Ending a month of sport...

Well. I seem to have been all consumed by the excitement of the Olympics and Paralympics down here in London for the last month or so. I was in the Olympic Stadium last night which was incredible....in design as well being completely inspiring from a sports perspective and an awesome atmosphere to top it off!

Talking of inspiration, I continue the 3rd module of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design tomorrow which is all about monetising designs....always a nice prospect!
http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com/course/the-art-and-business-of-surface-pattern-design-module-3-monetising-your-designs/

I have a lot to look forward to this month in terms of trade shows down here too which I intend to make the most of. The first being Top Drawer which Rachael Taylor (co-founder of ABSPD) will herself be attending and showing at. Promptly followed by the 100% Design show and finishing off with Tent.

I'm hoping to find some solid inspiration and a focus for how I can turn the designs I have been working on into practical items. At the moment I seem to have too many ideas buzzing around!

Lucienne Day 

'Calyx' Lucienne Day

Lucienne Day was an iconic and pioneering British textile designer whose love of abstract art can be easily detected through her own work. She said herself that she didn't want to be a painter and had instead a lovely attitude towards helping to make good design available to all. Her textiles allowed people to see and use well designed products in their homes.

You can see the influence of artists such as Joan Miro in Day's work. Her use of abstract shapes and interesting colours were in her time in demand by big department stores such as Heal's and her work continues to influence designers today.

Lucienne attended the Royal College of Art in London where she developed her organic style. Lucienne, together with her husband, furniture designer Robin Day were pioneer's for post-war design, bringing optimism back to Britain through their bright and practical work.

Lucienne Day died aged 93 in 2010, her work continues to inspire.

Erin Petson

Erin is a hugely successful, London based illustrator. Her work is delicate and intricate, girly and beautiful. 

Screen printed design for tote bag. Erin Petson

Erin Petson design

Erin has a magical use of colour and sensitive mark making technique which echo's throughout her designs and her work is immediately recognisable. Erin is focused primarily on the fashion industry and has recently collaborated with Victoria Beckham for her 'Great' (Britain) campaign. 

Erin Petson design

Erin Petson desgin

I admire Erin's work for her obvious talent for drawing but also her clever use of 'pop's of colour' which really lift her ink work. Go to http://www.erinpetson.com to discover more about Erin and her lovely, pretty designs.

Emma Purdie

I have now completed Module 2 of 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design'. I have tried to absorb as much as I can and it's been an intensive learning curve but it has also been really inspiring. Over the last couple of weeks I decided to take a step back and spend some time working and developing a signature collection. It is taking shape slowly and I think I have a clearer idea of what my designs are about....watch this space!

Whilst working on my collection I am taking direction and inspiration by researching other designers. 

Emma Purdie is a British Designer based in Devon. I was attracted to her work because of her quite simple motif's that she develops into fun and interesting designs through her use of layers and interesting colour combinations.

Emma Purdie lampshade

Emma Purdie lampshade

Emma make's her work bespoke and special by allowing her client's to tailor their product exactly to their requirements. They choose from Emma's selection of designs and also choose their own colour combinations which Emma then hand paints onto silk before it is sent to be made into cushions or lampshades.

Emma Purdie cushion

You can check out Emma's design's at http://www.materialgirl.co.uk

Branding, continued...

By taking a risk and opening her own shop in Holland Park using her savings of £15,000 in 1993 seems to have paid off for Cath Kidston....to say the least. 

Having grown up in the English countryside, Cath enjoyed playing shop in her younger years using leaves as money. Cath has since then gone on to build her international brand. It all began by selling vintage wallpapers, tea towels and brightly painted, restored furniture from her first shop in London.

One of many Cath Kidston stores, worldwide

In her own words, Cath Kidston designs are like 'marmite'  .... you either love it or hate it. Cath is a realist. She believes in being honest to herself and doesn't expect everyone to like her style. Just like anything in the arts, it is open to subjectivity. I think one key thing as a designer is to remember this and not to be disheartened when people are not as enthusing about your work as you'd like them to be. As long as you are doing what you love and not being completely naive to consumer demands then you are doing the right thing. 

Cath Kidston Wallpaper Collection

Cath has a particularly strong design personality which has an optimistic, playful, cheerful, nostalgic feel. Perhaps this is why, in recent economic downturn her brand has seen profits soar. Perhaps she gives people the feel good factor through her pretty designs.

