Today we have an interview with Claire Fritz – Domeney from Caught In Dreamland, who shares her beautiful pattern designs with us. After studying Textile Design at the prestigious Chelsea School of Art, Claire took a career break to have children and has successfully relaunched her career with a beautiful portfolio of work.
When did your interest in design first start and how did that come about?
Well it started from a very young age, my parents always encouraged me to have a hobby, so when I wanted to give up my disco dancing classes (it was the 80’s!) they insisted I replace it with another hobby. So I chose to have art lessons. From then on I was rarely without a pencil or paintbrush. I was then given a fashion wheel (another 80’s trend) one Christmas and I loved it so much that I decided to take things further and study fashion/textiles.
What steps did you take to get to where you are now as a designer?
I began with a general art and design course, where I got to try all sorts of art related things. I then progressed to Salisbury Art College, studying Fashion and Textiles. Then I was proud to obtain a place at Chelsea School of Art where I obtained my degree in Textile Design, specializing in printed textiles. I sold work through an agent for a while until taking a break to have my children.
Now several years later I am trying to get back into the surface pattern world, but of course things are a lot different these days. I have spent the last two years teaching myself Illustrator and gradually started to create a collection of work I feel confident about. I have learnt to blog and create my mood boards using Pinterest. I do some things the old school way still, but I think most designers have their own way of creating.
How would you describe your style?
‘Naturally inspired nostalgic prints, with a retro feel’ I try and keep a drawn feel to my designs and I can’t help being inspired by nature, or sometimes some little gem I might pick up from a vintage market.
What kind of designer do you want to be known as?
Passionate, hardworking and reliable with an awareness of trend but still with the ability to design from the heart.
What are you working on currently?
I am working on a Christmas collection that I am planning on turning into my own Christmas stationery.
What advice would you give emerging designers wanting to build their portfolios?
I am no expert by any means, but I have learnt a few things:
• Don’t be too influenced by others.
• If your work gets criticized, take note of what they say but don’t give up as a lot of design is down to personal taste too.
• Try and have a vision of where you see each piece being used, but still try and keep it quite versatile.
• If you get a creative block walk away from the design and just spend some time drawing, it seems to work for me!
What would be your dream design gig?
I really want to see bolts of fabric covered in my designs so that me and everyone else can make lots of beautiful things out of it.
Looking ahead what are your major goals for the next couple of years?
To get a licensing deal for a collection of bolt fabric or stationary. Also to secure a good relationship with a studio/agent who feels passionate enough about my
work to take me on.
If you were a pattern what kind of a pattern would you be and why?
A busy, retro coloured floral , that’s in perfect repeat (to represent me being super organised)
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I graduated from Chelsea School of Art a little while ago in Textile Design. I worked as a freelance designer for a while before taking a break to have children.
Now both my girls have gone off to school full time so I have spent the last two years teaching myself the new ways of designing, on the computer. I am only 41 but when I was at college we designed on paper without computers. It has been such a learning curve, but I am now a confident user of Illustrator, regular blogger and creating lots of beautiful design collections.
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