Drexel University student, Liam Hendrick joined us this summer on the 8-week Introduction to Footwear Design course at London College of Fashion.
Why did you choose to study footwear design at UAL?
My main reason for choosing to join the summer school footwear design course at UAL because Drexel University does not offer a programme for footwear design. I study fashion design in my home institution and really wanted to be able to incorporate footwear design into my senior collection back home.
I also think that footwear coincides very well with fashion. So, getting a broader idea of how fashion design and footwear design connect was important to me.
What's been your favourite thing about the course so far?
My favourite thing about studying here so far was the making course with tutor Nafi Mustafa. I really enjoyed the hands-on work and learning under Nafi. We made a court shoe, which is a shoe with a low-cut front, and it was a great experience. It was interesting learning how to work on the industrial footwear machines, as well as understanding the glueing and lasting processes.
What's been your favourite thing about studying in London?
My favourite thing about studying in London is probably getting to explore the area where I'm staying. My accommodation is in South Kensington, an area that is known for being quite posh. I am really into cars and every single day I ger to see some beautiful cars around the area. I find it very inspiring especially early in the morning.
How does studying at UAL differ from studying at Drexel?
Studying at UAL is quite different from Drexel. One of the main differences is that Drexel has 24-hour studios and there's not as much supervision. However, UAL has a much wider variety of machines to work on. There's a lot more access to larger industrial machines that they use in the in the industry, especially for footwear design. So even just being able to do the footwear design programme and learn about all the different industrial machines that are actually used in the industry and how they operate as part of the process is very cool and very informative.
What would you tell a prospective student thinking of joining the programme?
If you're thinking of studying abroad here at London College of Fashion, I would recommend it, but I'd keep in mind that it is completely different from your work back home. Often, I find that the teaching style here is the complete opposite of what it’s like in the United States. Instead of starting you in a box and figuring out how to work around that box, they start really broad and bring you in. And it takes some time to get used to, but it's definitely worth it. It’s super useful to get to know a different teaching style and learning a new way to work.
