Almost a year ago, I was very lucky to get an internship in Plymouth over the summer holidays, to get myself out there as a designer and feel part of the art and design community within the heart of Plymouth.
Interview process – The interview took place in Studio 102 led by a member of staff who is part of the Studio 102 team. The most important aspect was talking about my own background and what I want to achieve in their internship because it would give the Studio 102 team the idea to know how to work with my goals for future job and freelancing opportunities. I learnt that I take part in exhibitions as part of my internship because it would encourage me to apply for external exhibitions with confidence. I am glad that I took the opportunity to apply for this internship and attended the interview because it would help develop my CV more and demonstrate to potential employers that I had further experience as a textile designer. I feel very glad that I have completed a four week internship after the interview process because this was the start of my knowledge and experiences for how exhibitions work, for example.
Internship – The internship took place in Studio 102 at the Barbican. The most important aspect was learning many differentiated skills covering shop keeping skills, invigilating exhibitions and promoting social media posts advertising exhibition events. I learnt that Studio 102 is a place where they develop artists and designers to grow their practice more, by taking part in exhibitions and promoting and celebrating themselves on what their art is all about on the conceptual point of view. One thing I will be looking for in a next internship opportunity is a textile-based placement to up skill my textile practices. This will enhance my current skills and show employers that I have experience in similar skills requirements related to their job specifications. I am glad that I completed a four week internship with Studio 102 because I wanted to be more confident as a designer maker and artist, as well as to develop my business and promotional skills, in order to evolve myself as a Textiles designer. I felt relieved as my confidence grew whilst promoting posts on Studio 102’s social media platforms, such as events and photographs and advertising artists work through handing out business cards and developing my customer service skills effectively in Studio 102’s art shop. This included serving customers and working with the card machine and Ipad together to checkout items for the customers that were in stock at the shop by local artists and designers.
Me and Tom at the shop counter
I am very proud of what I have achieved while I was interning for Studio 102. I was really excited that my work won a £110 bid! I created an abstract painting influenced by Patrick Heron and Jackson Pollock during the Paint Jam weekender. I was also grateful for exhibiting my Gabbro Micha Schist cushion at their exhibition called STAND OUT, which is one of the hardest exhibitions to enter due to different talents from designers and artists around Devon and Cornwall.
Paint Jam Auction – my abstract painting influenced by Jackson Pollock and Patrick Heron
My Gabbro Micha Schist cushion (left) Harmony’s lion and floral cushions (right)
Finally, I would really like to share my Studio 102 podcast where I was interviewed by George Shepherd, talking about my practice and the Stand Out exhibition success. I was confident to talk about my time as a textile designer – maker and artist and interning for Studio 102.
Please feel free to give this podcast a listen with the iCloud link provided here: https://m.soundcloud.com/rameradio/farrah-sayedi-interview?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook
Love Farrah x