MY FSF CASE STUDY JOURNEY
If you’ve browsed through my portfolio, you might have seen my SKIMS case study created for the Fashion Scholarship Fund. Honestly, it took me nearly a year to add it because I thought, “Why showcase a losing project?” I used to believe that if others didn’t see it as a winner, it wasn’t worth sharing. But I’ve changed my mind. I poured so much time, energy, and creativity into this project, and I learned a lot, both about the work and about myself. That alone makes it worth sharing.
I had heard about the Fashion Scholarship Fund from my professors, but it wasn’t until I was studying abroad that I decided to really look into it. Something about it sparked my curiosity, and once I am interested in something, I have to see it through. I emailed my professor to attend an info session while I was overseas (although we ended up running into some technical difficulties). As soon as I returned home, I dove right in. Looking back, it was a lot to take on, joining late in the process right after being away for four months, but I was genuinely excited to get started.
I dedicated nine months to this project, and it truly consumed me. There was always something to do—research, design, mockups—you name it. I also learned to use several new tools along the way, like Adobe Dimension to create a realistic glass bottle mockup and Adobe InDesign to design the presentation slides. Balancing all of this with my other schoolwork and personal well-being was no walk in the park, but it was worth every moment (even though I’m pretty sure I’m still dealing with back and neck pain from the countless nights spent working on my couch).
Being able to fully commit to this case study was such a rewarding experience. Even though my project wasn’t chosen as a winner, I felt proud knowing I gave it my all and learned so much along the way. I’m especially thankful to my professors for their guidance and to my friend Erika, who shared the highs and lows of the process. Her winning project is amazing, and I’m proud to have gone through the journey with her.
Even though I was not one of the 130 winners out of 531 applicants, and only 24 in merchandising, I still walked away with something far more meaningful, a sense of pride in my work and the confidence to share it anyway.
Principles I applied and learned throughout the journey:
Focus on the process, not just the outcome: Focus on the growth, effort, and learning that come from the process, rather than just the result. True success is found in the skills gained and the personal development achieved along the way.
Setbacks are opportunities for growth: Challenges and mistakes aren’t failures. They’re moments to step back, figure out what went wrong, and improve.
Balancing passion with wellness is difficult but necessary: Managing work alongside personal well-being is essential, even when it feels challenging. Maintaining both helps sustain long-term progress and prevents burnout.
Show gratitude for those that have helped you: Professors, mentors, and peers who take the time to guide or encourage make a real difference. Recognize their help and value it.
Vulnerability builds strength: Sharing your work, even when it feels imperfect, can be uncomfortable. But it’s also one of the fastest ways to learn, grow, and gain confidence.
Celebrate others’ successes as you would your own: Be happy for others and celebrate their achievements. Just because they won or got something you didn’t doesn’t take away from your journey, and it doesn’t need to be viewed in a negative way.
Resilience through time management: Managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously is challenging, but persistence through these demands strengthens resilience and adaptability.
The value in reflection: Taking time to consider lessons learned, rather than focusing solely on outcomes, supports growth and provides a clearer perspective on progress.