Emma Redfern
Studio Self-Made: Crafting a Brighter Future for Young Creatives
Emma, a Fashion Management and Communication Graduate (2021) founded Studio Self-Made in September 2022.
Emma’s personal journey battling anxiety became the driving force behind her developing a social enterprise. Her own experiences of navigating anxiety gave her an insight into the impact of mental health on a young person’s life and career opportunities.
It was this very journey that led to the development of her first business venture, The Calming Club, during her Work for Yourself Sandwich Placement year. Her commitment to promoting well-being while pursuing creative endeavours eventually paved the way for her second venture, Studio Self-Made, which seeks to empower young creatives to forge successful careers without compromising their mental health.
Studio Self-Made is a transformative online platform nurturing young creatives’ talents and bolstering their mental well-being.
Bridging the gap between academia and the creative industry, Studio Self-Made offers bespoke digital internships, mindset courses, and personal branding workshops. By addressing the unique challenges young creatives face in the creative industries, empowering them to build resilience and conquer anxiety.
The brand prioritises equal access to opportunities regardless of someone’s background, levelling the playing field for young people who live outside of major cities such as London – where 43% of UK creative organisations are based. Working with a range of international creative experts to deliver workshops and answer students’ questions, Studio Self-Made is connecting new talent with role models that they can relate to.
Studio Self-Made’s core focus is on fostering creative thinking and problem-solving skills. This preparation equips young creatives for a job market that is constantly evolving due to technological advancements.
Over the last 12 months, Emma has secured grant funding from Virgin Money Foundation, Nuffield Health and Big Change, to develop Studio Self-Made into a hub of support for early-career creatives.