ABSPD FEATURED DESIGNER: Laurie Baars

Welcome to Fridays installment of my ABSPD Surface Pattern Showcase. Such amazing work has been shared over the last few days. Im proud of each and every one of the ladies. 

Todays showcase is by none other than the lovely Laurie Baars:

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Surface Pattern Design? 

I have always loved fabric, color, and patterns.  After getting a degree in marketing and working on the business side of publishing for 6 years, I went back to school for a degree in textiles, primarily focused on weaving and dyeing.  In that program, I was introduced to surface design and took classes in screenprinting, dyeing, etc.  I started using these techniques to create art quilts but all the while was longing for something that allowed me to sketch, play with color and see results more quickly.  When I began taking graphic design classes a few years ago, I realized that I loved designing digitally.  The ability to create so quickly and have access to an unlimited color palette really freed me up.  I found out about surface design as a career from a local illustrator I met who was selling her designs at Surtex.  I really wanted to get into it but wasn't sure that I had the design training or background necessary and there weren't any classes in it locally.

What made you apply for the ABSPD course and what have you gained from it so far?

I got laid off from my marketing job last year as my company was feeling the effects of the recession.  I've been using the time off to explore other career options and enhance my design skills.  I continued taking graphic design classes and when I saw the ABSPD class mentioned on a fabric design blog earlier this year I signed up right away.  It has far exceeded my expectations, giving me the confidence to start sketching and loosen up creatively.  I have been amazed at what has come out of me in the last 4 months.  The class has also given me an amazing creative support community of wonderful people from all over the world.  Feeling part of a community of designers all working toward the same goal has been invaluable.

Can you describe your style and what methods you use to create your designs?

Someone recently described something I was wearing as a combination of feminine, preppy and edgy.  I think that's also a pretty good description of my design style.  Although I'd replace preppy with "modern".  I am really drawn to a sophisticated, vivid color palette but am currently also playing a lot with black, white and neutrals. I take lots of photos for inspiration, hand sketch my designs, scan them in and then manipulate them digitally - sometimes I embellish with my Wacom tablet, add textures, etc.  I am still experimenting with new techniques and developing my style.  That's what I love about surface pattern design - the possibilities are endless.  

Where do you see your work progressing in the next few years, and what industry would you say you are aiming at? 

I'm going to continue to build my portfolio, develop my style, and work toward getting my designs licensed.  I'd like to find an agent and exhibit at Surtex or Printsource at some point.  I'd love to see my work used in interiors, on papergoods, and apparel.  

Please feel free to check out Lauries work here:

http://lauriebaars.com/

ABSPD FEATURED DESIGNER - Aimie Bene Designs

Hello Again.

In-case anyone is just joining us, I am a student on 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design', you can find out more information about it right here. In the run up to me (and my classmates) beginning module 3, I have decided to showcase some of the talent that we have in the group.

Today we have the fabulous Aimie of Aimie Bene Designs.

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Surface Pattern Design? 

I graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone in 2011 with an Honours Degree in Textile Design. When I attended new designers after graduation I sold my first design to Laura Ashley which I was extremely proud of. I also got offered a work placement in the Debenhams Design House which I carried out for 3 weeks later on during that year. After gaining experience of working with a company, it confirmed what I already knew; that I wanted to become a freelance textile and surface pattern designer.

What made you apply for the ABSPD course and what have you gained from it so far?

As I knew I wanted to become a freelance designer I realised that I needed more knowledge of how to make it happen for me. That's when I stumbled along the ABSPD course by Rachel Taylor and I immediately knew this is what I had to do. Also I got a lot of feedback from the public at my degree show and new designers saying that they would love to purchase my designs on the likes of wallpaper, cushions etc, from department stores like Next, John Lewis, etc, so this really motivated me to try and sell my work to design companies.

Can you describe your style and what methods you use to create your designs? 

A lot of people have described my work as being 'kaleidoscopic' which I agree with. If truth be told I am still searching for those keys words that sum up my work and me as a designer. After completing the first 2 modules of the course it has taught me to explore all options and not restrict myself to one theme, which in effect has made me produce designs that are completely different to what I am normally used to. The methods I use for my designs are photography manipulation and drawing. I produce all of my work on Photoshop and digitally manipulate my photography. My main inspiration has always been florals and nature, although I am finding lots of new inspirations as I continue into the course. Many people think I hand paint my designs but in fact it is all of my own photography. I will always use this method but I am now starting to produce more hand drawn design as they have been requested and proven to be popular.

Where do you see your work progressing in the next few years, and what industry would you say you are aiming at?

