PROCESSES

An overview of a custom all-over fabric print design process.

Client Laurinda Sutcliffe
Label Loobies Story Range Spring Summer 2016
Project 12 spot-colour screenprint on silk

This delicious fabric print was called ‘Amalfi’ and was printed on to silk for two dress styles, a blouse, a tank top and a scarf in the Loobies Story Spring Summer 2016 range.
1 BRIEF SUPPLIED
The brief is provided: Seasonal colour palette by way of Pantone textile numbers, inspiration and theme images, overseas trends and/or a theme board for look and feel. Instructions are also provided including dimensions of raw fabric, desired scale, desired repeat dimensions and desired overall effect.

4  COMPILING / COMPOSITION
Everything is taken into a drawing programme and coloured using colours from the 12 spot-colour palette. The composition is arranged and the fabric repeat is worked out.
2 HAND DRAWING & PAINTING
Separations are painted and hand-drawn for each element. In this case a painterly look was desired for some elements - black poster paint & paint brush were used. Separate elements meant we had a much easier ability to manipulate the composition of elements, the colours, and overall look and feel of the design. We can ‘design it as we go’.

5 EDITING / TWEAKING
Between the client and myself we tweak to perfection. It is a living breathing creative process where we find some prints evolve considerably from their original concept.
3 SCANNING & MANIPULATION
Each separation is scanned, manipulated and layered together in Photoshop. The drawn elements are traced in Illustrator while the painterly pieces are changed into specialty bitmap tifs.




6 FINAL ARTWORK
Once approved by the client, high resolution final artwork files at actual size are sent for sampling and production offshore. These are often accompanied by specification sheets for the factories to follow.
An overview of a new logo design process.

Client Gillie Watson
Business The Garden Angel
Description Gardening & Landscaping
Project Logo Design

A small, fun project for a local business. This is a typical process of designing a logo
1 BRIEF FORMULATED
Meet in person or discuss over the phone to get a good understanding of the client’s business, company or product. Have they seen an example of a logo they like? What colours, styles have they considered?
4  EDITING / TWEAKING 
Take client’s chosen design and edit and tweak until perfected. Occasionally more than one design is chosen and ideas are amalgamated - the colours from one and the font from another, for example.
2 WORKING CONCEPTS
Once a brief is formulated - Brainstorm, jot, sketch, source suitable fonts, hand-draw or computer render different elements, icons and words. Mix and play with concepts.

5  LOGO SPEC SHEET
Once finalised I create a simple logo specification sheet so that all branding in future is kept consistent. Pantone colours, fonts & any ‘rules’ are noted.
3 INITIAL VISUALS
Take successful ideas and display more clearly, give them a number reference for ease of discussion over phone or email. Email visuals or meet to go over them.

6  FINAL DESIGN
The logo is supplied to the client in several file formats - vector based for the graphics industry and png and jpegs for website development. Once the logo project is completed I often continue with further branding and identity work such as stationery or advertising.
An overview of a cushion print design process.

Client Anne Zodins
Business Small World
Description Canada cushions
Project  ‘Animal Antics’

This was a lovely project with quite an open brief. It provided lots of scope for my ideas and for illustration.

This is an example of when my product range skills come into play - to maximise sales in a range you need to provide broad market appeal - ‘something for everyone’ across the entire range.

The Animal Antics story was one of several stories in a Canadian cushion range designed for a large department store in Canada. The initial idea was for Animal Antics to be constructed in different fabrics with applique and embroidery, eventually however, they evolved into printed cushions.
1 BRIEF SUPPLIED
My client advises the requirements of their customer. My client suggests themes, styles and what ideas are most commercial. In this case using Canadian animals was suggested as animals sell well
4  DESIGNING 
Once the concepts are approved I commence designing the cushions. Colour visuals of designs are supplied to my client for presentation to their customer.
2 WORKING CONCEPTS
Brainstorm and sketch various ideas for separate stories within the range as a whole. Idea is to target to different customers tastes to maximise and not split sales.

5 APPROVAL
Occasionally tweaks are requested. Client’s customer approves the design and we move to sampling and production stage.
3 INITIAL CONCEPTS / FEEDBACK
Go back to client with sketched thumbnails and notes on concepts - confirming the brief has been reached.


6  FINAL ARTWORK
I prepare actual size print-ready artwork for screenprinting or digital printing. Files are sent overseas for printing (or embroidery) at offshore factories.
SERVICES
PORTFOLIO