Life of Alumni: Ilinca Lungu from BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development

LCF Stories caught up with Ilinca Lungu, a BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development alum. Ilinca now works as an Assistant 3D Designer at Adidas. In our interview below, she lifts the lid on the variety of her workday, her thoughts on the future of fashion and the opportunities provided by open-mindedness.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

It really depends on where we are in the season. What I like about my job, and every other design job, is that it doesn’t get too repetitive: one day I’m researching for a new collection, or looking for fabrics, designing (in 3D), tech packing etc.

In addition, my role is a hybrid between design and 3D creation, so I get to express my design ideas in 3D, which I think is the future of fashion.

What did the application process for your job look like?

I was looking for jobs in 3D design when I found the Adidas job opening. I applied with a resume, a portfolio (of 3D work as well as design) and a cover letter. Later in the month, I was contacted for a 3D related task which I had to complete within a week, followed by an interview.

I have to say, the entire process took a few months so I would advise graduating students to apply as soon as possible.

Did your course prepare you for your current role?

I was surprised by how much of the design process is similar to what I was doing during my studies, from research to communicating the idea in front of a group of people. The biggest difference is that now I work within a team.

Talking about 3D, I wish I had learned more of this in university as it is such a sought after skill. It is also very useful in the prototyping phase for students.

What advice do you have for students approaching graduation?

Take the time to see what 'out of the box' job opportunities are out there. I think the fashion industry is changing rapidly since the start of the pandemic, so keeping an open mind can really pay off!

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