Billy Blue graduate creates floral design for Myer's Miss Shop

At Billy Blue College of Design, we are continuously left in awe at the talents of our students and alumni. Yet another example is Andrea Maurer. Andrea is one of five students who successfully pitched their designs to Myer as part of their ‘Miss Shop Introduces’ artist pathways program.

Introducing Andrea Maurer – Diploma of Branded Fashion Design graduate

Now in Myer stores, you can see Andrea Maurer's groovy floral print in a long sleeve top and long sleeve dress.

A recent Diploma of Branded Fashion Design graduate, Andrea is an emerging pattern designer and illustrator based in Brisbane and excited to begin her creative journey within the industry with this exclusive print for Myer.

Andrea’s print answered a brief to create a swirly abstract print with bold retro flower motifs with sharp edges, and no painterly finishes. It needed to be clean and not too busy and 1960s inspired.

“It was a brief totally outside my natural style which I actually found fun,” said Andrea. “It’s a funky and bright 60’s print. This brief pushed me creatively to design something I wouldn’t normally.”

Andrea acknowledges Billy Blue College of Design set her up perfectly for this opportunity.

“Designing to a brief is something I became very much used to throughout my studies and actually enjoy the process to see what I’ll come up with outside my usual style.”

“I was keen to make sure they were happy with the print and each change or tweak meant we were closer to achieving their vision,” said Andrea.

“I was really happy with the end result and felt like they pushed my design to become what it did through our many iterations, but it still felt very much like me.”

Valuable real-world Fashion Design industry experience

“It was a tight deadline! I think after receiving the brief I had a couple of days before they wanted to see something from me. From there it was go, go, go, as they had to sign off on the print in time for their manufacturing deadlines,” said Andrea explaining that the whole process was over in a couple of weeks.

The experience was collaborative, and Andrea felt valued and included throughout the project’s timeline.

“They made sure I was included in each step of the process and was able to see the final artworks with the tech pack that was sent to manufacture, and I was sent the sample when it was approved,” said Andrea. “So cool to see the process beginning to end and to witness firsthand the lead times for a fashion brand as big as Myer.”

Andrea said that opportunities to connect with industry are so important.

“I feel like opportunities like this are what just give you the right mindset to venture out on your own. I have been a mostly full-time mum since finishing university so my availability for full time roles isn’t there, but freelance opportunities like this allow me to still establish myself as a designer and build a portfolio to enable more opportunities in the future.”

Russell Ponting, Program Director of our Fashion courses, agrees.

“It was really just about the real experience - working to a brief from a design team, the ambiguity, the process, the tight turnaround, the feedback process - the absolute authenticity of the experience,” said Russell. “It is an awesome CV and folio piece, and a step up from an internship because it is a real project.”

“A confidence boost” and “kind of surreal”

Andrea said seeing the designs featuring her textile on the website was “kind of surreal!” and loved seeing the professional photographs on their website.

“Being able to create a print for Myer was a real confidence boost as I begin to establish myself as a designer. I can only go forward from here,” said Andrea of the experience.

Follow Andrea on Instagram to check out her designs.