Personal Profile:

A dedicated freelance jewellery designer with over 5 years post-degree experience. Skilled in day-to-day management of in-house visual merchandising and collaboration design projects with well established commercial and fashion brands. Successful in all areas of design, through to production, and extensive knowledge and experience liaising with overseas factories and suppliers. Efficient whilst working towards deadlines, with excellent communication skills, and a high degree of drive and personal commitment.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Designs produced for Anna Lou of London primarily influenced the reinvention of the brand and thus enhanced the company’s profile and profitability by an unprecedented level.
Contributed towards the re-design of Anna Lou of London Flagship store on Carnaby Street. Managed Merchandising of stock, Layout and effectively resourced new designers for their creative visuals.

Created worldwide interest in the brand Anna Lou of London, consequently acquired by national and international high Fashion retailers: Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Topshop, Poste Mistress, Asos.com, Urban Outfitters, plazastyle, Ollie & Nic and more. Also designed the first jewellery collections to be featured independently on topshop.com and office.com.

Freelance designs including kids ranges for Anna Lou of London evidently sold out repeatedly, and have featured as best sellers throughout the company.

On behalf of Anna Lou of London, designed and managed jewellery collaborations with Topshop, Oliver Bonas, Rayban, Courvoisier, Fiorucci/Love Therapy, Laura Lees Label, Hello Kitty, Lovely Lovely, Plazastyle and Kate and Jack.

Jewellery designed has featured in numerous publications: Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Times Magazine, Company, Grazia, Look and more to name a few.

Collaborated with Lovely Lovely on a highly acclaimed bags range, sold in multiple high street chains, websites and private boutiques.
Was featured in Fashion Extras Retail Magazine as ‘The Apprentice’, and dubbed as a designer with a very promising future.

Created my own label and designed a highly successful range of jewellery consequently sold to multiple boutiques across the nation. Supplied for numerous charity and catwalk events, stylist photo shoots with Artists such as Paloma Faith, and also for television programme ‘Colleen’s Real Women’.

Created in partnership Artisan Design resource Centre and jewellery design/construction classes. Managed all business relations, research and promotion. Created established design resource centre and highly commended design classes.

Completed a highly commended Skill fast course. Increasing personal knowledge of different aspects of a business and promotional skills required throughout the fashion industry.
Completed Unlocking potential Course with Monsoon Accessorize. Trained and commended to floor Manager level.

EMPLOYMENT:

Kate Sandilands Jewellery Design, Creative Director, July 2005-Present.

Researching market and creating a recognized and well established brand. Supplied to multiple events, boutiques and events. Commissions created on a weekly basis with sourcing of materials and processes to meet demand. Creating collections monthly and promoting own work by updating website and fronting all press and marketing relations. Managing staff and training in relation to every area in the business.

Anna Lou of London, Jewellery construction Assistant – Design and Production Associate – Freelance Designer, October 2006 – Present.

Researching the market and fashionable and street style trends, materials and components. Creating mood boards and designing commercial ranges to meet client and customer expectations, and to co-inside with current and future fashionable trends.
Represented Anna Lou of London and organised design meetings with valuable clients to progress collaborations, working alongside design teams with technical knowledge to ensure the fast progression of projects. Managing these projects to completion.
Liaising with Far East Factories and suppliers, producing finalised design drawings and CAD templates in order to request for finished samples. Gaining a great understanding in factory production processes and restrictions.
Responsible for supervising shop staff and training jewellery construction staff, specialised in wire work and semi-precious stones, large in house orders, packing and distributing to trade and retail customers. Administered stock and daily deliveries.

Accessorize, Senior Sales/Floor Manager, October 2008 – Present.

Key holder responsibilities and management support. Responsible for sales management front of house, Managing Stock moves and analyzing sales and profitability, Window displays and all visual merchandising throughout the store. Delegating tasks to ensure increased product performance to maximize sales within branch. Staff training and support, customer service and replenishment of store. Completed Unlocking potential Course 2010.

Kreate, Promotional Staff October 2006-Present

Promoting clients products throughout the UK. Responsible for merchandising stock, promoting services, products and sampling goods. Clients include Coca Cola, Itunes, Anchor, Fiji Water to name a few.

George Asda Plc, Shop Assistant, 2001 – 2006

Responsible for jewellery desk and sales department. Replenishing stock and visual merchandising.

Loughborough Student Union, Venue Supervisor, October 2003 – October 2005

Responsible for all bars and entry tills on event nights. Motivation of staff, customer service, team leading, maximising sales and ensuring completion of tasks within strict deadlines.


WORK EXPERIENCE:

Anna Lou of London, 31/07/06 – 31/10/06

Produced Jewellery Samples for further overseas production and in house for trade and retail sales. Represented company at exclusive Trade Shows and contributed towards the initial growth of the company, resulting in the move to the first Flagship Store, Carnaby Street, Central London.

Tatty Devine, 01/09/06-01/10/06

Producing and cleaning jewellery pieces up to commercial standard.


EDUCATION / QUALIFICATIONS:

BA (Hons) Jewellery Design and Silversmithing, Loughborough University, Oct 2002 – June 2005
Studied a broad range of topics that allowed me to develop a well-balanced and thorough knowledge of many areas of the Jewellery industry, development of design and production processes through a large range of materials. Developed an ability to undertake self-managed design studies, and learnt to promote own design ranges and finished pieces. Showcased Degree show collection at Cockpit Arts Gallery London 2005.

National Diploma in Foundation studies Art and Design, 1 A-Level, 1 GCSE, Blackburn College (taken June 2000 and June 2002)

Art and Design [Distinction]National Diploma in Foundation Studies
Fine Art [B] A Level
Communication [C] GCSE


GCSEs, Ivy Bank High School (taken June 2000)
10 GCSEs (A to C grade) including…
Art [A*], Design Technology [A], English Language [A], Mathematics [B], Business Studies [C].
Gained Outstanding Achievement in Art and Design Award 2000.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

IT Skills: Photoshop and Illustrator CS4 (completed Symbiosis essentials and advanced course in Photoshop and illustrator CS4), Microsoft Word, Excel, Email and Internet.
Interests / Hobbies: Fashion, Fine Art, Design Technology, travelling, reading and film. Creating personal jewellery collections for events and own label Kate Sandilands. Visiting markets and sourcing vintage charms and jewellery to redesign into new collections. Participating in fitness activities such as running and yoga, and socialising. Teaching Jewellery making classes and providing design resourcing services.

Driving Licence: Full clean UK driving Licence.