Showing posts with label photoshop. Show all posts

Competition | Bohemia

23:46

"Inspired by the catwalk shows of Etro, Valentino and Burberry, "A Travellers Dance" captures the Boho style. A colourful and unique print designed by hand that layers a fee-flwing repeat with a visually eye-catching boarder".

I recently entered the latest Textile Federation competition entitled "Bohemia" which I somehow manage to squeeze in to my busy schedule. I was quite excited by the project so wanted to give it a go and use this as a base to test my graphic tablet skills. I designed the print using various internet found paisley and indian woodblock designs which I then changed slightly using different brush marks that had a sketchy and relaxed edge to it. I then use copyright free designs for the boarder (which were slightly modified) that fit in with the half drop design of the main print. I was really inspired by the way Burberry had simple straight block repeats in a two colour way in their A/W 2015 collection (bottom right) and wanted this for the boarder rather than Etros dip-dye hem from their S/S 2015 garment (bottom left). This print, however, gave the the idea for the main repeat of my design which I decided to make slightly more busy and use warmer colours as well as the purples and blues. There is so much inspiration for the Boho style print and pattern so I could have spent a lot longer design this print in real depth, but competition deadlines call and submission is a must! I am quite pleased with the overall look which still carries my handwriting. Every project definitely teaches you something and this one taught me to not be afraid so much of an open brief. And yes the mood board is a great reference, but what it does and should do is in the name and allow that mood to be felt but not have to follow whats on the board so tightly and restrict design freedom.

Lesson learnt! Next project please!

See the design over at Textile Federation.

Leave a Comment competition, designing, drawing, life, moodbaords, photoshop, print, textiles, theme, work

Project | Kidswear Print

14:49

I've been doing a couple of short projects this week. The first being this kidswear print, based on the theme of Scandinavian Forest.

I hand drew the little fox and triangles but digitally working in to them on Photoshop and Illustrator. The pantone colours are all on trend as according to WGSN kidswear. I decided to place the print on working flats. As illustrated there are two tops (one has a grey marl fabric base) with the print on and a rusty pink neckband. And a cute little summer dress with a rusty pink frill around the waist.

It was quite fun doing kidswear and creating something different to add to my portfolio. I love putting together design presentation mood boards like the one below, which feature all the pantones used and the measurements of the half drop repeat.

One kid print down ... maybe time to do some more?

WGSN GARMENTS

1 comment designing, fabric, moodbaords, photoshop, print, textiles, theme

Textile Federation | Competition Entry

22:44

Please go and vote for my design over at - http://www.textilefederation.com/design/marble-motion/

Let me start by saying that this project was certainly not an easy one. Over the course of two days I designed this one off print for the Textile Federation Activewear Competition. I had never attempted active wear before, which is surprising as I am a bit of a gym lover. I tend to just through any old thing on, but since printed gym wear is everywhere at the moment one challenge of mine was to come up with an original idea that not only I would want to wear but others would too.

As described, the creation of the print started with various marble textures which I cut and pasted together on Photoshop using filters, the clone tool and feathering to blend the textures together. The colours came at me like a brick wall and became a big challenge when the initial repeat block print was designed. Were they too bright? No, active wear is very bright! Did the colours work well together? Did certain colours look too pixelated? Was there too much colour in one area? Was there just too much colour? No, lets read the brief again!

On the first day of starting the design I doubted my ability as to whether I could produce a competition and activewear worthy design. But, with fresher eyes on the second day, I woke up early and powered on through to the likes of Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding and Cheryl on Spotify. Before I knew it I was creating something quite different to anything I had designed before and something that could have potential if I played it right.

Creating the print just was not enough. I wanted to give it a bit more of an edge and make it more eye catching, so I decided to individually place the print inside triangles with some being more zoomed in than others. It gave it more definition and it made me feel as though I had made a real breakthrough in just designing a print. It made me question - what else can I do with this? Suddenly now I have grown a slight addiction to all things triangles.

Thank you to everyone who has already voted for my print. Whether I win or not I am proud of this little design and the development skills it brought me as a designer with no support ... other than a good song to inspire me and lots of tea making.

Leave a Comment competition, designing, fabric, fashion, photoshop, print, textiles, theme, work

Mamas & Papas Competition

21:39

I was recently invited by Arts Thread to take part in the "Style a Stoller" competition for Mamas & Papas, in which I had to design a cute baby/toddler print for their Armadillo Pram collection. The print could be anything theme I could imagine would suit but was for the S/S 16 season so a bright and colour approach was necessary.
My theme outcome was woodland trees, leaves, flowers and animals with a traditional stripe of colour to make it a little unique. I wanted to make the print as unisex as possible, which became quite difficult at the drawing stage of the project where my mind went to flowing leaves and flowers with a girl aesthetic.

Go and check out my print on the pram and a little snippet about the project on my Arts Thread profile.

Leave a Comment competition, designing, photoshop, print, textiles, theme, work

Designing With A Graphic Tablet

21:07

Since buying my Wacom graphic tablet in the early days of my placement I have seen a small change in not only my approach to designing, but the outcome as well. I feel like I take the task of designing something more seriously and have more patience with working on a good repeat. Using the graphic tablet, despite the small size, allows me more freedom to work tools such as different brushes to achieve various lines, lasso tool, rotation, effects and so much more. I was inspired to get one after seeing how the designers at Pattern use them and the ability it give you to have more freedom in terms of what you can design. It is literally like drawing on a piece of paper … except its on a screen. I highly recommend anyone in design to get one.

Leave a Comment designing, digital printing, florals, photoshop, print, textiles

New Experimental Designs

22:24

After seeing on placement the amazing prints the designers are creating with their graphic tablets and asking about them so much I decided, with some spare pennies, to go and buy a small one to get the ball rolling and start practising with … And I am so glad I did. The possibilities and the creativity you can achieve with a graphic tablet are endless and I am having fun exploring how I can push myself. I have a renewed excitement about design if you will.

I have quickly put together over the past few days two new florals designs, both very different but both using the brush tool to create the florals and colour them in.

Leave a Comment designing, digital printing, florals, photoshop, textiles, work

Prints On Garments

21:21

Leave a Comment designing, digital printing, fabric, fashion, freelancing, photoshop, print, textiles, work

Digital Printing For The Last Time

11:07

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Evolution of a Drawing

14:38

This one drawing has inspired and created many designs that have never made it to fabric or might not make it in to my print book, but these are just a few from the collection that came from this original ink drawing.

Leave a Comment designing, digital printing, drawing, fabric, photoshop, textiles, work

Attempting A Collection

11:55

It has been a very difficult and stressful time getting back in to the digital printing process with an overwhelming amount of possibilities at my fingertips. Trying to come up with a coherent collection that showcases my theme has proven very challenging as I tend to go off and create tons of ideas which I then get stuck about using. It is also a challenge to not make my drawings static, filtered or over processed on Photoshop.

There is still a long way to go to create a collection that I am happy with and so it is a case of sitting for hours working on Photoshop working on placements, scale and colours.