Marimekko

Unikko (Poppy)

One of Marimekko's most recognisable and iconic patters (above) was designed in 1964 by Maija Isola. Interestingly it was designed in protest against her boss who at the time had forbid the design of floral patters believing them to be more beautiful in nature than in textiles. 

Marimekko for me is a stand out brand that brings cheer to my day when I spot a design :-)

On a recent trip to Oslo I was wandering around the city when I walked into a candle shop and was instantly struck by the Unikko design being sold as napkins. It's boldness and simplicity exudes style and having been reworked in multiple colour ways over the years it seems it is a timeless design brought to us by Isola's determination to bring florals to Marimekko.

 Puutarha (Garden) 1997 Isola

Marimekko itself is a Finnish company who's design philosophy is 'the courage to bring beauty into everyday life' Founded by Armi Ratia, for more than 60 years, Marimekko has been bringing colour and patterns to homes and people, enabling each of it's customers to celebrate their unique personality.

More recently, Marimekko designs are concerned with the way people live their lives. It is very much a marriage between design and function where each are considered carefully in the embryonic stages of design.

ginkgo 2008 Kristina Isola

To quote from one of Marimekko's designers, talking about his teapot 'It doesn't scream for your attention or try to take centre stage. The teapot exudes a sense of generosity - it gives you energy rather than taking it away. At the same time it represents the core rationale behind Marimekko's design: Oiva simply lives - it does not try to impress you.'

Rasymatto (rag rug) 2009 Maija Louekari

Marimekko - in it's designs, patterns and names maintains a love for nature. 

Kevatjuhla 2008 Miina Akkijyrkka

With it's fresh colour schemes brings optimism and in it's hand crafted designs brings energy. 

Lumimarja 2004 Erja Hirvi

Just what we need to brighten up those long, dark January days! :-)

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.