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.'
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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)
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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)
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Winner of 2 silver shark awards at the Kinsale Shark Festival 2020.
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