to enter your short course experiences with us by completing our Student Stories questionnaire. Good luck.

We will be at The Affordable Art Fair this October in Battersea to help them celebrate 20 years since their first fair! We will be celebrating the 1990’s in true style with interactive workshops and thought provoking talks.

Affordable Art Fair Battersea

We have developed an engaging programme for this event with our Central Saint Martins short course tutors from a wide range of disciplines. View the full What’s On programme to see what is going on throughout the fair. Next, let’s meet the team!

Thursday workshops led by illustrator, Laura McKendry

Laura McKendry ©Adrienne Pitts

Laura will be leading workshops inspired by 1990’s artists Peter Davies and Gary Hume. Prepare to work in neon and bold colours!

©Laura McKendry

©Laura McKendry

Laura teaches on our 1, 2, 3’s of Drawing and Illustration for 16 to 18 year olds short courses. If you like what you see, you can view more of her work on @lauramckendry_art on Instagram.

Friday workshops led by lettering artist, Alice Mazzilli 

©Alice Mazzilli

Alice’s workshops will look at how lettering has changed over the years and 1990’s graffiti. A chance to master your own lettering techniques!

©Alice Mazzilli

©Alice Mazzilli

Alice teaches on our (brand new!) Calligraphy Weekend short course. If you want to see more of her work, check out @AliceMazzilli on Instagram.

Saturday talks led by lecturer and performer, Dr Matteo Augello

Dr Matteo Augello, Cambridge University, 2018

Matteo will be leading discussions on the 1990’s, including societal changes and the vision of the future from this fascinating decade. He teaches on our Developing Identities Through Clothes Weekend short course.

Sunday talks led by Experience Designer and Fashion Historian, Pigalle Tavakkoli

Pigalle Tavakkoli, Guerilla Science Fire Organ at Latitude Festival ©Richard Eaton

Pigalle Tavakkoli will discuss the influence of music on fashion in the 1990’s and explore the role of storytelling in building human connections throughout history. She teaches on Designing Multisensory Event Experiences Weekend, Experience Design, Designing Narratives for Event Experiences, Experience Design: Audience Participation Weekend, Experience Design: Narrative Weekend, and History of Haute Couture Fashion Weekend.

All workshops and talks – plus many more activities throughout the day – are included in your entry ticket to the Affordable Art Fair Battersea. To enjoy £5 off, simply enter the code CSM when purchasing your ticket in the ticketshop.

All workshops and talks are provided by Central Saint Martins short courses. We are booking now for courses throughout the year. Autumn Term 30 September – 7 December, Christmas School 9 December – 20 December, Spring Term 6 January – 14 March 2020, and Easter School 16 March – 9 April 2020

Catarina Sequeira is a Costume Designer from Spain who recently attended our Costume Making short course. We loved the photographs Catarina shared with us of the work she made; she said of the course, “I very much enjoyed the spirit of the class, working with people from different backgrounds but all of us wanting to learn as much as we can.”

Catarina Sequeira

Where are you from and what’s your favourite thing about it?

I’m from Barcelona, a vibrant and cultural city in Spain.

© Catarina Sequeira

© Catarina Sequeira

What short course did you to study upon at Central Saint Martins (CSM)?

I did the Costume Making course and it was so inspiring and playful. I loved it!

© Catarina Sequeira

© Catarina Sequeira

What did you enjoy most about your short course?

I very much enjoyed the spirit of the class, working with people from different backgrounds but all of us wanting to learn as much as we can. Also the process of making the clothes was really nice and the teacher helped us individually.

© Catarina Sequeira

© Catarina Sequeira

What three words best describe your CSM Short Course experience?

Surprise. Inspire. Useful.

© Catarina Sequeira

You can see more of Catarina’s work via her Instagram (@_morla_design_) and website. Costume Making will return soon so make sure you sign up to our newsletter to keep up to date with new CSM Short Courses news and course dates. In the meantime there’s still five weeks of Summer School to discover. If you’re planning ahead we also have evening, Saturday and weekend courses to choose from with Autumn Term starting on 30 September 2019.

