Blank Inside Design

Last week the Textiles crew were in London and it was fabulous. I'll be dedicating a whole post to what sort of things I got up to, so I won't talk too much about it now. But, whilst I was there, I found a little card in Anthropologie and couldn't resist buying it. I then looked up the designer when I got home and I just really enjoyed her style. They're called 'Blank Inside Design' and sell gift items. All the designs are hand painted by Liz Temperley and are witty, minimalistic and beautiful. You can have a browse through her products at http://www.blankinsidedesign.co.uk/products, but I'll share a couple of my favorites with you here.

(01) - £3.00

(02) - £3.00

(03) - £3.00

References:
(01) - http://www.blankinsidedesign.co.uk/product/i-want-to-make-tea-for-you-greetings-card
(02) - http://www.blankinsidedesign.co.uk/product/smell-ya-later-greetings-card
(03) - http://www.blankinsidedesign.co.uk/product/if-you-like-tea-valentines-card

Cayena Blanca

I recently discovered an artist/graphic-textile designer via Pinterest called Cayena Blanca; and now I just can't get enough of her and her designs. She works primarily with watercolours and most of her designs are influenced by Latin America with its organic textures and livid colours. She doesn't just stick to one area of design such as gift, but explores it all and has done loads of different sorts of projects - from wallpapers to fashion to ceramics... all that you can see on her website. (http://www.cayenablanca.com/) I think her work is absolutely gorgeous and I'll admit to have downloading a couple of her desktop backgrounds myself! Each of her designs are so signature, yet each piece of work is complete different to the next. I'd love to see what her studio and sketchbooks look like - I can only imagine!

(01)
'Urban Tales'

(02)
Wallpaper Design

References:
(01) - http://www.cayenablanca.com/project/urban-tales/
(02) - http://www.cayenablanca.com/project/cayena-blanca-wallpaper/ 

Bruce Monro

So, it's been long overdue that I posted here and there's not really an excuse...
But, in my defense, I have had a crazy time with a new module, Christmas, hand in and all! I'll try to make sure that I don't ever leave a massive gap between blogging again. But for now, get ready for a blog overload over the next couple of weeks. I'll also post what I've been up to with my last studio module and what I'll be doing for my next one. I've also got a nice backlog of posts for what we're actually doing in profession studies!

But anyway, I wanted to talk about something I did over Christmas that was really inspiring.
I went to a National Trust place called Waddesdon Manor. (check out their website at http://www.waddesdon.org.uk/) I didn't actually get to look around the house which was gutting, but I went especially as there was a Bruce Monro exhibition around the grounds. Even if there was no exhibition, I would really recommend going. It was beautiful. Going back to fully explore the manor is definitely on my to-do list.

I'd not ever heard of Bruce Monro before, but I took the time to watch a little video of his previous works. He is a light installation artist, and he creates things that I would never have even thought possible. I'm keen to use his work as an inspiration for a surface pattern design some time. He had 6 different installations at Waddesdon- Brass Monkeys, Water Towers, Tepees, Parliament of Owls, Mynah Words and River of Light. You can check out each individual one and it's background over at http://www.brucemunro.co.uk. Each installation's reason/meaning is actually really interesting - have a look!

Exhibition Leaflet, River of Light, Heather and I at the Manor and Water Towers

Careers

Last week we were looking at career paths that we can take from our degree. Before I started university, all I could really see myself doing was Surface Design. I didn't know what area of Surface Design I wanted to go in to, I just knew it's what I wanted to do.
However, after only just over 2 months in to my course, I've been introduced to a huge variety of different career ideas.

If you're interested, here are my ideas. It will be great to see how these ideas change over the next 2 years - I guess we'll just have to wait and see!

- Fashion/Interiors In House Design I don't really fancy the idea of doing gift or freelance design - I can definitely see myself being in a 9-5 studio job, employed by a specific company

- Art Therapy This is something that I've actually had in the back of my mind for a while - it was introduced to me by my friend's mum, and I reckon I'd really enjoy it. I also did Psychology A Level and it ended up  being my best grade, so I think I could be good at it too!

- Visual Merchandiser i.e. shop displays. This was introduced to me in Textiles A Level. Window shopping is the best. Especially at Christmas, seeing the window displays in some of the mainstream High Street Stores is incredible. I take a trip to London at Christmas every year with my friends purely just to gawk at the window displays and Christmas lights. I reckon I could be pretty good at this - I enjoy working with space and composition... just ask my mum - I'm always re-arranging the fridge back at home to make it pretty and efficient, although it's not quite the same thing!

