Kamile Kartunaviciute

Kamile's Story – How a foundation year started my journey

From starting at Northumbria on the Design foundation year to being named the winner of the prestigious Next Graduate Fashion Foundation Design and Trend Competition in her final year - we asked Fashion student Kamile Kartunaviciute to provide an insight into studying a foundation year at Northumbria. 

How did your foundation year studies benefit your further studies?

I’m really glad I chose to do a foundation year because it gave me the chance to explore different areas of design and what to expect over the next few years of a design degree, both in terms of creative approach and practical skills. And by the time I progressed into the Fashion BA course, I felt much more confident and prepared. I already had an idea of the expectations and the kind of work I’d be doing, so the transition didn’t feel as overwhelming. And most importantly, the foundation year helped me feel certain in my decision to pursue fashion.

Can you tell us about any learning support, from your lecturers and tutors?

From the very beginning of my studies at Northumbria, I felt genuinely supported by the lecturers and tutors. For me, these years have been about discovering my creative identity and developing my own design handwriting and tutors were part of this journey. They were always encouraging and challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, helping me to grow not just technically, but also conceptually.

What I really valued was how approachable and invested they were. Whether it was through one-to-one tutorials, or even informal check-ins, they took the time to understand my vision and challenge me to think deeper and be more intentional with my work. Their feedback was constructive and thoughtful, and I always left tutorials with a clearer sense of direction and motivation.

There was also a strong sense of trust as they encouraged experimentation and weren't afraid to let us take creative risks, which helped me become more confident and independent as a designer. That level of support made a real difference in shaping who I am creatively today.

They created a supportive environment where I felt comfortable taking creative risks and pushing my ideas further.

How has your course made you more employable?

What I loved most about the Fashion (BA) course at Northumbria were the live industry projects we got to work on throughout the early years. In first year, we had a live brief with Fenwick, and in second year, we collaborated with River Island. These projects gave us the opportunity to receive direct feedback from industry professionals, which was incredibly valuable in understanding real-world expectations and standards.

One highlight was the first-year project with Fenwick, where we were asked to rework the iconic hoodie using inspiration from Fenwick’s rich archive alongside contemporary influences. I was proud that my design was selected to be showcased in the Fenwick store window — it was such a motivating and confidence-boosting moment, especially so early in the course.

What made these experiences so beneficial was that they had real purpose — they weren’t just theoretical tasks, but challenges that mirrored actual industry processes. They helped me develop key employability skills like time management, professional communication, research application, and creative problem-solving from the very start. It also helped me begin shifting my mindset from being a student to thinking more like a designer in the industry — learning how to present ideas clearly, take on feedback constructively, and design with both creativity and a target customer in mind.

That mindset and skillset really paid off in my final year when I entered the NEXT Design & Trend Forecasting competition. I was challenged to design an Autumn/Winter 2025 capsule collection — and I won! That win led to a placement at NEXT and an interview for their graduate trainee programme, which has been an amazing opportunity and a great step toward starting my career in the industry.

What has been the best thing so far about your learning experience at Northumbria?

The best part of my learning experience at Northumbria has been the connections I’ve made with my peers and tutors. The supportive environment really shaped my journey, not only helping me grow creatively but also personally and being surrounded by like-minded, passionate individuals pushed me to challenge myself and develop a stronger sense of identity as a designer.

Alongside that, the structure of the course and the real industry insight we gained have made me feel genuinely ready to step into the fashion industry. Looking back, I can see how much I’ve progressed from experimenting and finding my creative direction in the early years to feeling confident in my skills and vision by final year. Northumbria gave me the space to explore, the tools to improve, and the guidance to prepare for the next step in my career.