Charlotte’s Profile

Charlotte Dack AND EMILY LOUSIE’S PERFORMATIVE GARMENT PRESENTED AT THE British Museum for the ‘The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ ‘. MENTORED AND PRESENTED BESIDE Kansia Yamamoto (bottom left). Performed by poppy SHEPHERD (middle) and Mo PITTWAY (right).

Charlotte Dack AND EMILY LOUSIE’S PERFORMATIVE GARMENT PRESENTED AT THE British Museum for the ‘The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ ‘. MENTORED AND PRESENTED BESIDE Kansia Yamamoto (bottom left). Performed by poppy SHEPHERD (middle) and Mo PITTWAY (right).

Step Into My Shoes talks to Charlotte Dack about her time at the famous fashion and art school Central Saint Martins.

Charlotte Photographed by Namoh kongdhana.

Charlotte Photographed by Namoh kongdhana.

SIMS: Why did you choose this course?

Charlotte: I picked Performance: Design and Practice because I was unsure what I wanted to do. I wanted a mixture of Fine Art, Fashion and Performance. This course had that and the freedom to explore and find what you wanted to focus on. 

SIMS: Why did you choose this university? 

Charlotte: I picked Central Saint Martins because it has a very good reputation, amazing alumni, network contacts and it was London-based for more art job opportunities.

SIMS: What is your favourite thing about this college? Least favourite?

Charlotte: My four favourite things are:

  • The workshops. You have access to amazing workshops with professional equipment from photography, to 3D printing, to metal work! 

  • The newsletter! Check the newsletter! It has amazing opportunities organised by the Arts SU. For example, I was mentored by the late Kansai Yamamoto to create a garment for a catwalk at the British Museum and I styled for a Stella McCartney advert! 

  • The feel of acceptance - the college has a very free feeling of being able to express yourself in any way you want through your visual appearance and artwork. If you dress  in an 'arty'/unique way it is very liberating to be in a big building of people who dress as freely as you! It is very inspiring as well. Something I already miss!

  • The loan store - loans out equipment such as camera, lights, laptops etc.

Charlotte Dack AND EMILY LOUSIE’S PERFORMATIVE GARMENT PRESENTED AT THE British Museum for the ‘The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ ‘. MENTORED AND PRESENTED BESIDE Kansia Yamamoto (bottom left). Performed by poppy SHEPHERD (middle) and Mo PITTWAY (right).

Charlotte Dack AND EMILY LOUSIE’S PERFORMATIVE GARMENT PRESENTED AT THE British Museum for the ‘The Citi Exhibition Manga マンガ ‘. MENTORED AND PRESENTED BESIDE Kansia Yamamoto (bottom left). Performed by poppy SHEPHERD (middle) and Mo PITTWAY (right).

Least favorite is the lack of storage space for artwork. It was always a struggle to find somewhere to leave work. 

SIMS: What sort of interesting campus events does the school put on?

  • Artist/designer talks e.g. Grayson Perry, Donatella Versace.

  • Workshops - organic skin care product making, yoga, smoothie day.

  • Career advice - CV checks, business advice, professional mentorship schemes, these carry on after graduation. 

  • Funding and award schemes.

  • Degree shows (art exhibit for graduating students) and open studio days. 

  • Catwalks such as the White Show. 

SIMS: Any advice for incoming students?

  • Make the experience into how you want it to be. Use the tasks set to make what you want. Use the facilities as much as you can! Socialise and network! 

  • Start getting you and your work out there as soon as you can. Don't worry if it is not completed or to the highest standard - people love to feel part of the process and to see people grow. 

  • Get a student oyster card and train card, then merge them for a 30% discount. 

  • Get a flat with a living room/social space!

  • Try to make sure the tube line is near to where you live has a night tube! 

SIMS: How would you describe the community atmosphere?

There is very much a community feel within courses, but I would suggest living in halls, joining clubs and/or going to events/talks to meet people from other courses because they will be working within their own studios.

SIMS: What clubs or extracurricular activities do you recommend?

  • Ssshake - they run networking clubs.

  • Go to as many talks as you can, try going by yourself and talk to people who are there. 

  • The societies can vary in price for membership, so I suggest putting some money aside for them. 

SIMS: What do you plan to do careerwise? 

I am interested in a career in ‘design and making’ in the creative industry. At the moment I am starting to build a company as well as creating my own theatre show. 

SIMS: What was the most surprising thing about your experience here? 

I think the people in the university make you learn a lot and wake you up to see different points of view you may not have been exposed to before. I have learnt a lot from my peers about who, what and how I want to be and how my work can speak about that. 

SIMS: What enrichment/extracurricular activities in secondary school helped with your decision to study this subject? 

Art extracurricular studio time, I didn't know of the Central Saint Martins until my teacher told me about it.

SIMS: Do you have a book you recommend?

A whole list!!! Any books on history of performance, performance art, costume/fashion history will be helpful. I would also recommend finding a subject that you find fascinating and researching it further e.g. art movements, artists, political/social movements. 

  • Performance in Contemporary Art by Catherine Wood

  • Costume in Performance: Materiality, Culture, and the Body by Donatella Barbieri

  • Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity by Elizabeth Wilson