TK Maxx Graduate Buying Scheme

I have now worked for Tk Maxx for over 3 and a half years. Although this is not specifically defined as a placement for example, it is extremely relevant to my future career development in the real world. I am a valued member of staff at two stores, Manchester Arndale and Preston Fishergate. I thoroughly enjoy my job and it has supported me financially through out University. I have expressed my interest in the buying graduate scheme to my managers and they are fully encouraging my application. In November I participated in some training courses based in London, one of which was to become a Jewellery trained assistant. I gained more skills within store dynamics and also knowledge of products which enhances my chances towards my application. Manchester Arndale is the biggest store in the country and has very high priority in the European aspect of the company. With two years experience in this store alone stands me in very good stead for the buying graduate scheme. My job has allowed me to witness and recognise customer trends and I have a lot of interest in the products we sell and how they are sourced. I am very keen to travel whether this be before my career or during. This career path would allow me to achieve my ambitions whilst establishing myself in an excellent line of work. I am very excited about the opportunites ahead. In the assessment and feedback time we have between now and Unit X, I plan to continue with this application and also research into other companies who offer similar opportunities that I could also apply to.

Gift Wrap and Live Brief

As an alternative context for the outcome of Unit X, I have researched the market for gift wrap. My intentions of creating mixed media designs would work really well for high-end gift wrap. It isn’t an outcome I have considered before but I feel it would encourage me to test my work in a slightly different context. I looked into the qualities of paper and materials used by companies such as Paperchase and Marks and Spencer’s. Printing onto them allowed me to test the physical qualities for each surface and my samples achieved from flocking proves that it is a process that would really push this outcome forward with originality and potential. The colour of love is a live brief I found on tiger print which was collaborating with Marks and Spencers for valentines card designs. 

After deciding that gift wrap will be a potential outcome for my design collection in Unit X, this brief was perfect to test my ideas in a realistic context. The competition asked for designs for valentines which consider a new and fresh colour pallet as opposed to typical reds and pinks. I chose a romantic yet unusual colour pallet and worked with one of the proposed ideas of mark making through lino prints to create simple yet effective imagery. The designs had to target both male and female Marks and Spencers customers and I feel that the ideas I have entered are tasteful, elegant and appropriate to the requirements set by the brief.

Wall Paper Context

I have been very keen from the beginning of the project to work towards a design collection for interiors. From evaluating previous projects I feel that I work most successfully on paper towards wall paper samples. In this project I have aimed to ensure I have enough sample development to go on to create a high end contemporary collection in Unit X. Having researched the market, I feel that pushing the elements of flocking and digital design on quality paper surfaces will achieve a professional collection. Many of my initial photographs consisted of patterns running vertically over objects. I have experimented with this in a variety of ways, particularly in my digital development of prints. Designs for Timorous Beasties Rorschach wallpaper collection have helped inform this composition. I have looked at this work for guidance on composition of print elements and how to balance negative and positive space within patterns. The complexity of some of their designs in this collection is mesmerising. I feel that many of my development designs are quite simple and obvious repeats. The more successful designs in the industry consist of lots of elements and I think that my intentions to layer the processes in have explored in this unit, in my work in unit x will sophisticate my designs further and raise them to a higher standard.