- Stylist Although I don't know a lot about it, I spend quite a lot of my spare time doing my own weird bits of styling - I'm also in to photography and love seeing the different ways in which things are styled in magazines etc... another reason why I love Bloom magazine so much - it's crazy, unique and inspiring

- Something to do with colour?? My knowledge with this is really limited, but I'm really interested in working purely with colour. I remember being told about someones friend who's job it was to choose seasonal colour palettes for different shops, which just sounds amazing. Companies like Design Seeds must need full time workers, right?!

We've been asked to research into one of these careers, so here's a bit more information on what it means to be a Visual Merchandiser:

They should...
- Have a flair for design and colour
- Be creative, imaginative and energetic
- Have good communication skills
- Be able to concentrate well
- Enjoy working creatively in a fast-moving environment
- Be interested in art and design

Display designers and visual merchandisers are employed by the design departments of large organizations, design consultancies, display companies, printers, exhibition contractors and retailers. They normally earn from £14,000 - £50,000+.

Their job entails...
- Making presentations to potential clients to win contracts
- Discussing the brief with the client and identifying the key messages they wish to convey
- Gaining an in-depth understanding of the client's organisation, products, image and target market
- Considering factors such as the space available for the display, any special features it should incorporate (such as chairs, models and computers) and the client's budget
- Coming up with design ideas, images and graphics incorporating the client's logo and corporate colours, and discussing these with the client
- Researching costs and working within a budget
- Overseeing the production of the chosen design, checking the quality and making sure the project is completed to schedule
- Researching lifestyle and design trends and making sure designs will appeal to the target audience
- Working with other members of the design, marketing and buying team to develop themes and colour schemes for displays - for example Christmas, Valentine's day, sales and special promotions
- Sketching designs and developing floor plans, making the most of the space available
- Taking direction from head office on corporate schemes when appropriate
- Sourcing materials such as props and lighting
- Installing and dismantling displays
- Preparing visual merchandising packs, including plans and photographs, for other stores in the chain, to make sure all displays present a consistent image
- Visiting branches to train and brief staff on arranging displays

There aren't specific qualifications for this job, but it generally would include a degree in art/design, and you can pretty much just start from there!

References:
http://creativepool.com/articles/jobdescriptions/visual-merchandiser-display-designer-job-description

Pulse

Pulse is a design-focused gift trade show in London. It brings together over 600 of the latest on-trend lifestyle brands in London and is organised into five show sectors: Home, Gift, Fashion Accessories, Wellbeing and Launchpad. It's held once a year in May. (11th-14th next year if you want to go!) 

Below are a few examples of exhibitors at Pulse.

(01)
Butterscotch & Beesting
(02)
Abigail Ryans Homeware
(03)
Dots and Spots

References:
(01)-(03) - http://www.kdmediapublishing.com/pulse13/exhibitor_list.cfm

Direction Trade Show

This week we're looking at trade shows. We've been looking at what trade shows actually are, what the different types are and how items are sold.
Direction is an expansion of Indigo trade show held in New York. It has around 125 exhibitors and focuses primarily on fashion and interiors. It showcases designs for prints, embroideries, knits, appliques, jacquards and transfer papers. The next event will be held on Jan 14th-15th 2014.

(01)

(02)
Westcott Design Exhibit -
Shown at Direction

References:
(01) - http://www.patternpulp.com/featured-categories/trend/new-york-creative-textile-design/
(02) - http://www.westcott-design.com

Trend Bible

The Trend Bible is a trend forecasting company that works with clients to help them use future trend insights to inform decisions. They specialize in mainly interiors and kids wear. They keep a blog (http://www.trendbible.com/blog/) where they offer small previews on their trend predictions. They also post their forecasts when it comes to the actual season it's based on, even though they create them 2 or 3 years before.

They have lots of different themes for their 2013/14 A/W Home Trends - 2 of which are:

'Submerged', which is based around organic structures, looking heavily into underwater themes which includes delicate constructions, entwining roots, glossy surfaces and ariel views of waterscapes.

'Celebrate', which is based around cultural traditions and takes inspiration from Russian architecture and the Winter Olympics. This includes chunky tapestries, heavily embroidered textiles, imperfect geometrics and updated Baroque florals.

It's interesting the way that you can see these trends coming through to the interiors that we are seeing in the shops today - the turquoise colours with the natural, circular themes, alongside the more modern, bolder colours with the shiny statements. It's strange to think that by next March, these trends will be considered 'out of date' and therefore less valuable. It reminds me of how much the 'fashion' and 'trend' industry has grown over the past century; where trends are limited to each season instead of each decade.

