UPB Graduate Interview: Emma Cochrane

Today we are delighted to share with you an interview with Emma Cochrane, a surface pattern designer and a graduate of The Ultimate Portfolio Builder March 2016 who never looked back after commencing her journey with ABSPD back in 2014 and even won a Barker and Stonehouse cushion pattern design competition.

When did your interest in design first start and how did that come about?

When I was very young! I think it’s something that’s always been in me. I remember winning an Easter Egg colouring competition age 5 and was hooked! I used to sit and draw fashion figures for hours using books from the library to teach me.

As is true for many people, my plans to follow a career in art and design didn’t materialise when I was a teenager and I followed a different path. After getting made redundant, I signed up to the ABSPD Module 1 course in March 2014, which provided a safe and supportive space to give my creative journey another go. It’s been an inspiring and challenging journey so far, and it feels so right for me!

What steps did you take to get to where you are now as a designer?

Endless hard work, dedication, sacrifice and perseverance! The ABSPD courses, I would not be where I am now without them. Spending a LOT of time on my business and continually learning. Joining a creative network in Edinburgh that opened me up to advice and opportunities. Having a creative mentor for 3 months was a godsend. Lots of planning and goal setting. Talking to people and asking for advice and support and continually stepping out my comfort zone.

How would you describe your style?

Hand drawn, contemporary, often with a bold colour palette.

What are you working on currently?

I’m working on my own manufactured line of homewares and stationery to sell via my website, local stockists and at craft markets. I’m also developing a project, which is “top secret”, and I’ve code named fruitbox ha ha! I have so many ideas, but I need to focus! I’m also putting everything into practice that I learned on the UPB and developing my commercial portfolio.

What advice would you give emerging designers wanting to build their portfolios?

Stay true to yourself and inject you into your work. Also, it’s important to remember your market when creating work for your portfolio – who are you designing for? Do lots of research and be open to inspiration from unlikely sources!

What would be your dream design gig?

I would be over the moon to design some kit for a pro cycle team! Pattern really is everywhere now due to such advancement in printing and fabric technology.

I love activewear prints and would love to design for Sweaty Betty. Their patterns are so bold, colourful and on trend. Roxy, Burton and Salomon have some killer prints on their snowsports gear, need to get my designs on some of that!

Looking ahead what are your major goals for the next couple of years?

To be selling my own manufactured line of homewares and stationery through my website and retailers.

To have a studio space out my house.

To have a diverse portfolio and be selling and licensing artwork. I need to work on my character patterns!

To have work at a trade show, most likely through a collective or agency.

What difference did it make to have a supportive community of fellow students and how important do you think that will be going forward?

When doing an online course I think being a part of this community contributes to how much you get out of it. I felt I was doing a course with other people even though I wasn’t in a traditional classroom setting. It was a supportive and encouraging place to post finished pieces and work in progress to get feedback and advice.

Please tell us about your experience of the live briefs and student work reviews.

The live briefs were fantastic. It was great experience to work to a brief and a live deadline. It was helpful to have a variety of style of brief – some very specific, some much more open to interpretation. They encourage me to step out of my comfort zone and really pushed me creatively. I was surprised at what I managed to create!

It was really interesting to hear what an established designer thought of my work. I was nervous before I opened my review, but there was no need. The feedback was both positive and constructive. I was immediately able to implement advice, some I still need to do…!

Emma graduated in 2002 with a degree in Outdoor Studies and gained 12 years’ experience in project management in the voluntary sector. Her artistic talent was always there under the surface and she sold some paintings during this time. When doing an upholstery course Emma found what it was she wanted to do. She was much more enthusiastic and inspired by the colours and patterns of the textiles than doing the upholstery work itself. After some research she found the ABSPD courses, signed up for Module 1 in March 2014 and hasn’t looked back!