Due to the amazing amount of entries we’ve been receiving, we left our Student Stories competition open a little longer but we’re now very excited to announce the very first winner of our Student Stories Summer School 2019 questionnaire is, Yixin Yan! Congratulations, you’ve won a CSM Short Course of your choosing, up to the value of £600. Yixin attended the fabulous Jewellery Making with Plastic and Metal short course and we think both her words and the incredibly vibrant photographs speak for themselves! Yixin chose to study at CSM for her “study holiday break” and said of her experience, “This is not a “neighborhood” short course, this is world-class top tier education.”

Yixin Yan

Where are you from and what’s your favourite thing about it?

I am from China, a city close to Shanghai called Changzhou. My favourite thing about Changzhou is the food, it’s rare to find a restaurant that is comparable in London.

© Yixin Yan

What is your occupation?

I am a Marketing Artist for a game company in Farringdon, London. At university I studied Illustration at the University of Southampton and Winchester School of Art.

© Yixin Yan 001

What short course did you to study upon at Central Saint Martins (CSM), and what was your journey to the course?

I chose to study Jewellery Making with Plastic and Metal. I have some experience with Fimo (clay) and ceramic jewellery but this was my very first time working with resin, acrylic and metal. It was a great experience and I learnt so much; from making rubber molds, sawing and filing to soldering and polishing, all taught professionally by our tutor, Sarah King.

Sarah King and Yixin Yan

What did you enjoy most about your short course?

It was very hands-on and straight forward. Sarah is a great teacher with a rich background in working with plastic. She is always very patient in giving suggestions and directions, also attending the course was a great “study holiday break” from my usual work.

© Yixin Yan

What is it like studying in London. What has been your favourite discovery and/or experience?

It has been a long time for me being away from an art university and I was very happy to be able to get back into an art library again. So I guess for me it has more been about discovering King’s Cross, and my favourite thing has been getting to attended Central Saint Martins.

How has your short course benefited your career, education and/or personal development? What are you going to do next with your new skills?

I’ve always liked to make stuff with my hands, especially since my day job is focused on computers, so I’d like to make more things after work and I’ll definitely keep up my practice in jewellery; I even have an Etsy shop selling my clay jewellery. I now have a few resin projects planned in my mind, and after Sarah taught us how to use wax molds, I might try silver as well.

© Yixin Yan

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a short course at CSM. Why should they study there?

CSM has the best tutors, facilities and you will meet amazing students as well. If you want to have the best experience of learning you have to come to CSM! This is not a “neighborhood” short course, this is world-class top tier education.

© Yixin Yan

What 3 words best describe your CSM Short Course experience?

Specialized. Enlightened. Enjoyable.

© Yixin Yan

You can find out more about Yixin through her website and keep up to date with her amazing work via Instagram, @yixinstudio. Jewellery Making with Plastic and Metal also returns this Autumn Term and if you’re planning ahead, comes back in Spring Term 2020. Week 7 of Summer School also starts next week and we can’t wait to hear all about your time at Central Saint Martins as you’ll also have another chance to win a CSM Short Course of your choosing, up to the value of £600. To enter simply share your short course experiences with us by completing our Student Stories questionnaire.

Looking to expand on her existing skills, Maria, a jeweller who works with existing pieces took Jewellery Making for Beginners to “progress from using pre-made materials to hand making all my own elements.” Check out Maria’s stunning work and how she felt about Paul Wells’ insightful course.

Maria Francesca Mereu

What is your name and where are you from?

My name is Maria Francesca Mereu and I am from Sardinia, Italy.

What is your occupation?

I make jewellery from pre-made pieces in various metals and stones

© Maria Francesca Mereu

What short course did you study on and why did you choose it?

I took the Jewellery Making for Beginners course because I wanted to progress from using pre-made materials to hand making all my own elements. The course offered a great starting point to help me learn the basics of handmade jewellery that will allow me to bring my own creative ideas to life.

What did you enjoy most about your course?

The course lasted one week and I found it very intense but exceptionally well structured. There is a fantastic creative vibrancy at Central Saint Martins and the workshops are spacious and bright. There is also great variety of materials, tools and equipment available, which are supplied as part of the course. Our tutor, Paul Wells, was really friendly, helpful and clear in his explanations and guidance, and his relaxed and patient manner made it a very pleasant atmosphere to learn in.

