About Michael O'Connor
I am a creative from Ireland with a relatively varied background - An art history graduate from UCD who went on to qualify as a primary school teacher, teaching in an Educate Together school for four years. During this time, I concurrently went to art college in NCAD part-time to draw and paint, to Alliance Française at night to improve my French and completed a 200 hour ashtanga and vinyasa teacher training in Rishikesh, India, the birthplace of yoga. I've also been working as a freelance stylist since 2018 working on editorial and commercial shoots (most notably four cover stories for District Magazine as well as some video work for Lucozade). I decided to take a career break from teaching to undertake a fashion buying and management masters in TUD this January with a strong desire to pursue more creative endeavours. During the summer, in addition to the masters, I completed Future Learn's online Fashion Sustainability course.
The 4 C's that best describe my value in the workplace are - Creativity, Convergence (of project management and execution), Collaboration and Commerciality. I believe that my skills are applicable in many ways for businesses and brands in the creative industries and beyond. My strengths lie in coming up with ideas, planning, communicating, problem-solving and working hard. I'm obsessed with all things design. I also love to observe people and how they interact with each other and the world around them. I'm a big reader and really enjoy social commentary and pop culture. I think I'd be an asset to any team strategizing within the creative sphere.
My Latest Projects
Fun Guys Run Club charity t-shirt and fun run in aid of 'Suicide or Survive'
Started a running club with friends when Covid-19 restrictions prevented us from socializing through regular channels - in the pub. Created a charity fun run event to raise money for a cause close to our hearts + one we feel is particularly pertinent in this moment. Made a tee for entrants to purchase to participate in the fun run whilst simultaneously creating a buzz for the event. €3,605 was raised and donated to 'Suicide or Survive.'
Learned how to coordinate an event, create a t-shirt, make a website, set up payment systems, collaborate with screen printers, facilitate orders, build a social media page, send emails with order details and race logistics all while fostering community, promoting exercise and raising money for a worthy cause.
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"The Energy of Movement" - Lucozade Advertisement with Jafaris
Styled a video advertisement for Lucozade x District Magazine with Irish rapper Jafaris.
Three looks, three locations. (stills of each pictured above)
Winner of best commercial film at the EDA awards 2020 gaining the film entry into the upcoming Cannes Lions YDA (2020 awards deferred due to Covid-19)
Winner of 2 silver shark awards at the Kinsale Shark Festival 2020.