Digital Portfolio

Open publication - Free publishing - More design

Identity

I have decided to base my identity on some work I earlier designed, its something I can use for now until I have time to focus my design work on this alone, because no matter what I choose I wont be happy until I focus my attention on it.

PPD Presentation

Open publication - Free publishing - More personal

Identity

I have been so busy with my work that I haven't had the chance to sit and think what I really want my identity to look like, I really struggle because this isn't really my design areas however I do no that I want a hand crafted and illustrated look to it. To get me started I have hand drawn my name with my hand writing which I have posted below. I have quite a lot of positive feedback on it with almost everyone commenting that this is a really good representation of me.

Finished Prints

I went back to Pressision today to collect my prints, they look amazing i'm really pleased with them, its so strange to see my designs printed on wallpaper smelling like wallpaper and looking like wallpaper. I have printed my own wallpaper before but this is different the quality and standard is so much higher than what i have produced myself in college.

Pressision Print

I went back for my second visit to Pressision today to see some different printers in action but to also pick the stock I want for my wallpaper, this was a new experience for me and an invaluable experience for when I finish my degree, I picked 2 different stocks with different textures and coatings to allow for a choice if one was available and to offer a back up if one didn't print as well as the other. I will get to go back in a few weeks when the stock has arrived to see it print.

Pressision Print

After contacting numerous people for feedback on my work and hearing nothing back I finally got a response from my contextual research for my publication and was offered a visit to a decorative print studio, this was amazing as I have never been to a printers before so as well as being able to see how foiling and embossing worked on an industrial level I also got to see a litho printer in action. I have posted a few images from my visit below. They were really kind and I didn't even realise that they guy (James) who spent over 2 hours with me was actually the guy who owns the business. It was a really worth wile visit because as well as seeing the printers in action I got to talk to him about his career and how he got into the print trade and found he studied his degree in Graphic Design, this just made me realise how many jobs there out there and you don't have to be a typical 'graphic Designer' just because that's what your degree is in. The other probably most successful part of my visit was that James offered to print some of my work for me so I would get the experience and work quality of industry printing.

Witworth Art Gallery

I went to Witworth Art Gallery in Manchester this week, they have a collection of really old wallpapers and textiles all printed in various techniques. Its really interesting to see all the different print production methods through time and amazing to see the development in quality. This is something I could only really see for myself as the web or even books don't provide you with the kind of real life quality.

Paper Lovely

I recently came across the paper lovely and cant believe it has taken me this long to find letter press, its amazing so beautiful I love the crisp edge and application of ink pressed into the thick paper and still having such a hand crafted element. I have been in contact with Paper Lovely for some feedback on my context publication, she has kindly offered to send me something in the post which is really kind. I would love to be able to create such beautiful pieces of work, its such a shame I found it so late on in my degree to give me the opportunity to work with it.

Career of a Wallpaper designer

I decided it was time to start looking into career paths and how best to get into them, when I came across this really interesting article which I have posted below.

Sophie Morgan is a designer with Zoffany – a world famous company that designs wallpaper, printed fabrics, trimmings, paints and furniture. Her designs go on show in London, New York and Rome, and many interior designers stock the range in their shops.

What are the steps to creating a new design?

A new design can take anything from six months to a year to progress from initial ideas to producing the rolls of wallpaper. The first stage involves research and meetings to discuss what sort of designs we want to produce.We also look at how previous collections have been received and keep a close eye on trends.

Zoffany's wallpapers are often based on traditional patterns from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. We spend a lot of time researching in the pattern archives.

How do you take an idea to the next stage?

I begin to create layouts of the pattern – either using a special textile design programme on the computer, or by hand using pencils, pens and paint. Once the design is agreed, I brief the engravers who create the printing rollers.

Do you get involved in production?

Yes.We go to the factory while the paper is being printed. Colours and designs have to be exact, so people bring me the samples as they're printed and I check them and make any adjustments.

I also produce the pattern books which contain samples of paper and fabrics. This means using graphic design to create the overall look and the page layout, organising photoshoots of the collection and laying out technical information and descriptions.

Where do you work?

I work in the studio in Leeds, in a team of five and we work a normal 36-hour week. I design wallpaper and fabrics, and I also design and put together the pattern books that show our collections.We launch collections twice a year at the Chelsea Design weeks in March and September.

What skills do you need to be a wallpaper designer?

It is absolutely essential to have an eye for detail. You also need a real love of colour and design.

Sophie's route to becoming a wallpaper designer

• Foundation course in art and design.
• Degree in industrial design (textiles).
• Worked as a designer for an accessories company.
• Joined Zoffany four years ago.

Sophie's tips

• Design isn't just about what you want to create – you have to listen to other people's ideas and use your creativity to come up with something that customers want.
• Keep your file of work examples upto-date.

http://www.tips4jobs.co.uk/job-bank/art-and-design/career-as-a-wallpaper-designer.php

Decorative Paper

A website I found that sells lots of different types of paper from Japanese to Thai with different textures and coatings, I would really love to be designing work for something like this and as I mentioned on some earlier posts I dint want to be just classed as a wallpaper designer on the course this is another direction my work can take.

http://www.paper-source.com/cgi-bin/paper/paper/index.html

Catherin Hammerton

I have come across Catherin Hammerton for a contextual resource I have decided to put her on my PPD blog simply because her work inspires me to believe that my style of work and products I make can work in 'real life' for when I finish uni especially for when I am in the in between finishing uni and looking for a full time job because freelance would never be a good thing for me.