January 2023

Due to learning and developing tactics to help cope with my clinical depression, January meant I held a lot of optimism and excitement for the new year and term. With the Research Report submission due date being the 20th January I was also a bit nervous for this month however I applied for a Notice of Extenuating Circumstances which got approved and enabled me to gain an extra seven days onto the submission date. This relieved a lot of tension and worry and meant I could focus on my research and data and analyse it without the fear of time constraints. The start of January held lectures and seminars to develop our insights into consumers and the statistics that we found from our qualitative methods. Learning about the importance of market research and consumer behaviour analysis in fashion marketing meant that by studying consumer trends and preferences, companies can create products and marketing campaigns that appeal to their target audience. The concept of segmentation and targeting in fashion marketing was particularly interesting to me, as it allowed me to think critically about what types of consumers would be interested in my macro trend.

In order to manage my time carefully I created a set plan to follow to ensure the word count as well as the CAD element of my work would be completed on time. Following this plan felt struggling at times due to outside catalysts affecting my free time such as work and family matters, so in order to stick to timings I would adjust plans to mould around my changing schedule so that I could prioritise both aspects of my life. Due to my time management, I [d myself prioritising certain segments of my project that in hindsight could’ve been spent on different sections to improve the overall written quality of my work. Reflecting on my submission I would in future ensure that my referencing is perfected and precise as I believe that minor errors such as that could be the pinacol decider between grade levels. Now that my mental health is in a stable and overall, much healthier place I believe I will be able to put my full effort and strengths into Stage 2 and am excited and inspired to see where my research will develop and evolve in the modern world. I thoroughly enjoyed designing my Research Report and feel as though I utilised my CAD skills in an effective and contemporary way whilst also emphasising my own flair into my work. In the future I would however like to attend online CAD sessions or join a CAD course to further intensify and hone my designing skills, as there are always new techniques and styles to explore to match different consumer preferences and styles. In conclusion January was a month full of positive change for me as an individual and as a fashion marketing and branding student and I am eager to continue my journey of Third Year whilst developing and creating my own self-identity.