A squidgey bit more research...

I was looking through a few of my folders a few days ago when I came across a page I once photocopied…. This image below is by designer Karen Hall, and I find it to be truly amazing to look at. The linear drawing is fantastic and so complex. I love that there is a lot of pattern going on and it becomes a very busy image. My eyes don’t know where to focus!! Karen Hall is an illustrator and the rest of her work can be seen on her website below J

http://www.karenhallillustration.com/

Working progress

Woo Hoo!! With my design development underway I have began to piece together some more of my designs... These are only working progress but I thought I’d put them on here to see what people think so far. I’m designing toward furniture with this collection of sea life :)

 

Below are a few more images of some embellishing that I worked on to these designs once they were printed on to sample fabrics. I have used a variety of hand sewing techniques including basic stitching and French knotting.

 

design development

Here are a few of my current design sheets. I am working on my design development which is helping my creative thinking process. The majority of my design sheets are drawn or painted using media such as fine liners, inks or acrylic. I design in a linear format and then transform my images into designs using the Adobe CS5 program.

As well as looking at shells and fossils I also began to look in the human form in relation to our surroundings, including shells and crustaceans etc. I feel that we often forget the beauty that we have been given in the form of shells, fossils and crustaceans. They provide us with unique patterns and colours that are completely natural and never mass produced.

Research and Inspiration for my Final Major

I absolutely love these couches by interior designer Kathleen Hay! I adore the detailing in the imagery and the simplicity of the overall design. These pieces give me great inspiration for my final major collection as I can see that simple designs can be just as effective as busy designs.

I have also been looking in to the use of black and white imagery when laid over colourful imagery. When looking through the Designer’s Guild website, as well as their central London store, I found they have a wonderful collection of bags that are designed in this way. Below shows a few examples of the use of Black and white imagery on a coloured or patterned surface.

NADIA FLOWER

I have always preferred to work with a nice solid line, preferably in black although i do use a variety of colours in some of my work. I have a passion for linear drawings and designs which inspire me when I design. I have recently come across a lot of designers that I feel work in a way, that one day, I hope to do. to begin with is illustrator Nadia Flower, whose work is almost dreamy and she uses quite light, flowing colours. she also uses solid black line drawings which she uses in an arabesque way or by pasting the shapes in to another object. I looked at this work a lot throughout my final major as i felt my work related to this in a small way.

As well as these black and white images Nadia Flower also designs some brightly coloured linear work which has been placed on to a darker background to make the colours stand out more. 

I love the colours in these pieces as they seem to stand out so brightly. I really enjoy the contrast between  the bright colours and the deep dark backgrounds. I also like that she has kept the quality of her line drawings and so her work has remained linear but with some silhouetting.

www.nadiaflower.com

TORD BOONTJE

Tord Boontje has been inspiring my work since my years at college. I love how simple the designs and shapes in his pieces are, but yet when put together create a mass of complexity and detail. I have been looking at his use of laser cutwork on a range of products including chairs and even lamp shades. Here are a few images of some of his work that I am more partial to.

His collections are remarkable and are amazing to look at. I admire how much thought goes in to each tiny detail of the fabric and then again in the presentation. Some of his more recent work has taken him to create ceramics, which is what my own specialism lies within. These are just a few of his ceramics that  I find to be more individual and quirky.

CHAIRS!! CHAIRS!! CHAIRS!!

Another designer that I have found whilst researching is Ginny Avison who specialises in patchwork furniture. She embellishes her furniture using brightly coloured carpenters nails as well as large brass buttons. I really enjoy looking at these patchwork pieces as they are so energetic and colourful. As well as sofas, Ginny Aviston also creates a range of pet beds, bed boards and footstools!!! My final degree show work is based on upholstering fabrics and so these designs have given me inspiration in my creative process. i love the bright colours of the fabrics that have been used and tell that there is a great deal of time and consideration that goes in to every piece.

Pet bed.

Corner sofa.

Normal sofa.



I also like that this designer creates patchwork furniture for our fuzzy friends too. I had never considered animal bedding although from seeing this work I am now trying to expand my collection further by thinking of products a little 'outside the box'.

http://www.ginnyavison.co.uk/index.php

Inspirational designers

Throughout my final year I have been toying with the idea of creating some sort of modern/funky chair. I love the idea of patchwork and so I managed to come across a company that specialises in this exact thing!!!

Squint limited is a company that specialise in unique furniture created from a mixture of fabrics. I personally LOVE their creations as they all have their own identity. I was so inspired by Squints bespoke furniture and especially some of the colour pallet that they use.

The main thing that attracts me to these pieces is that there is so much information on each piece which draws the viewer in. I find my eyes darting all over the furniture trying to take in all the sections of fabric at once. Squint limited are not just limited to chairs and sofa's, they all design cushions and lampshades as well as some miscellaneous objects.

http://www.squintlimited.com/