 I hope that my work will have it's signature style in the near future. I also hope to have more variety of themes running through my work. I would like my designs to be eligible for all sorts of concepts from stationery, fashion and interiors.

To find out more about Aimie and her work, or to contact her for Freelance work:

http://www.facebook.com/AimieBeneDesigns 

http://www.aimiebenedesigns.co.uk/ 

http://twitter.com/#!/aimiebenedesign 

ABSPD FEATURED DESIGNER: Sylvia Tay Designs

Hello, and welcome to Wednesday's installment of Featured Designer Spotlight. 

In-case anyone is just joining us, I am a student on 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design', you can find out more information about it right here. In the run up to me (and my classmates) beginning module 3, I have decided to showcase some of the talent that we have in the group. 

Today I share the work of the wonderful Sylvia Tay Designs. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Surface Pattern Design?

After graduating in visual communications, I worked in a design firm for 2 years. Shortly after, I started a design business with my then fine-arts trained boyfriend and now husband. For the next 12 years I did what I was passionate with, working on a variety of projects such as publications, corporate identity and direct mailers. In 2007, after we had our first child, I took a step back from designing to take care of him. My love for surface pattern design began when I had a chance to illustrate 12 patterns for a calendar. I had enjoyed the design process very much and it was then when I started taking notice of fabrics and anything where patterns would show up. I found myself eagerly waiting for each issue of Elle Deco, Vogue Living, Living Etc and other home decor magazines to launch so that I could feast my eyes upon the lovely patterns on wallpapers, stationery or tea towels they featured. I had a stroke of good luck when I chanced upon the blog of a student from the first intake of the ABSPD course. When I explored further, I realised that it was what I had wanted to do all this while.

What made you apply for the ABSPD course and what have you gained from it so far?

I started an Etsy shop 2 years ago with the hope of designing greeting cards to sell. However, I never did succeed in listing anything on my shop. As strange as this sounds coming from an experienced graphic designer (ok, I blame it partly upon an absence of a design brief lol), the truth was that I was uninspired after losing touch with my creativity during the time I was a homemaker. The ABSPD course has definitely revived my passion to design and it pushed my creativity to a higher level. In a matter of three months, I was able to do pattern repeats and even collections. I now have a blog and I had joined a couple of competitions. One of my design, "A Nostalgic Voyage", even won the "Top Ten Fabrics of the Week" title from Spoonflower! These would not have been achievable in such a short frame of time if I had not attended the ABSPD course. I am immensely grateful to Rachael & Beth!

Can you describe your style and what methods you use to create your designs?

 think my style is layered, colourful, graphical and sometimes quirky. I love whimsical designs, especially illustrations from the mid-century and these influences tend to be evident in my works. My designs are frequently hand-drawn and then manipulated on the computer. I also like to add textures either digitally or using the traditional medium and then scanned in.

Where do you see your work progressing in the next few years, and what industry would you say you are aiming at?

Oh there are so many possibilities, really. I love the idea of my designs on fabric, wallpapers and home wares. The Graphic Designer in me would like to have patterns on paper. But right now, I am still at the stage of exploration, and I believe it is good to work towards a strong collection of patterns before I see which area/s my design best fits into.

To contact Sylvia or for more wonderful designs please visit:

http://sylviatay.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/SylviaTayDesigns 

ABSPD FEATURED DESIGNER - Sarah Paris Style

Welcome back, Yesterday we had an amazing amount of views about 'A Side Project', and today Im happy to showcase the work of Sally Garner. 

Sally owns 'Sarah Paris Style', which was designed and set up by Sally alongside her full-time work as a senior creative designer in publishing. Specialising in designing for the crafting industry, Sally's designs are magnificent pieces of work. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Surface Pattern Design?

When I studied A level art many, many years ago (1982), I actually studied arts & crafts, including silkscreen printing, fabric printing & textiles. My work was quite patterned and textured even then, but before computers it was all hand-painted. "Surface pattern" design didn't exist, and initially I wanted to study stage design, but with only 2 courses in the country, I eventually opted to study graphic design instead as it offered more career options. After completing my degree at Bath Academy of Art I soon found myself working in publishing.

After 10 years working on designing children's books I finally discovered my real love and greatest strength was designing for stationery and gift products when I became senior designer for a stationery publisher. It was a few more years before I discovered Surface Pattern Design, which, I now realise is what I'd been doing all along!



What made you apply for the ABSPD course and what have you gained from it so  far?

