What I Have Been Up To

Since graduating I have been working on collections for the next Premiere Vision in Paris in September.

Its been really nice to carry on designing and learning new skills. You can never know too much!

With help from Annette Ratti, who runs an Atelier in Manchester, my ex tutors and other students doing the same thing, I have created over 30 designs aimed at womens fashion.

Everything is based on the forecasted trends, using the predicted colour ways and materials. 

Over the last weeks I have learnt how to use illustrator, which is great! And also many more things about designing for fashion, and designing in general. Working in the studio and also from home has taught me a lot about communication and fending for myself now I don't have the comfort of the University studio and facilities! You don't realise how much you miss until it has gone!

Here are some snippets of the work I have done on illustrator so far.

New Designers

Last week I was at New Designers with the other Surface Pattern and Textile Surfaces students who had chosen to go.

It was a great experience, and very successful!

Was lovely to talk to people about my work and get some great feedback about what I have produced at my time at University. I think the experience is invaluable in terms of meeting people, making contacts in the industry and practising talking to strangers about your work!

It has definitely helped me!

Now University is all finished (apart from Graduation on the 12th July!) I am doing some placements, competitions and maybe some freelance work if I can squeeze it all in, I like to keep myself busy!

Here are a few snaps I took whilst at New Designers:

Past Projects Going To New Designers - Wallpaper

At the start of my third year I was given a brief to create a 'Wall Covering'. This could have been a bespoke creation or a commercial repeat design.

I didn't choose the direction I wanted to go in but concentrated on getting good research and developing my ideas from that.

After visiting the V&A and looking at all the Buddhist artefacts I became interested in the symbols and meanings within the imagery.

Combining this with a colour palette of only white, and a choice of working just with paper, I began to explore every possibility within my limited theme.

Through experimenting with different papers and paper manipulation techniques I developed my work into 5 final ideas.

Degree Show Building!

Over the last few weeks we have been clearing the studio, painting boards and putting up our work ready for assessments and then the degree show!

I have also been making things at home with the extra fabric print I did, I have always liked making things but not had much chance whilst being at University. 

Since I always like to be different I chose to make some triangular cushions, to fit in with my geometric theme, and also a bean bag, since I had lots of fabric to play with!

I enjoy doing my research so have been scouring blogs and Pinterest to find some interesting and inspirational ways to possibly display my work too.

Heres where my inspiration has come from, pictures of my work and show space to follow soon!

Wallpapers Are Printed!

After a couple of weeks working on my designs, tweaking colours, new layouts and considering which ones could go together with my fabric print, I have chosen to print off 9 designs.

I have put them into 3 collections of 3, based on colour and how busy they are. Some are really simple, more like textures, and others more statement, one wall kind of designs.

Since I have my big print I chose just to print off the repeat square of each one. This way I can put a few in my degree show and the others will fit in my portfolio!

Here they are!