Graduate interview with Creative Director Fiona Burrage

NUA graduate Fiona Burrage (FdA, Graphic Design, 2006) is Client Director of Norwich design consultancy, The Click and she co-founded graphic design-led apparel and homewares brand Nor-Folk in 2015. As Creative Director she has built the company from a single Instagram feed to become an online store and collective.

How has your creative practice evolved?

NUA was a great start for me and really championed creativity, which is essential in the start of your journey. These days, I think a lot about commercial viability at the concept stage of fashion and product design. It’s no good designing something you love that no one else wants or, worse still, something everyone loves but no one knows about.

What kind of tasks do you work on?

Running my own label and studio, I am very hands on. My day can feature more glamorous tasks such as meetings with PR  firms in London, discussing brand collaborations on Skype with overseas designers, taking orders from wholesalers across the world, styling and photography – versus the more everyday, but just as essential – social media, emails, invoicing and stock control.

Do you have any tips for budding fashion marketers?

You never stop learning, you’ll always make mistakes and face knock-backs but you just need to continue and pursue what you really believe in. I feel just as passionate about learning now as I did when I had my first day at NUA and would love to return and do an MA in a couple of years. Trust your instincts and you won’t go far wrong, if it doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t.