Portfolio overview: Graduate Diploma CSM '15-16
![Draping light - cover](https://oliviasuguri.com/content/images/2023/04/draping-lights-cover.jpg)
Here's the thing: Grad Dip was not the course for me.
I was struggling with the aftermath of a lot of untreated trauma coming from all over my life, and it'd take me 6 more years until I found the right treatment (cause on top of all my trauma, I'd also experienced substantial emotional abuse in therapy).
I have a lot of comments about the course, which I've shared extensively here and on my YouTube channel, but if you're not at a level to apply to the MA, please do not overlook the Graduate Diploma course.
I've included some of my favourite work produced then, just for reference: it doesn't mean your portfolio for application should look like this. And it definitely doesn't mean this is good material to apply for a job - when in doubt, contact me for a consulting call or portfolio advice.
Enjoy the pictures :)
Draping Lights
This was our first project, and I totally bombed it... Couldn't even make a lineup. But I made some cool studies.
![Light loops](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/draping_lights-development3_2048x2048.jpg?v=1586796752)
![](https://oliviasuguri.com/content/images/2023/04/banner-footer-Draping-Lights.jpg)
![Draping lights - materials](https://oliviasuguri.com/content/images/2023/04/draping-lights-development1-1.jpg)
![Draping lights - BW](https://oliviasuguri.com/content/images/2023/04/draping-lights-development2-1.jpg)
Cutting Project
![Cutting project - cover](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-cutting_project-cover_1024x1024.jpg?v=1588004245)
Being half-Japanese but growing up in Brazil, the kimono had always been an elusive piece to me. And even though I studied in Tokyo for 2 years, it was only in London, many years later, that I bought my first one!
Traditionally worn in a very constricting way and with MANY layers as not to show any skin, in this project I wanted to use similar geometrical pattern pieces to make a more dramatic silhouette.
![Cutting project - collages](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-cutting_project-research_1024x1024.jpg?v=1588004315)
![Cutting project - kimono drapings](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-cutting_project-draping_1024x1024.jpg?v=1588004358)
![Cutting project - sketches](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/banner-creative-cutting-cutting-project-development-sketch_1024x1024.png?v=1588004409)
![Cutting project - final studies](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-cutting_project-development_1024x1024.jpg?v=1588004436)
![Cutting project - photoshoot](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/12_1024x1024.jpg?v=1588004575)
McQueen project
![McQueen project - intro](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/intro-McQueen_project-Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589270921)
Theatrical, dark, extreme.
Everything about Alexander McQueen felt like the polar opposite of how I saw myself. How would I bring my own voice and my own point of view to this project?
My answer was to create a story of the light at the end of tunnel: a drowned world of anthropomorphic goldfish, inspired by Japanese tales and Ukiyo-e by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.
![McQueen project - collage and textile samples 1](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/sample-collage-McQueen_project-Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589271191)
![McQueen project - collage and textile samples 2](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/samples-collage-end_20310181-17c9-4148-b998-c6f8884dedac_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589271248)
And the results were...
![McQueen project - looks](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/looks-McQueen_project-Olivia_Suguri_098436e2-35f0-4cee-ac44-cde750d06845_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589271603)
I didn't bomb this one completely, but I didn't do the assignment: this project was all about creating textile samples worthy of McQueen's most extravagant runway shows, and I did a much better job at creating beautiful images than at making exciting textiles.
Think I got a C+, but it's still one of my favourites because of the photos I did with a friend:
![McQueen project - Arturo becomes a fish](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/intro-Arturo_becomes_a_fish-Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589271124)
![Arturo becomes a fish 1](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/Arturo_becomes_a_fish-booklet-spread_2-Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589272118)
![Arturo becomes a fish 2](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/Arturo_becomes_a_fish-booklet-spread-Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589272239)
Project ME
![Cat becomes her](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/cat-silhouettes2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589546603)
'What do you surround yourself with? What would the most authentic, unashamedly fabulous version of yourself look like?'
Starting off with a stupid name, Project Me was all about stop trying to be Fashion.
My project was about adding more kawaii nonsense to my beloved everyday clothes.
A sense of familiarity was meant to be kept with instantly recognisable pieces, but with proportions, colours and motifs only a cartoon character would wear.
![Olivia Suguri - cat drapings: sketches](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-project_Me-development2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589547798)
![Olivia Suguri - textile development](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-project_Me-samples_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589547870)
![Olivia Suguri - Project Me lineup](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-project_Me-samples-banner_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589548000)
Final Project: Final Fantasy VII
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-intro-projects-final-fantasy_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589557577)
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy: intro](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-finalfantasy7-research1_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589557953)
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy: paper drapings](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-finalfantasy7-research2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589558883)
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy: block figures](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-finalfantasy7-research3_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589559009)
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy: colour study](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-collages-teahouses-colour_study-_Olivia_Suguri_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589559272)
![Olivia Suguri - block dress](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-finalfantasy7-lookbook2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589559481)
![Olivia Suguri - block kimono](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/gallery-portfolio-finalfantasy7-lookbook3_e23c06b4-c296-4a92-aec0-5001b1d2a922_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589559567)
![Olivia Suguri - Final Fantasy: Mean Red kitty & koi](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0089/2610/1570/files/cat-fish-digital_print-sample_1024x1024.jpg?v=1589560112)