Upstart Portfolio Reviews

Bring your portfolio, laptop, phone or website and sign up on the day for a portfolio review to meet with a range of  graphic designers, fashion design lecturers, illustrators, creative directors, digital creators and photographers.

Book on the day for workshops at the National art Library front desk and from 10:15 (on the first floor of the V&A).
 
Philip Scurrah – International Academic, London College of Fashion

Philip Scurrah is an international academic at the London College of Fashion, specialising in portfolio curation and mentoring. He supports applicants in presenting their strongest creative identities, helping them gain entry to courses that best align with their individual ambitions. Within UAL, Philip also supports internal student progression and contributes directly to teaching and learning across a range of disciplines.

Philip’s professional background spans an impressive career as a Fashion Editor and Director across leading magazine titles — from the pioneering global lifestyle publication Wallpaper* to his role as Fashion Director at Selfridges Magazine and the independent Australian style authority Russh. His extensive industry experience includes directing catwalk shows and seasonal presentations throughout Europe, Australia, and India. Today, Philip continues to creatively direct and produce for a range of international clients.

·       13:30–14:10 

·       14:30–15:10 

·       15:30–16:10

MA Fashion: UAL Central Saint Martins and BA Fine Arts Fashion: FIT Fashion Institute of Technology graduate. Global experience living and working in the US, Paris and London. Expertise as womenswear designer / creative director, now also driving Fashion innovation through digital technologies such as Clo3D and AI. 

Sessions:
·      11.30-12.00

·      12:15–12:45

·      13.00-13.30 

·      14:30–15:00
·      15.15-15.45

PG Cert Innovative Pattern Cutting: UAL Central Saint Martins and BA Fashion: Manchester Metropolitan University graduate. Global experience working with brands in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Far East, specialising in print and collaborative projects. The hands-on adaptable approach includes fashion design and adjacent disciplines such as accessories, interiors, architecture, automotive, publications and charities. 

·       11:00–11:30 

·       11.45- 12.15

·       13.15- 13.45

·       14:00–14.30                 

Mentors from the Adobe Creative Apprenticeship Programme
The Adobe Creative Apprenticeship places aspiring designers, photographers, and video professionals in top creative workplaces so they can get the real-world training, mentorship and on-the-job experience they need to succeed.

Brindha Kumar Speciality Illustration
Brindha Kumar is a Malaysian illustrator based in London. Her work merges traditional Southeast Asian influences with contemporary digital abstraction, resulting in bold, layered compositions that explore the space between heritage and modernity. She has worked with global brands including Porsche, Apple, Selfridges, Lush, Adidas, and Starbucks.

-13:00- 13:30
-14:30 – 15:00

Raissa Pardini Speciality Graphic Design
Raissa Pardini is the founder and Creative Director of Raissa Pardini Ltd., an independent creative agency based in South East London, working closely with clients such Apple, Nike, MTV, NYTimes, SKIMS, WeTransfer, Gucci, The Standard Hotel and artists like The Rolling Stones, Blur, Maneskin, Willie Nelson, Nadia Lee Cohen, Sarah Bahabah. Her passion for ethical matters got the studio closer to charities like Earth Percent, Endometriosis UK, Rape Crisis. Raissa Pardini takes part of the free mentoring program at LCC and the working class creative database. Raissa is also an international lecturer and speaker for universities and stages like Apple Store, Nicer Tuesday, OFFF Adobe Live, University of Florida, LABASAD, Offenbach, UAL, Lee University, IED.

-14:30 – 15:00
-15:15 - 15:45

Dafy Hagai Speciality Photography
Dafy Hagai is a London-based photographer and artist whose work explores identity, femininity, and the shifting cultural landscapes of contemporary fashion. With a background in fine art photography, she has published multiple books, shaping her distinct perspective and storytelling. She has collaborated with brands such as Adidas, Levi’s, Paloma Wool and Eytys, and her work has been featured in Vogue Italy, Dazed, and i-D. Through her lens, Dafy reclaims the gaze, offering a bold, female-driven perspective that challenges conventions and reimagines beauty, community, and self-expression — creating space for new narratives in modern visual culture.

Sessions:
-13:00- 13:30
-14:30 – 15:00

Leonidas Liolios Speciality Graphic Design
Leonidas Liolios (he/him) is a graphic communication designer, publisher and educator based in London. His studio practice focuses on identity design and creative direction for cultural institutions and independent fashion labels. Select clients include Central Saint Martins, Camden Schools Art Biennale and Ceramic Art London. Leonidas is also a lecturer at the BA (Hons) Graphic Communication Design course and part of the Fashion Communication team at Central Saint Martins. Leonidas is also the publisher and editor of queer anglo-greek magazine The Boy Is Beautiful.

Sessions:
-11:00 – 11:30
-12:00 - 12:30

Clubhouse Studio Speciality Graphic Design, 3 programme mentors from their team:
Clubhouse Studio is an independent creative practice in London and Barcelona and is dedicated to producing thoughtful, beautiful creative with intention. Selected Clients include Adidas, Wales Bonner, Stella McCartney, Berghaus, Farfetch, Prada and Coty.

Sessions:

Holly Rae Jones:
-12:00 - 12:30
-13:00- 13:30

Jake Phillips:
-12:00 - 12:30 
-13:00- 13:30

You can check out more at: https://www.behance.net/resources/apprenticeship?tracking_source=nav20

 Upstart Festival 2025 is supported by the Adobe Foundation