Final design - Chipped

I could not resist using "Chip It" with my final design and it's interesting to see a respite blue in there not sure where that came from!

Final fabric design for upholstery

Here's my final fabric design slightly familiar but complete with little cameras in it. The colour palette has taken some work with these motifs and I eventually used more faded colours than I had previously used with a background cream inspired by old aged book pages.

Here is the design mocked up onto a stool (not the stool I will be using) just to give an idea of what it might look like ultimately. I have recently learnt to use the lasso tool properly in Photoshop and used it to create this image. This image is definitely one of the more successful ones for my Moodboard.

I would aspire to produce fabric that is good enough and sits well with Ercol's range of furniture. I like the idea of translating a series of prints into upholstery designs for furniture ranges. 

Final shape for Wallpaper design

Who would have thought it could take so long to design this shape in Photoshop..

I knew that I wanted to use this shape within my patterns the moment I saw it in my photocopies of a Habitat catalogue from 1971. I discovered loads of backdated, vintage copies of Habitat and Clothkits catalogues from the 70s at the Research library within the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. I had originally gone to take some photos of 70s memorabilia but ended up with lots of photocopies from this library. Here's the link and details of a fantastic library ..  National Museum of Scotland Research Library

It has not been easy creating this shape and I eventually discovered how to make it by playing with the shape tool options within Photoshop. It is basically 3 circle shapes in Photoshop but overlapped with a cutout on either side of the main circle. Looking good I think!

It is a great shape and so versatile, so I will be experimenting over the next few days to see what I can create with it. Really excited about the possibilities.

Wallpaper -a look at innovative designs

www.lindaflorence.me.uk

Although I am pleased with my draft final designs, I feel they lack that certain ommph that comes with a well thought out design and some innovation, so I have gone back to the research desk to try and discover what I can add to my designs to make them that little bit special. These designers provided me with a few ideas..

Some time ago I came across the designer Linda Florence and her wonderful scratch card wallpaper. Parts of her wallpaper designs are covered in silver which can be scratched off to reveal a different pattern underneath. I like the idea of connecting with the wallpaper and being able to change the design whenever or however you desire.


I have also discovered the wallpaper of Sian Zeng a graduate from Central St Martins and an awarding winning designer. Her wallpaper is amazing as she uses a magnetic liner behind her wallpapers so that her own illustrative magnets can be added to her beautifully drawn wallpaper. She also has some fun printed giant stuffed scissors, really cool. These designs, whilst nothing like my own style inspire me to create designs that the user can interact with in some way. Although, I have no idea as to how I can do this at present and so its perhaps something to quietly contemplate...

www.sianzeng.com

www.sianzeng.com

www.sianzeng.com

Draft designs for Final Major so far....

I have been experimenting via Photoshop with various designs for my final and here are a few for you to critique, if you feel inclined.

My inspiration for all of these has been 1970s colour palettes, Scandinavian designs and  my camera obsession.

 The imagery behind of the camera repeats can not really be seen above and this design was the least popular in my crit, so I will not be taking this forward.

This is a very simple Scandi style print although it is perhaps too bright for a living room wall in its current form. I need to look into a more muted orange for this design and perhaps a different background shade.

Inspired by abstract illustrative art from the 1970s I feel this is successful in drawing the eye in different ways. It took a long time to create in Photoshop but I got there in the end. Again, the brightest orange needs muting in my opinion.

Lovi Birch Ply Moominmamma -HUS & HEM- Scandinavian Design For The House And Home

Lovi Birch Ply Moominmamma -HUS & HEM- Scandinavian Design For The House And Home

How gorgeous is this Moomin, I love it!

NY Subway - Colour love

NY Subway, a photo by chippyjackson on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Whilst travelling on the line towards Staten Island Ferry, I noticed this very retro colour palette of tangerine oranges and beige. It's perfect for my colour palette and so I took a speedy snap as people left the train. The colours evoke memories for me, our camper van from childhood was painted tangerine and cream ( to cover the rust and wire holding it together!) and at one stage in the 70s we even had an orange front door. I can't decide if that made us a fashion forward family or ... not.

Seventies inspired fabric and wallpaper

Vihkiruusu / Maalairuusu tea towels

. . . . from Marimekko

Lavaliers, Retrospective Papers Collection from Little Greene

This wallpaper is one of my favourites so very fresh, retro and bold it would look great on a feature wall, I like the table with drawers in the middle picture as well.


Ooti in Emerald fabric by Sanderson

Beautiful colour reminds me of tie dying and comes in a range of other bold colours including a vibrant orange.

Orla Kiely's Rhododendron wallpaper

Very bright and cheerful mustard colour, I really think the simplicity of this pattern is gorgeous.

Final project ideas

Ideas for my final project are buzzing round my head with increasing frequency. Following on from my last project I have decided to stick with a 1970s vibe and hopefully create a print that is super adaptable to various interiors and homewares.
Hmmm.. How to achieve this though? My other niggling thought is that I need to develop a British theme that I am comfortable with that explores British quirkyness and eccentricities.
I need to look back at my childhood photos and talk with family to see what other themes pop into my head. What do you remember from the 1970s?