Maria Francesca Mereu & Paul Wells (tutor)

How has this course benefited your career and personal development?

The course has provided me with a great range of basic skills to take my creative ideas to a new level. This has pushed me to want to learn more skills, taking what was initially my hobby to a more professional level.

© Maria Francesca Mereu

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a short course at Central Saint Martins?

Do it! If you have the desire and creative ideas to make your own jewellery, and want to get a great basic introduction, then this is the perfect course!

© Maria Francesca Mereu

What do you believe is integral to the work of an artist, in any discipline?

Love what you do!

What three words best describe your short course experience at CSM?

Intense, inspiring and stimulating.

© Maria Francesca Mereu

You can see more of Maria’s work via her Instagram, @icipici1 and upon her very own website. Jewellery Making for Beginners is sold out for July but we have another Summer School session taking pace in September, so don’t miss out! The course also returns for Autumn Term for those of you look for your next evening class and we even have dates available in 2020, see you there!

Last year Olga attended the always inspiring and incredibly popular Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds course, which is now fully booked for this year’s Summer School – so book your Christmas School places sharpish! Today we look at the amazing work she produced whilst upon the course.

Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

What is your name and where are you from?

Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk, I’m a student in my final year of high school and I am from Warsaw, Poland.

What course did you study on and why did you choose it?

I chose Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds because, since I want to apply for a Foundation course, I felt it was important to experience how it is to study at Central Saint Martins.

© Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

What did you enjoy most about your course?

I thoroughly enjoyed the course, especially the tutors’ unique approach to creating art which taught me to think out of the box and not to be afraid to take risks.

© Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

How has this course benefited your career and personal development?

During the course I learnt a lot about the design process and I will definitely be using that knowledge when creating my portfolio. I was also inspired to experiment with my art and have more fun with it!

© Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

What would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a short course at Central Saint Martins?

Whether you are planning to apply to CSM or are just looking to try something new, you will surely learn a lot in a great atmosphere. It’s an unforgettable experience that allows you to look at your work in a fresh new way!

© Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

What do you believe is integral to the work of an artist, in any discipline?

I think inspiration is what truly gives art meaning. Well-done research and an emotional connection to the subject are fundamental.

What three words best describe your short course experience at CSM?

Inspiring. Fun. Unforgettable.

© Olga Wiślicz-Iwańczyk

There are plenty more amazing courses for teenagers to book upon this Summer School, starting every Monday. Early birds can also secure their Fashion Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds course placements upon our upcoming Christmas School session right now – see you there!

This announcement comes a little early but as we’ve received so many amazing #MyCSM Instagram entries, we’ve decided to select a winner for our weekend short courses prize today! We’d also like to say a massive thank you to everyone that has submitted an entry into our Summer School Instagram competition so far, we’ve been so impressed by the amount of creativity, skill and learning taking place over the last 4 weeks.

We’re excited to say that the first Summer School Instagram, #MyCSM, winner is The Photography Course student, @j.o.c.a.s.t.a.

Jocasta has won a free placement upon a weekend, Saturday and Sunday, short course of her choosing! Congratulations. We thought the work you have produced and shared with us perfectly captures the spirit and vibrancy of the course, as well as the CSM short courses experience! We also absolutely adored this series of photographs which summed up your time at CSM over the two week course.

© @j.o.c.a.s.t.a

© @j.o.c.a.s.t.a

© @j.o.c.a.s.t.a

© @j.o.c.a.s.t.a

© @j.o.c.a.s.t.a

All Instagram entries received after this announcement will be added to the second competition draw and don’t forget, there’s still an opportunity to win a CSM Short Course of your choosing, up to the value of £600, by sharing your short course experiences with us. To enter simply complete our Student Stories questionnaire, to be featured upon the CSM Short Courses Blog or UAL Short Course Stories.

Feeling inspired? Week 5 of Summer School starts next week and we have plenty more amazing courses to choose from, available to book right now! Why not try Ceramics for Beginners, Graphic Design – Beginners, Jewellery with Wood or even Introduction to TV and Film Set Design for 16 to 18 Year Olds, there are so many incredible courses to discover.