Cath Kidston, Spot Bag

Like Cath, I was always re-arranging my bedroom when I was a child and re-organising the things around me. I go through stages of collecting things from the amazing 'junk shops' in the local town I went to school in. I used to come home with vases and kitchenwares that I would say are 'for my house'.....not sure when I will have one of these! Always dreaming.

My little collections are still in my bedroom at Mum and Dad's and I enjoy going back to them and being surrounded by them :-) 

The junk shops are a guilty pleasure and one of the activities I enjoy doing most when I go home to Lincolnshire, especially as the price tags on everything are so much more desirable that buying anything in London. 

Check out her expansive collections at www.cathkidston.co.uk

So, as a brand I think it's fair to say that Cath Kidston has done quite well since opening that first shop in Holland Park. You can't even go on holiday to get away from her now since she's recently opened airport shops as well as having stores abroad in Ireland, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.

Be inspired....

Branding....

There is no getting away from some of the biggest surface pattern brand's out there at the moment. If you are unaware of the giant's that are Cath Kidston and Orla Kiely then you either need to get out more or maybe you just don't know the names behind the visual delights....!

I want to begin by talking a little bit about Orla Kiely because I am a big fan of her simple, beautifully coloured designs.

Orla, who comes from Ireland, started her own little business at the weekends whilst working for Club Monaco (now known as Ralph Lauren). She originally worked as a freelance, designing collections for Harrods, Marks and Spencer's and Debenhams.

By 2005 she had opened her flagship store in Covent Garden and was very well established online. Today, it's fairly impossible to walk around and not come across one of her designs which decorate a whole spectrum of products from handbags and dresses, to lampshades and cushions and everything inbetween.

Orla Kiely for Apple, Multi-Stem Print.

For me, the key to Orla's design success is the simplicity in her motif's. The no fuss feel, along with a clever use of colour create pieces which contemporise the retro genre.

Orla Kiely, Kitchenware.

Orla Kiely, Scribble Stem Bed Spread

It is clear to see how simple but clever Orla's design is. Easy to understand, repeat patterns allow for variation in scale across a spectrum of products. See above how her scribble stem design has been changed in scale and as a result is successful on multiple products. Scaled up to create a bold print for a duvet and pillow cases and scaled down to decorate a kitchenware collection. See her website for other variations; www.orlakiely.com

One design goes a long way........... 

Orla Kiely, Lampshade collection

Orla Kiely, bag.

As a designer, it is important that people understand the intention of your design. One way to keep tight control over this is by choosing or designing the products that wear your designs. Take Orla's kitchenware collection as an example. By using this particular style of pots and containers it allows for a stronger sense of 'retro' and holds her patterns in the way she wants them to be portrayed.

One avenue of revenue for designers is selling their work as fabric. While this allow's your customers to be creative in their own way, you need to be aware that you are giving your design over to interpretation. This could of course be a good thing.....

Instantly recognisable, simple, fun, retro, colourful. This is the Orla Kiely brand. A success, whether you like it or not.

 

New Designers '12

Great Saturday at the New Designers Show in Islington today...

I'm so glad that I went to the show today. The first print stand I saw was Tigerprint. The girls were sat working on the 'theme of the day' - Home Sweet Home. I had a little chat with a couple of them about what exactly they get up to at their studios. As the sole supplier for M&S' greetings products they're busy being innovative in design, design, design. I think one quote was 'we're so lucky to get paid for.....drawing!'Their main studio is in Bradford but they also have offices in London and Hong Kong. I am following their blog and their monthly design competitions provide inspiration for those 'artist block' moments...!

I then came across Louise Tiler. Louise is a young designer who has done extremely well in her field in recent years. Having worked as a freelance for Tigerprint for 2 years and having won numerous accolades she has now launched her own brand....amazing! She's done so well and she's so young...! She was really lovely and I was so pleased I got to meet her and talk to her a bit about her journey and ambitions. Check out her lovely hand drawn and digitally manipulated designs at  www.louisetiler.com

I unexpectedly came across a couple of really inspiring designers who's work immediately stood out for me. Rachel Powell's stand particularly grabbed my attention. Sometimes, the time spent on presentation is worth what it may reap.... Rachel's designs are very simple and very retro but I think it is just that which gives her a unique style and catchy look.

While I was walking around today I was really challenging my ideas towards pattern and those that I am drawn towards. After seeing the work that was on display today and chatting with a few of the designers it was apparent that there is a distinction between a designer and a brand. I know this may sound obvious but in my little mind I have so many ideas swirling around that sometimes I find it difficult to really focus on one theme/idea and therefore don't feel as if I have ever properly developed a style for myself. It is all very well working as a freelance to lots of varied briefs but when you want to make a name for yourself you really have to have an  instantly recognisable style.

