As part of the MA15 Season we are profiling graduates from across all of our masters courses to hear about their work, their future plans and their advice to potential students. Here LCF News talks to mature student Claire Ritchie who is among the first cohort to graduate from the newMSc Applied Psychology in Fashion course.

Colour Codification Drawing by Lauren Dicioccio, 2008 Image courtesy of artist

LCF News: Tell us about your final piece of work?

Claire Ritchie: My final piece of work will be a written thesis which is an exploration of multi-sensory fashion branding and synaesthesia as a psychological concept

LCF News: Where did you study prior to your MA at LCF?

CR: I previously studied at Coventry University, Liverpool John Moores University and Nottingham Trent University.

LCF News: What are your future plans?

CR: I am hoping to develop my ideas into a broader project for PhD study at University of the Arts London.

LCF News: How do you think the course will help you to realise these plans?

CR: The MSc programme has really helped to underpin and consolidate my pre-existing knowledge in fashion design, visual fashion promotion and fashion marketing but then it has really strengthened my scientific research skills. These are going to be really important as I move towards higher research as they will help me to ensure that my project is really academically robust. It has been so good to step out of my comfort zone and to place myself within a scientific environment as a compliment to my previous design-centred education and career.

LCF News: What advice would you give to anyone considering studying an MA at LCF?

CR: I would highly recommend it; the experience has been so inspiring and it has helped my personal development hugely. I am a mature student, so the decision to return to study after working for a number of years was not taken lightly. The courses are really well designed so that you can continue with your own practice or employment alongside your studies. There is so much going on across University of the Arts London too, so many extra curricular and cross-disciplinary projects that you can become a part of too.