(01)
'Submerged' Trend

(02)
'Celebrate' Trend

References:
(01) + (02) - http://www.trendbible.com/blog/home-trends/home-trends-autumn-winter-201314/

Lidewij Edelkoort

Lidewij Edelkoort is one of the world's most renowned trend forcasters. She collaborates with other stylists, designers, managers, photographers and artists to create various trend books, publications and exhibitions. She also does various seminars and has her own design studio.

One of these creations are 'Bloom' magazine. We have all the copies in our uni library, and just like everyone else on my course, I'm in love. The magazine serves as an analytical image bank that provides inspiration for all creative artists around the globe. They're excellent resources for when you're looking for a certain mood or feeling that you want to relate to your work.

You can check out some of their stunning images from previous issues here;
http://www.edelkoort.com/editions/

I've selected a few of my favourite images from catalouges below, but they're actually all incredible.

Lidewij also produces many other publications such as 'Preview', which is put together a couple of months before other trend books to give an advanced insight of the upcoming season.
'Trend Book' expresses the trends using inspirational visuals, key colour combinations, explanatory keywords and texts as well as fabrics and materials that are sampled from all over the world which are put together by their Trend Union team. This is published twice a year in a limited edition - in September for the S/S and in February for the A/W season. Unfortunately I can't provide images from any of these, as they cost hundreds (and sometimes thousands!) of £££, so therefore are not available on the internet.

If you want to have nosy at the other publications they produce, they're all here;
http://www.edelkoort.com/trend_publication/

(01)
Bloom Issue 21

(02)
Bloom Issue 20

(03)
Bloom Issue 17

References:
(01) - http://www.edelkoort.com/editions/bloom-library/gallery-bloom21-2/
(02) - http://www.edelkoort.com/editions/bloom-library/gallery-bloom20/
(03) - http://www.edelkoort.com/editions/bloom-library/gallery-bloom17/

The Trends Industry

First off, sorry that it's been a while since I've blogged - we had our studio module deadline yesterday so I was super busy last week getting everything finished for that.

Last week we looked at the trends industry and how it works. I wanted to have a quick look at the colour trends on WGSN for S/S14 (WGSN are a fashion trend forecasting company who analyse and report on global trends) - I find the whole idea of colour trend forecasting really interesting. I love how a particular mixture of colours can create a certain mood or feeling, and seeing what it has been inspired by.

(01) is labelled as 'Earth Metallics'. The key colours are sand, adobe and terracotta, interspersed with metallics of rose gold, old gold and copper.

(02) is labelled 'Lilac Blues'. The key colours here are horizon, denim, cobalt, amethyst, violet and plum.

These are 2 of many different forecasted trends, which goes to show how constantly changing trends and fashion really is.

I also find it really interesting how these trends are predicted. In our lecture last week we learnt a bit about the trend forecasters themselves, who travel across the world and see what's popular in other cultures, and pick out key features that they can then take back and present. It doesn't sound like a bad job at all - getting to travel the world and being paid to visit theatres, restaurants, museums and generally just exploring other cultures...

(01)

(02)

References:
(01) & (02) - http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Creative_Direction/COLOUR/ss_14_update.html 

Mr Boddington's Studio

Mr Boddington's Studio is another gift boutique that I'd not heard of - and again - I love their stuff. Everything they do is done in an illustrative style. Here's a picture of their 2014 calender... I wouldn't mind owning it myself! Would definatley recommend checking out their stuff.

http://shop.mrboddington.com/collections/calendars/products/criminals-calendar

Rosehip

Rosehip is a gift/stationary boutique that designs cards and gift wrap based on vintage designs. I'd not heard of them before, but I think their designs are lovely. It's all really fun and playful - I especially like the tape measure wrapping paper (02) - it proves that you can make a great design out of the simplest of things!

