From shop floor to producing shoots for Burberry: Raul Hijazi’s journey as a Creative Producer

LCF BA (Hons) Creative Direction for Fashion graduate and Creative Producer at HYPEBEAST, Raul Hijazi has had many highlights to his exciting career, but it wasn’t without struggles and setbacks. Raul took time to speak with LCF Graduate Futures about the highs and lows of his career as a Creative Producer. Read on as Raul shares great advice and inspiration for others who may find themselves also struggling to navigate their career journey.

Can you tell us about your journey since graduating?

I started my journey as a Producer in Sixth Form in Brighton, planning and shooting portraits for my Photography class. This evolved significantly during my time at LCF thanks to the great facilities we had at hand. The multitude of studios, high tech equipment, and experienced staff allowed me to expand and hone my skills while collaborating with stylists, makeup artists, and other fashion practitioners from sister courses. This all culminated in the production of my final major project, a fashion film titled "Suppressed Narratives" which took on the topic of sexual abuse within the fashion industry at the height of the #MeToo movement.

After graduating, I was able to screen the film at Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) in York thanks to LCF and Nilgin Yusuf, the Creative Director of the School of Media and Communication at the time. This was a major point in my career and a signifier that Fashion Production was my calling in life. Since then, I have screened a second film at ASFF (In-Somnium), produced a documentary featuring couture designer Robert Wun, and progressed in my career in Fashion. I've worked with clients worldwide, delivering a wide variety of projects including editorials, advertorials, stills, moving image, social media campaigns, and even experiential custom digital builds, applying the skills I learned from my Creative Direction for Fashion course at LCF which allowed me this flexibility. In 2022, I started my tenure at HYPEBEAST as a creative producer, working on campaigns for the likes of Balmain, Fursac, Burberry, Adidas, Nike, and other renowned luxury brands.

Since leaving LCF, what have been your most memorable achievements?

I would say one of my most memorable achievements was producing a shoot for Burberry for the launch of one of their collections. It was a very sentimental moment for me as during my time as a student at LCF, I was working shifts in retail at Burberry. It has been one of my favourite brands since I was a child watching their perfume advertisements on TV. It was Burberry that inspired me to move to the UK and become a Londoner actually. I went from working at their Regent Street flagship store and stocking up their warehouse in Hackney to leading meetings and collaborating with them. It was a full 360 moment that really struck a chord with me.

How did you get the Producer role, was the hiring process difficult?

Before I got the Producer role at HYPEBEAST, I was at one of my lowest moments. Having just gone through the pandemic in isolation away from family and friends, I was physically and emotionally drained. I had just received an interview offer from a major luxury retailer which was then revealed to be a clerical error. They'd sent the invite by mistake! I was absolutely crushed. Completely demotivated, I retreated to my bed to wallow in my own misery when I called a friend, insisting we not hang up until I got up and running. After a long pep-talk, I got out of bed and headed straight to my laptop to continue applying. The first job I applied to that day was the Producer role at HYPEBEAST. The hiring process was smooth and quick, with 2 rounds of interviews. I actually used a 3 point lighting set-up with coloured gels for my zoom interview! First impressions are crucial, and we do work in fashion after all. I tell this long-winded story just to remind people that it's okay to ask for help in times of need but most importantly, resilience is key.

From supporting the creation of vibrant campaigns for the likes of Burberry, Nike and Balmain, your work supporting brand collaborations is going from strength to strength. What other projects are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on pitching a concept for an episodic documentary series which is very exciting. It's going to be long before it sees the light of day as I'm balancing this with producing editorials on the side and starting a new Senior Producer role soon.

That sounds very exciting, and congratulations on the new role you’re soon to be starting! What are your hopes and future plans?

My hope for the future is to continue producing work in fashion at larger scales, crossing off my long list of dream collaborators one by one. I'm expanding my network at the moment and soon you will hopefully see my name on more editorials. I have my sights set on Conde Nast, Ferdinando Verderi, and to work with my favourite Producer and mentor Sylwia Bajek again.

Don't see others as competition, but as collaborators.

How did LCF support you with your career ambitions?

LCF gave me the tools and knowledge I needed to evolve rapidly. I used the studios and equipment at any chance I had and without them, I would not have had the portfolio to kick-off my career as I did. LCF Graduate Futures helped me with setting up my job applications process and were there even after I'd graduated.

What challenges are currently facing our graduates with specialisms in media, trying to break into the creative industry?

The current economic, ecologic, and global political circumstances are greatly affecting our industry negatively. We are facing a significant decrease in opportunities in an industry that is packed with candidates.

Do you have any 'top tips' for students graduating LCF this year?

I would urge you to pay strong attention to your physical and mental health. Reach out to local NGOs that pertain to your demographic and ask what resources they have available. With the help of the Terrence Higgins Trust in London, I was able to secure a few months of free counselling. Aside from that, when applying to jobs, do not hit your head against the same wall repeatedly expecting it to transform into a door. Revamp your website and CV. Reach out to recruiters and expand your network by attending relevant events. Don't see others as competition, but as collaborators. And most importantly, always remind yourself of why you do what you do and take pride in it. It is easy to lose sight of our passion when things get difficult.

When applying to jobs, do not hit your head against the same wall repeatedly expecting it to transform into a door.

Thank you, Raul for sharing your story and advice, no doubt many will find it comforting to hear that they aren’t alone in their career struggles, but that it can all pay off in the end. We can’t wait to see what more you have in store!

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