Stephy Fung's guide to making it as a self-taught designer

The London-based designer also created a wildly popular YouTube series, where she shares practical digital fashion skills, helping other designers develop their craft. “I share tutorials so that emerging designers can learn and don’t need to struggle as hard as I did,” she says over email. In the run up to her debut SYKY Design Hour, where she'll host a free practical workshop on texturing in digital fashion on March 14, we caught up with Fung to get her firsthand advice on making it as a self-taught designer.

Fung took her first steps into digital fashion after realizing she didn't need formal training to create her own clothes, because programs like CLO could bring her ideas to life. She began to teach herself foundational technical skills using free online resources, from YouTube tutorials to live streams and online courses, and encourages aspiring designers to do the same. “All I needed was my computer and my creativity,” she says. “I’m so thankful to any creative who’s spent time recording their methods and sharing online.” 

For anyone starting out, the designer mentions Cinema4D as a program to consider because of its intuitive interface and strong visual output. “I love using it to build 3D scenes that create a story around my outfits.”

Finding and developing your personal style is crucial to carving out space for yourself, but it's not just about aesthetics. “Your style comes from all your experiences, values and culture,” Fung says, explaining how digital fashion became a way to explore and celebrate her cultural identity, designing pieces she dreamed up that celebrate her British-Chinese background. Her advice for finding your style? Reflect on what inspires you and create from experience. “Write down what you love and value in a notebook and see how you can develop it through your work.”

Like all creative gigs, networking is essential in digital fashion. Fung notes how relationships she's built online have helped her develop and find opportunities. But, the designer warns, there's a right way to do it. “You have to be genuine,” she says, emphasising building rapport and real connection. “Imagine you're at a party. How would you approach a person you'd never met before? Find something you have in common, comment on their post with genuine interest, and make them notice you before you ask for help.”

For Fung, posting on social started as a way to stay accountable to herself and inspire other underrepresented designers, but quickly became an interactive portfolio. She highlights social media as her main tool for connecting with clients and collaborators, and showcasing her process. “I 100% recommend posting on social media. It's how people see your work and understand what you do”.

Her advice to designers is simple: Share your work and don't get caught up in the numbers. “Just keep going. Don’t give up. If your work is good, it will shine through,” she says, encouraging other creators to push past the fear. “If you never post because you’re scared of what people think, you’ll never post. Don’t be a perfectionist; just go for it.”

Fung has a few solid tips and tricks for making posting online easier, sharing her simple process: “I usually write the script, create the 3D content, film, and then edit it all and post.” First, she recommends creating around your process, so consider documenting and sharing your creative journey. The designer's content often starts from her weekly Wednesday night Twitch streams, where she creates alongside her audience.

Second, plan ahead: Set a brief and a deadline, because structure makes it easier to stay on track. Decide how often you want to post – weekly, biweekly, monthly – and stick to it. Fung plans a week ahead, but reminds you not to be harsh on yourself if you miss a deadline. “I'm forgiving of myself. You can always post the next day. Try not to stress, or content creation will become a chore.” Third, use organizational tools; Fung uses Notion, but find a system that works for you.

Community has been key to Fung’s digital fashion story. Joining the SYKY Collective incubator program alongside designers like Fanrui Sunw, Taskin Goec, and Pet Liger led to major opportunities, including presenting her designs at London Fashion Week 2023 and NFT Paris. “As a freelancer, I work alone, so having a community to connect with is super important,” she says.

The designer recommends connecting with like-minded designers, finding collaborations and engaging with the wider creative community. “Being a creative is fun, but being sociable and great to work with is just as important.” Fung's recent exhibition with CLO and W1, bringing together fashion, tech, and arts communities, proved the value of networking. “Presenting my designs on the busiest street in London wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn't created those connections,” she says.

Collaborating with brands is exciting, but you need to maintain creative integrity. Fung highlights two key things to keep in mind. First, be clear about your process and explain timelines up front. “Do not underestimate how long 3D takes,” she says. “Some brands aren't familiar with 3D and think you can click your fingers and have the visual finished.” Share how long each part of the production will take with your client, allocating a little more time in case of mistakes or extra rendering.

Second, remember your value as a designer. If you're collaborating, the brand should value your style and values. If you need to push back? “Be polite but firm and find where both brands can compromise to make it work.”

Digital fashion is constantly evolving, and Fung stresses the importance of staying up to date with new developments, features, programs, and industry trends. “Working in 3D is a never-ending learning curve. If you don’t learn, you'll be left behind as technology advances,” she says. “That's something I've learnt first-hand from my career working with 3D. Stay curious.”

Sign up for Stephy Fung's free Design Hour workshop on texturing in digital fashion through your SYKY Profile.

If you're a beginner who wants to get to grips with the basics of 3D design, check our recording of Taskin Goec's Design Hour, where he shares the fundamentals and a follow-along tutorial.