(01)
Greeting Card - £2.24

(02)
Double Sided Gift Wrap - £1.50

References:
(01) - http://www.rosehipcards.co.uk/greeting-cards-and-notecards/blank-cards/geometric-greeting-card-with-foiling-7.html
(02) - http://www.rosehipcards.co.uk/gift-wrap-gift-tags/double-sided-gift-wrap/double-sided-giftwrap-tape-measure-spots.html

Emma Bridgewater

Emma Bridgewater has a really distinctive style - she uses mostly reds and pinks and everything she designs is really feminine. I have some Emma Bridgewater cake tins at home and I absolutley love them. They are covered in her iconic little red hearts, just like the tea jar in (04). Her collection of home gifts are really pretty - I like that everything looks hand painted with a watercolour effect. I've picked a few of her iconic items so that you can see:

(01)
Small Lamp & Shade - £89.95
(02)
Milk Jug - £29.95
(03)
Cake Plate - £39.95
(04)
Tea Storage Jar - £29.95

(By the way, if you get a burning desire to buy me that tea jar, don't let me stop you)

References:
(01) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/lamps/sampler-small-lamp+shade/invt/1sam011405
(02) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/jugs/sampler-milk-jug/invt/1sam011432
(03) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/plates/sampler-cake-plate/invt/1sam010066
(04) - http://www.emmabridgewater.co.uk/en/uk/pink-hearts/pink-hearts-1-pint-tea-storage-jar/invt/1pih010122
  

Gift

This week in professional studies we are looking at gift - so where better to start than Paperchase?
I love looking around Paperchase. All of the designs they feature are so beautifully designed and put together. I've been mooching around on their Christmas section online (so appropriate in October, right?!), and I thought I'd share a few of my favourite bits.
What I've noticed about the designs that Paperchase feature is that they are mostly hand drawn or printed. I think this makes them feel more home-made, which is a lovely quality. It makes it seem that more time has been spent in the design, as a lot of completley computerized images or prints can often look too flat and less personal.

(01)
In With the New Polarbear Card - £3.00
(02)
Charity Christmas Pud Cards - £3.00
(03)
White Stags Roll Wrapping Paper - £3.50

References:
(01) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00513887/
(02) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00514833/
(03) - http://www.paperchase.co.uk/invt/00514698/

All Saints

All Saints is a high street fashion company around the top/middle market range. Their pieces have always inspired me - they're unique in the way that they use shape, as they are known for creating unusual looking pieces. They tend to stick with neutral colours - mainly blacks and greys, but do it in a way without it looking really dull and miserable.
They were a key source of research and inspiration when I was designing my AS Textiles final piece, where I designed a Victorian-shirt-meets-high-fashion sort of thing.
Another thing I love about All Saints is the way that they present things. You go into any of their stores, and you'll see something crazy within the decor. For example, I love the little All Saints shop in the middle of London with the wall completely covered in vintage sewing machines - it's very cool.

My AS Textiles
Final Piece

(01)
Antique sewing machine
wall in London

(02)
Drina Dress, £158
(03)
Amei Long Sleeved Dress, £118
(04)
City Monument Coat, £278

References:

(01) - http://pompandcircumstance.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/a-broad-abroad-london-portobello-road-image-diary/
(02) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/uncategorised/allsaints-drina-dress/?colour=33&category=490
(03) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/dresses/allsaints-amei-long-sleeve-dress/?colour=5&category=22
(04) - http://www.allsaints.com/women/coats/allsaints-city-monument-coat/?colour=5&category=117

Jo Deeley

Although Jo isn't a fashion designer, I wanted to take the time to talk about her work and how it influences me.
Jo is a textile artist and graduate of Loughborough University who works with manipulating and sculpturing textiles. Her work is all visually really interesting and exciting, as she explores different ways and techniques to shape fabrics. I admire the way she experiments with different fabrics and methods to create a unique and unexpected pattern or texture. Her work reminds me that as a designer I should be experimental with my own work and explore ways of doing things that haven't been done before - that I shouldn't play it safe, as there is no point in simply re-using the works of other artists and designers.

(01-03) (04)

References:
(01-03) -  http://www.jodeeley.com/intro.htm
(04) -  http://www.jodeeley.com/exhibits2007.htm 

Hussein Chalayan

Hussein Chalayan's Spring 2007 RTW was one of the first catwalk videos that I remember being shown and leaving me completely gobsmacked. What you first thought was just an average high fashion catwalk with weird and wonderful shapes and colours turned out to be much more. The whole collection was incorporated with electronics, so the outfits would change form as the model wore it, completely by itself. I'd never seen anything like it. Chalayan's collections almost always incorporate something unusual - which is what inspires me most. Designers such as these who aren't afraid to experiment with new things and push the boundaries of fashion are the ones that I think we should be looking to the most - they are the leaders and changers of fashion.

