FROM PLAYFUL DOODLES OF WOMEN TO A SUPERB REPEAT PATTERN AND PAPER GOODS RANGE
I’m a big believer that the world will always be better off for a great repeat pattern.
It was Janelle Monae who told us to “embrace what makes us unique, even if it makes others uncomfortable”. When it came to creating patterns from curvaceous body shapes, I think she got that right.
I want to give you a sneak peek behind the scenes of the process; a walk through the world of the pattern designer and a nod to the mystery of creativity that unravels through drawing.
Great repeat pattern comes from a process, even when it’s subconscious
Never underestimate the power of the doodle. I don’t go anywhere without a sketchbook and I doodle every idea that comes to me.
My first ever series of patterns came out of waiting a lifetime for a certain creative director to give me feedback. I doodled to pass the time and some time later those doodles became an entire range of colourful faces.
These three naked gals were drawn at an airport on my iPad whilst waiting to board. People were walking past and from the corner of my eye I spotted someone slowing down to peek at what I was drawing. They probably saw the boobs and got spooked (love it when that happens) but you can see how some of these sketches later made it into my new EveryBody range.
The simple lines and shapes I had drawn in the airport became the catalyst for brand new ideas but this time upgraded with touches of gold and developed into an entire collection.
From initial doodle to full-blown sketch to digital file, the pattern followed a process.
The work you’re doing today, the work you think might not be important or isn’t quite good enough, has the potential to transform into something entirely new tomorrow.
You can push inspiration a hundred ways
When I collaborated with Laura to make our brooch collection, she sent me this picture of a small sheet of silver that she had used to cut out shapes of hair. I loved the curves, they were too beautiful to be ignored, so I turned them into their very own repeat pattern in striking monochrome on wrapping paper.
They also became the highlights of gold foil on my greetings cards. When you start to notice shapes and lines intentionally, they can turn into anything.
My doodled gals have become repeat patterns dancing across tissue paper and shapely lapel pins and brooches. And can you spot the initial sketch in this pattern below?
When you wrap up your gift the lines transform into abstract shapes but when the sheet is laid flat you can see the full body, like an extra little surprise.
A strong repeat pattern is a great way to represent an idea
Telling people is not the same as showing people. A great repeat pattern is a killer way to open up a conversation or capture someone’s attention around ideas that are important.
My pattern ‘Stronger Together’ is actually a total celebration of women and diversity. It’s an important topic that we need to talk about.
I pushed the design into a series of enamel pins to match the paper and personalised them with names like Eva and Olivia. You might wear one on your jacket, and it would look great, but quietly you’d also be making a statement and setting out your stall on positive representation and colourful diversity.
That’s the power of pattern.
If you’d like to raise your game with some show-stopping repeat patterns, check out my range of wrapping papers here.