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.