Surtex 2016 Previews: Natasha Kirby

Surtex, the only show in North America solely devoted to selling and licensing original art and design for all types of products, is almost here! Each year we bring you a series of Surtex previews and we are extremely proud of many of “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” e-course students who have featured and continue to feature at the show.

We are delighted to share with you previews of the talented designers showing at Surtex on the Make it in Design blog – enjoy!

Today we feature ABSPD graduate Natasha Kirby of Dot & Flow design collective who will be exhibiting at booth 244.

“Preparations for Surtex began last year when myself and seven other UPB alumni teamed up to form the collective Dot & Flow (Booth #244).

Being my first time exhibiting it’s been a massive learning curve and having the support of my collective has been not just invaluable but also lots of fun! With so many areas to cover from booth design, website, social media updates, marketing, colour palettes and theme decisions it’s been great to share the tasks.

Alongside all of this I’ve been working on creating collections from ideas I developed during UPB and using the skills I’ve learnt from ABSPD modules 1-4 I now have a portfolio bursting with bold, colourful designs that I am really excited to share.

Dot and Flow will be in booth #244. Please come by and say hello!

I am a painter and surface designer based in London and a shed at the bottom of my mum’s garden in Kent. Inspired by the pastoral landscape of the Kentish countryside and the vibrant colours and sounds of London life, I paint abstract landscapes using my unique style of dripping and pouring paints into glue to create intricate organic patterns. The motifs that emerge from the accidental nature of this technique are then brought into Photoshop and form the foundation for my surface designs.

Surtex is my only show of 2016 but I am hoping to be involved in lots more similar events in 2017.

I have completed all of the ABSPD modules from 2015-2016. Its been a great journey and it’s thanks to Make It In Design that I have the skills and confidence to embark on this exciting project”.