Natália Dobiašová

Building on my internship and working student experience, I was promoted to Assistant Designer with responsibility for the coat and leather jacket collections. This role allows me to gain hands-on experience across all stages of the design process while contributing to high-quality, market-ready products. Key Responsibilities: - Design coat and leather jacket collections from concept to final product, including fit, material, and trim selection - Manage design and product data using PLM and SAP systems - Collaborate closely with pattern makers, product development, and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with seasonal concepts, brand identity, and market demands - Participate in fittings and adjustments to ensure quality, functionality, and brand consistency - Assist with seasonal sales documentation (VKUs) and other design-related materials - Create sketches, layouts, and presentations using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign - Support collection presentations and in-house fashion shows - Mentor and guide design interns, helping them integrate into the team, understand workflows, and define responsibilities within the design process This position has strengthened my practical understanding of menswear design, product development, and team coordination, enabling me to contribute effectively to the responsibilities of a designer.

After completing my internship as Design Intern, I continued as a Working Student while finishing my bachelor’s degree. In this role, I supported the design team with similar tasks as during my internship, including: - Assisting with moodboards, sketches, and fittings - Contributing creative input during the design development process of different seasons & projects - Supporting fabric research and seasonal design preparations - Assisting with in-house fashion shows and collection presentations In parallel, I completed my Bachelor Thesis in collaboration with STRELLSON. The project was highly successful, earning a grade of 9/10, and marked the completion of my bachelor’s degree at Saxion University.

As a Design Intern, I collaborated closely with the design team across multiple stages of the creative process. My role included: - Assisting in the development of seasonal moodboards and trend research to support concept creation - Contributing to fabric selection and material sourcing - Producing 2D technical sketches in Adobe Illustrator for design presentations - Supporting fittings and providing my feedback - Brainstorming and sharing creative ideas - Providing hands-on support wherever needed to keep seasons moving forward This experience strengthened my understanding of the design workflow from concept to final product and allowed me to develop both creative and technical design skills in a professional setting.

My studies in Fashion & Textile Technologies provided a solid foundation in both the creative and technical aspects of fashion, including design, marketing, textile technologies, machinery, material science (chemical and physical properties), and more. During this time, I contributed to multiple projects in diverse roles, such as social media/web manager, concept manager, designer, visual merchandiser, and team leader. These experiences offered practical insight into real-world responsibilities and helped me develop a versatile skill set, preparing me for a professional career in the fashion and textile industry.

While studying Fashion & Textile Technologies during my second and third years, I worked as a Student Coach, supporting first-year students by sharing my own experiences as a student. My responsibilities included: - Guiding new students through subject-related questions and study content. - Helping them adapt to university life and settle into the Saxion community. - Providing peer-to-peer support and practical advice based on my own student journey. This role allowed me to strengthen my communication, mentoring, and leadership skills, while contributing to a supportive and positive learning environment.

During my second and third years of studying Fashion & Textile Technologies, I worked as a Student Coach and later took on additional responsibilities as a Student Coach Coordinator. In this coordinator role, I: - Oversaw and supported the team of student coaches. - Ensured smooth operations and consistent guidance for first-year students. - Facilitated communication between coaches and the university. This position allowed me to build on my mentoring, leadership, and organizational skills, while continuing to support students in their academic journey.

The study is divided into 3 main pillars; design, retail, and materials, all representing important aspects of the fashion industry. During my studies, I have gained in-depth knowledge of all 3 pillars. The design pillar is s the creative part of the studies which includes sewing & knitting skills, graphic design, branding, 3D design, trend watching, creating collections, skills with different Adobe programs, and more fashion/style-related skills. The retail pillar focuses on skills and knowledge in the economical side of the fashion industry such as buying, creating marketing & buying plans, creating supply chains, commerce, marketing and etc. The last material pillar consists of technical skills and knowledge regarding the theoretical skills about different weaving/ knitting machines, production of textiles, testing in both chemical & mechanical laboratories according to ISO standards, application on different end products, and conducting meaningful research into textile innovation.

UW-Stout’s Bachelor of Science program, emphasizes current industry practices, real-world aspects of the fashion and retail industries including market researching, planning, designing, developing, buying, and marketing.

Exchange year focused to improve the level of my English language. Besides my language level, the exchange year helped me improve my personal development as well.