HAITANG XU — personal statement

As a fashion design student, I bring extensive transferrable skills to the course. I have developed my perception of art history and theory and my interpretation and aesthetics of art throughout four years of undergraduate studies. And I demonstrated my ability to translate my thoughts into designs. During several classes relating to creative thinking, I also had the chance to encounter many artworks and their various presentations in two or three dimensions. Additionally, the organization of fashion shows, market research, and promotion were all significant components of my courses, which helped me establish managerial and operational abilities. In particular, I was lucky to have access to extensive innovative contemporary art exhibitions and independent gallery owners during my two years at Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom. These encounters have broadened my perspective and equipped me for upcoming classes. 
 In addition, I have a wealth of practical experience. I took part in the ALLSAINTS initiative at the university. It was my first time working with a famous brand in the UK, and our group was in charge of every step of the brand analysis, market research, and design processes. For the EMOJI X NTU project, I used emojis for the first time in my design, which was a huge challenge. And in the project BILL TANNERY, I got to try out multidisciplinary design for the first time when the team was asked to expand the brand’s current product line and create shoulder and leisure bags for the outdoors. This project gave me insight into the design process as a commercial design and was more like an unfinished chain that I could complete with my thoughts and creativity. I participated in curating the Creation exhibition, using basic materials to make a painting inspired by the 2011 forest fires in Chongqing, China, for the course exhibition at Soochow University. I have developed my market research, communication, and teamwork skills owing to these experiences.
Furthermore, I have completed two internships. I worked as the designer’s assistant at the Jiangsu Maixiu Garment Co Ltd and Changzhou Yumei Garment Co Ltd, where my primary responsibilities included gathering customer information, going with designers when they spoke with clients, helping prepare all pertinent design materials and sample accessories, finishing design drawings, screening design materials and equipment and creating extended new models based on market sales, design and popular elements. Through these experiences, I have improved my design and resource integration skills and understood how to coordinate customer needs, artistic aesthetics, and accessible materials.