As soon as I heard about The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design I knew it was what I had to do. I was working for a large corporate publishing company on very specifically directed designs, project managing large book projects, alongside running my own online shop selling digital designs for crafters and I wanted to break free of this to concentrate on selling my own designs. The course offered by Rachael & Beth gave me the ideal opportunity to do this with the amazing support of a network of fellow students. I've learnt to be more confident in presenting and marketing myself, and I've learnt to free myself from the constraints of working for others to develop my own style. I've finally taken time away from the computer to doodle and draw again.


Can you describe your style and what methods you use to create your designs?

I'm a child of the sixties and early seventies and a lover of rich, bright colours and also of art deco & art nouveau. There's a mix of these varying influences in my work. And it must be fairly obvious I love flowers and florals too. Although I follow trends, there are times when I just go with a subject or colour scheme that I love regardless, as that's the way trends are set. For my online store where I sell digital clipart, papers and stamps, I mainly draw up my designs digitally and quite graphically using a Wacom tablet & pen in Illustrator, after sketching out some initial ideas. For some of my recent surface pattern designs I combine digitally drawn elements with scans of hand drawn sketches and background textures to add variety and depth.



Where do you see your work progressing in the next few years, and what industry would you say you are aiming at?

I'm definitely going to continue developing my designs for paper-based products, stationery and arts & crafts, building on my associations with several papercraft magazines to further develop my brand and hopefully ultimately launching my own signature stationery & scrapbook ranges. I can also see my designs working on a range of homewares, accessories and even wallpaper.

If you would like to find out anymore about SarahParisStyle, please visit: 
Online store: www.sarahparis.co.uk 
> blog: www.sarahparis.co.uk/wordpress 
> twitter: www.twitter.com/sarahparisstyle 
> Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahparisstyle

ABSPD FEATURED DESIGNER - A Side Project

Welcome to Monday mornings blog, and another fabulous feature from one of my ABSPD classmates, Jessie Macaw. Jessie is the owner and creator of 'A Side Project', a design division of 'NineteenA Design' focusing on craft and surface pattern design. Her creations are so fun and diverse, and her branding is so strong, its an absolute pleasure to have her featured on my Blog. 

Can you tell me a little bit about your background in Surface Pattern Design?

To be honest I had no idea of what surface design was until I stumbled upon a 'Do What You Love for Life' web ad. I have been working as a graphic designer for the past 7 years and have always loved both pattern and repeats so I was really excited when I found the course.

What made you apply for the ABSPD course and what have you gained from it so far?

At the time that I applied for the course I had been working at the same job for over 6 years - producing more or less the same kind of work. Because my degree is in communication I had missed out on a lot of the important 'inspiration' and 'sketching' lessons that most designers study and cover so for me the ABSPD course offered all this plus more. The course has been amazing and not only have I discovered a lot of happy 'accidents' though sketching (something I previously rarely did) that have become some of my favourite patterns but I have also become part of a large supportive, surface design community (I love you girls!)

Can you describe your style and what methods you use to create your designs?

My designs are quirky, bright and predominately hand drawn. I consider myself a bit of a storyteller so a lot of my designs are character based.

Where do you see your work progressing in the next few years, and what industry would you say you are aiming at? 

Surface design is more or less non-existent as an industry in New Zealand so over the next few years I will continue to create patterns more as inspiration than income. I have a small part time apparel printing business so I imagine the pattern will naturally gravitate into these designs. I also have a small range of cards and tea towels which I plan to launch later this year. 

To see more of 'A Side Project' or 'NineteenA', please visit: 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ASideProject 

Website: http://www.nineteena.co.nz/ 

MOYO Magazine Launch

Phew what a busy week, 4 days of amazing Surface Pattern design and words of Wisdom from some of the ABSPD Mod 2 Ladies. Thank you to each and every one of you for allowing me to showcase your skills and talents. 

NOW...... 

Yesterday, I received an email, one that makes you SMILE with Glee (you know the type I mean), well this email was about a magazine that I knew was due for release but had no set date. 

The magazine promises to be 'packed with interviews, design briefs, colour challenges, art reviews, student showcases, design tips, inspiration, trends and more, this free resource will be published quarterly'. 

And HERE IT IS, it was released yesterday, and has sent my Twitter and Facebook feed into a bit of a frenzy. Every tweet was link, upon, post, upon status, about this amazing (Oooh so amazing) magazine, which is the very first of its kind, dedicated purely to Surface Pattern Design. 

MOYO, the world’s first online magazine dedicated to surface pattern design and I have a little feature on ABSPD Showcase page .

I am so thankful, greatful, and humbled to be featured in the magazine, especially as it is its debut issue. So for that I would like to thank everyone involved in the making of such an amazing magazine. 

Have a fantastic weekend, Ladies and Gentlemen.