The Make it in Design team love nothing more than to celebrate all of the wonderful work from our talented and amazing community.
The Live Hub – is our monthly membership club that is jam packed full of energy and dedication from our members each and every day.
The group is such a supportive, wonderful, magical place and we want to acknowledge that with our Member spotlight!
Today we showcase the work of Hannah Scarr!
- Tell us a little about how you got started in design
I started painting when I was a teenager, I remember being really attracted to pop art and the randomness of Salvador Dali! So I guess I have subconsciously incorporated them both into my artwork ever since. I think I tried every type of art and craft going over the years, getting into design was just natural progression! I started mixing my love for doodling and painting, and noticed it could have an illustrative edge. So I entered Lilla Rogers Global Talent Search, and that is how I discovered Rachael Taylor and Beth Kempton! I wasn’t at all at the level needed to win, but it was a great introduction into the world of design.
2. What brings you joy?’
Anything art related of course, intuitive painting is my ultimate joy! Getting out in the fresh air and being with nature feeds my soul like nothing else, oh, and dancing in the kitchen with the children at tea time… its kinda my thing.
3. Which is your favourite market(s) to design for and why?
I find it quite relaxing making repeat patterns, I get them printed to make unique fabrics and wallpapers for my home. The types of patterns and palettes you can create are limitless, so it makes it pretty difficult to run out of ideas! I find I lean towards the homeware, bolt fabrics and stationery markets, because we all need to be surrounded by pops of colour and patterns right?!
4. What are you working on currently?
I found that Covid really changed my artistic direction last year. As all the family were home, it was easier to do more drawing and digital artwork on the iPad, rather than painting giant canvases! It has been such a blessing as I am now spending more time doing illustrative work and creating patterns. I also have a few outdoor murals in the design phase at the moment, which I have LOVED having the trust and artistic license to create.
5. How has MIID helped your work evolve /grow?
I have really enjoyed being able to just log in and find prompts, trend reports and inspiration to set me up for a day of creating! When you know you have a limited time to design something, it has been great to have something to instantly focus on. The prompts have also forced me to use different colour palettes, and approach my art in different ways. Everyone at MIID is really hands on as well with lots of personal experience, and it has kept me feeling really motivated succeed!
6. Any aha moments during MIID journey you would like to share?
Trusting myself and my abilities is probably one of the biggest moments I have had thus far. Its so easy to look at everyone else’s work and compare it, or feel like a fraud when you call yourself an artist! Joining the MIID Live Hub and creating alongside a community of other artists has been a reminder that creating is where I am most comfortable.
7. What are your key successes since finding MIID?
This has got to be one of them! I am a relatively new MIID Live Hub member, but I joined the MIID ‘Florals and Nature’ course last year. My drawings from the course ended up as a commissioned mural!
8. How would you describe MIID to a fellow designer looking to develop their design?
A Designers Toolkit – An artistic community of like minded souls, providing inspiration and insider knowledge of the design market.
9. What’s your dream design gig?
I have always said that when I see my designs in Anthropologie, I will know I have made it in life! I would love to see my designs on homeware and stationery, and to do a line of fabrics… I guess I have lots of dream gigs!
10. Best tip/advice for MIID students
Keep going! Honestly, I have had hundreds of no’s and dead ends before I got one yes. I have thought many times over the years that my family must be so tired of my ‘pipe dream’, but they have remained so supportive and I have soldiered on until the work came along!
11. How do you stay motivated?
Copious amounts of tea and cake? No, I love creating, its almost like therapy. But sometimes when its been a crazy day or I haven’t got a lot of time spare, having the MIID creative prompts and ideas on tap has really helped to keep me motivated. I have thousands of saved pins on Pinterest too, for a quick motivational fix if I’m not feeling the love! Living in Cornwall helps a great deal as well as I can step out into nature and get inspired. I can take lots of photos of plants, patterns and colour ways to use in my artwork, making me eager to get home again and create!
12. How do you balance other commitments and work?
Living in a holiday destination makes my daytime work very seasonal. So I tend to have lots of spare time in the winter months, and during the summer months I tend to just work my creative time into any spare time I have. It is difficult sometimes as there aren’t enough hours in the day, but even just a doodle here and there helps to keep the creativity going. I am also guilty of encouraging the hubby to watch the football so I can have some guilt free creative time, but shhh!