You can watch the S2007RTW show here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae81FcczsI8 

Jenny Packham

I've only just discovered Jenny Packham - I was looking through some designer interpretations of disney princess dresses on http://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion/celebrity-fashion/2013/10/disney-designer-princess-dresses-full-collection-christies-auction#!image-number=14 (01) and Jenny's Rapunzel dress was by far the prettiest.
So, I looked on her website to see if the rest of her collections were up to the same standard, and now I'm in love. The level of detail and intricacy within her designs are amazing. You can easily see her knowledge of how shape and colour can work together and compliment the wearer. My favourite collection is definatley her RTW AW 13/14. Check it out: http://www.jennypackham.com/pages/aw-13-14-catwalk
I love the pastels mixed with the deep reds and blacks - not something that usually works together, yet is used brilliantly and skillfully within this collection.

(01)
Rapunzel Dress

(02)
RTW AW 13/14

References:
(02) - http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2013RTW-JPACKHAM

Spider Silk

In our professional studies lecture from last week, we were talking a bit more about the indicators of market levels - and one of them was about the quality of the fabric. This reminded me of spider silk. (I know right - who knew!?) It sounds kind of gross but it's actually incredible. I only heard about it for the first time a couple of years ago. There was an exhibition at the V&A last year that displayed a cloth made from spider silk. You can check it out over at http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/golden-spider-silk/.  Spider silk is super expensive, not only because it's rare, but because it's a bit of a crazy process to make. Basically, spinnerets are attached to these special spiders, who group together to make this really fine silk which is then transferred onto a massive bobbin to make it into a fabric. I think it's amazing - it has a natural golden/yellow colour that you'd think would have been dyed. It's really pretty. I'd think that if any designer/company were to use spider silk within their garments or products, (haven't heard of any yet!) they'd have to be right up there on the couture scale. 

Fashion

Last week I was looking at the designers and companies that worked specifically within the interiors market. This week I'll be looking at fashion, but unlike my last post where I told you about 5 different companies/designers in one post, I'll be sharing them one at a time.

The first company that I want to talk about is Free People. I've been dying to talk about them since I started this blog, and now I have a great excuse to do so.
Free people are a design boutique that works closely with Anthropologie and Urban Outfitters. It originated in the 1970's in Philadelphia, and is widely known for it's bohemian/hippie feel. It probably falls under the top/middle market range as an average item will cost between £50-£2000, and everything is made to the highest standard. I spend a lot of time on their website (http://www.freepeople.co.uk/) just drooling over their clothes and wishing that I could afford to buy everything they sell.
If I were to describe my own personal fashion sense, Free People would sum it up completely. Unfortunately, I don't actually wear clothes like these, as being a student, I can't really afford to be buying new clothes at all, let alone from FP! Everything that they design and sell is elegant, classy and earthy, as you can see from the pictures below. They tend not to use really bright colours - it's all quite soft and chic, and pay a lot of attention to small detail in regards of decoration and embellishment.

(01)
Blu Moon Mermaid
Sequin Skirt
£228

(02)
Mara Hoffman Beaded
Silk Chiffon Gown
£1,042

(03)
Long Winded
Tapestry Coat
£298

(04)
Hendrix Yarn
Fringe Poncho
£298

*sigh of despair at all the beautiful clothes I can't afford*

 References:
(01) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/mermaid-sequin-skirt/ 
(02) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/clothes-dresses/beaded-silk-chiffon-gown/
(03) - http://www.freepeople.co.uk/october-13-collection-items/long-winded-tapestry-coat/ 
(04) - http://www.freepeople.com/july-13-catalog-items/hendrix-yarn-fringe-poncho/

The Designers and the Companies

This week we were told to research at least 5 different Textile Surface designers or companies that work with interiors. I've tried to choose the ones that I already know a little about, and that inspire my own work.

1. Timorous Beasties
I absolutely love Timorous Beasties - they were the first to jump to my head when we were given the task. I first stumbled across them when I received a book called 'Patterns' by Drusilla Cole for Christmas one year.
Timorous Beasties was founded in Glasgow in 1990 by Alistair and Paul Simmons, and you could probably see some of their designs in and around London, in John Lewis and at the Edinburgh National Portrait Gallery. (http://www.timorousbeasties.com/about)
The wallpaper design (01) is one of many ink blot designs by Timorous Beasties, and what I love about them are the fact that they must all start out being very experimental, as there's no way to predict what's going to happen, yet as they're worked in to they all turn out looking really carefully crafted.
I think that the fabric design (02) is fantastic. Toile patterns are my favourite - they're delicate, intricate and always interesting. I especially like this one because it's totally original. Normally toile patterns consist of Japanese florals or birds, but this design has an industrial, London theme to it too - I've never seen that done before.

(01)
Timorous Beasties Wallcoverings -
Grand Blotch Damask Solid Wallcovering