It’s almost time to unveil the 2016 Make it in Design Scholarship in association with Print & Pattern. We were thrilled to receive some amazing entries from applicants in 27 different countries around the world and had a wonderful time reviewing all of the applications last year.
Entries were shortlisted by ABSPD co-founders Rachael Taylor and Beth Kempton, with final judging by Marie Perkins at the Print & Pattern blog.
The lucky winners of the scholarship each received a free place on Modules 1-3 of The Art & Business of Surface Design:
Module 1 – Designing your way,
Module 2 – Creating your professional identity
Module 3 – Monetising your designs
Plus 90 days free access to leading trend forecasting site WGSN and opportunities to feature on the Print & Pattern blog, MOYO magazine, and the Make it in Design website.
In the run up to the 2016 scholarship we wanted to showcase our very talented scholarship winners from 2014 and 2015 and so today we bring you an interview with Zoë Elsdon.
Zoë is a fun and enthusiastic textile designer with a love for detailed artwork, reflecting her country lifestyle. Passionate about bringing outdoor natural beauty into the home, Zoë often places smaller, intricate elements into her designs for people to notice when looking the second time around.
She aims to share her enthusiasm for design by creating busy, contemporary designs, with a unique style for multiple product surfaces, through her company Zoe Olivia Elsdon Ltd. At the end of the day, Zoë’s aim is to connect with you through her passion and love for design.
When did your interest in design first start and how did that come about?
My art and design interest flourished back in my early teens, noticing colour and detail in all my surroundings. I always acknowledged the print before the product, but only became aware of the surface pattern career route while looking at university degrees years later. The Textile Design course caught my interest ticking every box for how I would like to portray my art to the public. Once informed about the course structure and career possibilities, I knew it was what I wanted to do.
What steps did you take to get to where you are now as a designer?
Once I knew I wanted to become a textile designer, I researched into part academic design courses admitting students without a foundation, finding the University of Leeds. Accepted on the course, I graduated top of my year gaining awards. It was hard work, constantly pushing myself to improve my artistic abilities, finding my signature style, but when you study something you love it is never a burden! After graduating I took various design jobs and internships to uncover what type of company I would like to design for, or if to freelance, while learning about the industry. A year ago I committed to freelancing, and over the past six months have been working towards launching my own surface pattern based company alongside this.
How would you describe your style?
My style is mostly realistic decorative conversationals, with the watercolour and pen based designs having more of a Chinoiserie feel. The majority of my designs are hand drawn with a natural palette, but for certain markets I do like to create more CAD based, brighter illustrations too.
What kind of designer do you want to be known as?
I would love to be known as a passionate designer, creating uplifting patterns that connect to the customer through the designs, bringing something new into the market, with a unique and recognisable brand.
What are you working on currently?
I am currently working on the launch of my first collection of products – baby muslins! It is such an exciting time for me at the moment, as the launch at the end of December will be months of work finally released into the world, and I cannot wait to see peoples reactions! Of course, I am still designing up new prints at the same time, so that I am ready to expand the collection in the coming months.
What advice would you give emerging designers wanting to build their portfolios?
Experiment and create as much as you can. Always make sure your signature style shows through, but try out new methods or styles you wouldn’t normally do to expand your portfolio. You may go back to your go-to style, and that is absolutely fine, but you just might find you like designing in another way too. Most of all have fun and love what you do. Your passion will shine through your work and make a connection with someone, and at the end of the day that is what surface pattern is about – sharing your passion and allowing it to connect with another person.
What would be your dream design gig?
There are so many dream design gigs, but I have to say the top two would be to collaborate with a baby buggy brand, and a wallpaper company. There are so many great companies out there that I would love to collaborate with!
Looking ahead what are your major goals for the next couple of years?
For the next couple of years, I would love for my muslin collection to be recognized in stores, and online. I hope to expand on it to increase the collection size and design for more baby and gift products – I always said I would love to have my own wallpaper collection, so hopefully I can incorporate that in future products too.
If you were a pattern what kind of a pattern would you be and why?
I think I would have to be some sort of conversational involving loose ink drawn flying birds, with a lot of layers and a natural palette – Living by National Trust land I love that feeling of freedom surrounding the views, and the layers… well, I like to think there is a bit of depth to me.
How did you find out about the P&P Scholarship?
I noticed it on the P&P website, as it is one that I regularly go on for pattern inspiration. If I ever have designers block, or just want to swoon over patterns, it is the go to site for me.
Please tell us about your experience of the e-courses taken as a result of winning the scholarship.
What can I say about this course, it is brilliant! It makes you broaden your design ability, try out new styles and techniques you wouldn’t normally, and really pushes you to be the best you can. It is an intense course, with lots of exercises, but that is what is so great about it, you are constantly thinking about designing, and how you can improve what you are doing. The best bit about it all is the community. You all help one another out, and you get to see what others are creating with the same brief. For me it has always been community over competition, and this course is just that. You get to help others along their design journey, and they do the same for you. It is so wonderful to see someone creating a repeat with motifs you would have never thought to create, and how well it works.
What advice would you give to designers thinking of applying for this years scholarship?
Do it! You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain! You get to be a part of a design loving community who support one another, and have the ability to gain encouragement and constructive criticism of your work. Your design technique will improve on this course, and you get to try out so many different styles, and get an in depth insight into how the surface pattern world works. It really boosts your confidence as a designer.
What was the most important lesson you took away from the e-course?
Experiment, as there are no mistakes. Everything you create, whether you like it or not, can be used. Even if you don’t like a motif you have created, keep it, as it could be used in the background for a future design, or just might become a beautiful design on its own, in a style you wouldn’t have tried before.
What difference did it make to have a supportive community of fellow students and how important do you think that will be going forward?
I think having a supportive community is very important. Your design ability improves by having others to talk your design through to, and you progress so much more having others there. If you don’t share your work and thoughts with others, then you don’t know how your designs will be received out in the world, but with a community they can give you ideas to tweak your patterns, and you can do the same back. As everyone is at different stages in the design process, you support one another. It is just lovely spending time talking to likeminded people who understand your CAD woes, can give handy tips for design blocks you have, and inspire you to create.
Find out more about Zoë Elsdon at the following links:
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We will be announcing the Make it in Design 2016 Scholarship in association with Print Pattern Monday November 16 2015. In the meantime read all about last years here.
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