While browsing J.Crew’s blog, Behind the Line, I stumbled across a gem of a feature. David, who’s part of the creative team, walks you through the process of painting and pattern-making for product.
The process is fairly consistant across industries, though it’s quite fun following the pointed tips along the way: how a print is born, getting hands on, keeping the design simple and digitizing the repeat.
To follow along, and learn more, click here for the original article.
I find when I’m searching for inspiration for patterns or textiles I often start by looking at objects rather than the actual patterns on things. I love to find a collection of objects with a similar purpose or hand that I can group together to discover a new shape or texture. Here’s one of my recent inspirational collections:
Dolls:
I like these images because all of the dolls are in the same head-facing position and it allows me to focus on the the color and texture each brings to the group. It makes me think about a red and purple print or a crosshatched design in black on a clean white ground or maybe something with a lot of movement inspired by all those limbs….
Coverage by Kimberly Hall
I’m super excited to introduce the newest member of the Pattern Pulp team. Kimberly Hall and I met at the design mecca of conferences, Alt, where we connected at Erin Loechner ‘s famed resource party.
Hall’s a master in textile design, receiving her MA from Central Saint Martins after receiving a BFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. She’s also studied draping and millinery at FIT in New York. Currently a Senior Designer for Womenswear at Coach, Hall is best known for her baking, not cooking, drawing, not painting and French, not Spanish.
Her weekly PP column will focus on the inspiration process and the role it plays in design. From inspiration to execution, follow along as she shares her visual stories.
Squat, geometric and beautifully assembled, we have Matthew Fairbank and Suki Cheema’s recent collaboration. Mirroring similar modular themes, realized through wood and fabric, this collection’s a refreshing take on a familiar home item.
Who else gravitates towards watercolors? Yes, color blocking and graphic edges are great, but when a 2D surface has all the elements of 3D nature, the print can be truly unique. The rug on the left is made in Belgium by Couristan and is part of The Everest Collection. The Italian corduroys on the right resemble a summer lake bubbled with algae, in a good way, and is on sale at Calypso.
Jonathan Saunders is a favorite when it comes to color, pattern and creative explaination. This season’s no different, as he provides insight into his Fall/Winter 2012 collection, “after last season’s whimsical I wanted to do something that was more buttoned-up. The drugged-up housewife has changed into a very wealthy, eccentric young lady.”
Using sophisticated prints often associated with home furnishings, silhouettes mimicing Mad Men, and highly contrasting florals that could easily fit hipster demographics, the results are quite cool and refreshing.