I am currently torn between two ideas. One is that I try to incorporate my paintings into my pattern design, the other is that I go with my instinct towards pattern design...which is simplicity. I am instantly, always attracted towards the no messing, simple, not necessarily bold but easy to read patterns. Life experience has taught me that instinct is always a good one to go with so perhaps I should keep my painting separate to my ideas for pattern design... 

Rachel Powell 'Prudence Wallpaper'

Take a look at Rachel's simple but cool design's at www.racheljpowell.com

Ok, so another designer whose lamp shade I LOVE was Joanna Corney. Simple, sketchy illustrations is her style, inspired by her travels. Worked up onto neutral backgrounds, they're clean and lovely.Check her out at www.joannacorney.co.uk

Surface Pattern Design...

Some people wonder what surface pattern design is when I talk with them. If you think about it, just a little bit, I think it kind of says what it does on the tin. Designing patterns that can be applied to surfaces :-) Anything and everything from the obvious ones for interiors....walls, curtains, cushions, lampshades, carpets, tiles, etc. to greetings cards, laptop case's, cake tins, towels, clothing, umbrella's. Once you get started and start opening your eyes you'll see pattern on everything, yes even the toilet roll. It's about thinking outside the box and making life more pleasurable and beautiful.

Rachael Taylor Organic Blue www.rachaeltaylordesigns.co.uk

When I'm learning and discovering it helps if I am being guided by someone inspiring to keep you interested. That is exactly what I have found while embarking on the exciting course that Beth Nicholls and Rachael Taylor have recently launched. Variety is the spice of life as they say and I think these ladies are keeping it active and varied. I admire them. Visit their sites for some inspiration at http://dowhatyouloveforlife.com and www.rachaeltaylordesigns.co.uk

Check out Rachael Taylor Laptop and I-phone ranges

Today I was given a link to Tim Brown's presentation from the 2012 Better by Design CEO Summit. Listening to it I picked up a number of interesting and useful new 'ways of thinking'. One of the ideas was the way in which we view design and the fact that traditionally we are all a little obsessed with a design achieving an 'complete' state. Tim was challenging this way of thinking and recommended that we 'let people in' sooner - thinking of our work as evolving pieces. Making both the designs and our thoughts about it work in a more organic process may allow for greater creativity and open mindedness. I kind of like the thought so here goes. I am a new person, I am going to relinquish my perfectionist side and control and let you all in to see my evolving work. Not 'finished' and not perfect in my eyes but you may be able to give me ideas and help it develop further ;-) Haha.

'retro swan' RebeccaHarrison

Just an idea...maybe it would work better on something else....evolution....!

part of the 'coral' collection RebeccaHarrison

I just happen to be a bit obsessed with the colour orange for its zing, hence the palette used here and on numerous other designs of mine but......through my trend research I am doing with 'the art and design on surface pattern design' I have learnt that PANTONE's 'tangerine tango' is one of the colours of 2012 so....hit the nail on the head there :-0

'distressed lace pattern' RebeccaHarrison

Yellow....colour for S/S 2013, pop a little colour into your crevices ;-)

'yellow fern' RebeccaHarrison

Ok, that's enough now, I haven't transformed that much in the space of a few hours...

let's get started...

I am so excited to have discovered some amazingly inspiring work and people over the last few months and I feel I need to share the love a wee bit. I keep discovering new people/designs/events and I want to keep a record so hence the blog. 

One ladies work in particular was a huge first source of inspiration for me. I came across the following image while flicking through a magazine and it completely stood out for me. I LOVE the colours this amazing designer uses. I immediately made a note of her name and looked her up...basically her work is ace and has made me want to explore the world of pattern design :-)

www.aymefitzgerald.co.uk

This design in one in a collection for wallpaper. I think it would look awesome as a feature wall in a hallway if you could dare to be different. I can also visualise this design being used on fabric and upholstering a chair with it. Her bespoke pieces would be focal point to any room and even just used as cushions would immediately funk up a plain sofa. Clever lady, good work Ayme :-)

The Lowboy (Squint Limited)

If you're into being bold in your home or want to brighten up your office reception check out squint limited at www.squintlimited.com Cool combo's of colour and pattern are fused together on delicious pieces of classically designed furniture. 

'Iris' (rebeccaharrison)

Here's a piece of my own that I have been working on for a design competition with tigerprint. Think gift-wrap or perhaps even blinds for a small window to brighten up that downstairs bathroom.

to be continued soon....