Art and Design students sell their wares at the Winter Fair

In conjunction with the University of Staffordshire Students' Union, the annual Winter Fair was another huge success.  Art and Design students curated their own stalls selling everything from cards and artwork, to jewelry, ornaments, and more.

 The fair is designed to enhance students' skills in entrepreneurship, understanding an audience and preparing to sell their work as maker-sellers.  Art and Design students are encouraged to explore the wide range of facilities and workshops offered on campus, such as ceramics, laser cutting, fabric and textiles, 3D printing and more.  

Open to the wider University community of students, staff and with some gift stalls from external providers, there were also hot chocolates on offer and hands-on festive craft activities.

Emily Forkan, 2nd year Cartoon and Comic Arts student, was selling a range of festive cards.  "It's been a mixture of students, the arts community at Staffs is very big on supporting each other."

Whilst the event itself was promoted across the community with a winning poster design from Illustration student Robin Cavendar, following a brief from the Students' Union.

I got the opportunity to sell at the University of Staffordshire Winter Fair again and I had such an amazing time!!🥰

Initially, we worked on the fair as part of an Illustration module in 2nd year - but it's something that I've always looked forward to doing! After finding out there were still tables free this year, I took the opportunity to take part once again.

As it was quite late notice for me (I had about a week to prepare), I wasn't able to have all of my usual stock available, such as my tote bags, as they take so long to make, plus it's also deadline season😅

But I brought the stock I'd already had made and available (prints, tags, and stickers), and also made some new sticker designs as they're very quick to make into products!

I'd made sales to 31 customers over the day!

I'd sold my last tote bag, all 5 of my mini prints, a total of 37 stickers, 7 packs of gift tags, 6 big prints - meaning I'd sold a total of 56 products, even selling out of a few!

I worked a lot harder to get things on my table this year after selling at the fair in 2023 and getting a rough idea of what to expect for my 2nd time selling irl.

It really is a great experience for artists, as it helps you learn and physically meet people that have interest in the work you make! It's very easy as an artist to compare yourself to others around you, but I think doing events like these seriously help you shine and get yourself out there!!

I just want to say massive thank you to everyone who came by and said hello, and to those who bought something from me!! It genuinely makes me so happy seeing you all in person - and to those of you who'd remembered me from the last fair (which was my very first), I cannot explain my appreciation for you✨️