The Creative Arts and Fashion category brings together the creative minds at EuroSkills. The four occupations of Floristry, Fashion, Graphic Design, and Visual Merchandising and Window Dressing require aesthetic awareness and attention to detail above all else.

From 6 to 10 January 2020, bright minds from around 30 European countries will be showcasing their abilities in the Creative Arts and Fashion skills category. Florists will create fabulous showpieces out of flowers and blossoms, while competitors in the Fashion team contest will produce unique, hand-made garments, and those in the Graphic Design category will design new logos. Finally, the window dressers will make an empty surface come to life with their dedicated attention to detail. As different as these occupations may appear at first glance, they all have one thing in common: each of these skills requires creativity in order to make a successful career out of it.

Floral works of art

Florists use cut flowers as well as dried and silk flowers, and also other embellishments to create floral and decorative works of art according to the customer’s wishes or for special occasions, e.g. Advent wreaths. In addition to a certain level of creativity, florists require manual dexterity and a good eye for detail. After all, as well as the actual plants, their working materials also include wire, foam, needles, ribbons and so on. Social skills are also important in this occupation, because the job involves dealing with and advising customers on a day-to-day basis, as well as communicating with suppliers. For an overview of this competition skill, please click here. To ensure that sufficient quantities of working materials are available for the competing florists, the company Smithers-Oasis is lending its support by providing the required flowers and other decorative materials.

Handmade by the master

Fashion Technology is a team competition in which the EuroSkills 2020 rules require two competitors to work together to create unique pieces, from garments to various accessories such as bags, from the initial sketch right through to their creation and presentation in a manner suitable for the occasion. This job profile involves adopting a creative approach, monitoring trends in cuts and materials, and skill in using various tools. Working on the PC is also part of this job, because most cutting patterns and models these days are produced on a computer using a CAD system. However, the job does not just involve designing and creating garments, but also repairing or adapting them and producing custom-made pieces. For more details about this skill, please click here.

From idea to design product

A graphic designer above all needs to convey a message to the public by creating a visually attractive design that takes the interests of the target market into account. Apart from a creative approach to their work, an eye for detail and an interest in technology, anyone aspiring to become a graphic designer needs to be customer-oriented and have good communication skills.  Graphic designers use pictures, motion graphics and typographical elements to form a harmonious and appealing workpiece that can be used in print, online and in many other applications. To remain competitive, graphic designers must have a good understanding of the specified printing and production processes and must stay up to date with latest software and computer technologies. See here for more details.

Window-dressing with an eye for detail

The task of a window dresser is to create a really eye-catching display. With much attention to detail and a good eye for the right blend of features, window dressers decorate shop windows and interior spaces in shops and department stores. The aim is to attract the attention of customers with original and creative displays where new products, product lines and merchandise are presented. In addition to the requirements described above, window dressers also require manual dexterity and the communication skills to be able to bring the customers’ wishes to life. They must also take an interest in new industry trends and developments and have a good feel for colours and materials. Visual Merchandising is an occupation with prospects, because rising interest in the fashion industry also means that new jobs are being created in this field. For more information, see here.

Photos gallery: photos courtesy of WorldSkills International.