Today I did another delivery where I traveled to meet James the sales director. James is who meets clients, pitches designs and attends trade shows. I meet him at Goodge Station with a bag full of fresh designs. Today he had a meeting with Paperchase, showing and discussing potential print sales which would they be used on their products. I actually took a quick look inside the huge Paperchase and saw the latest prints and patterns which are currently on trend. I was told by the team to look out for the floral collection of wallpapers currently in the store, as they are a potential line of product that could use O&K designs.
Once back in the studio I asked if I could sit down with the designers and learn about their roles and what it takes to be a successful designer.
They were really helpful and answered all my questions, they even gave me advice for my portfolio and what studios will look for in a graduate. Here are some of the questions and responses;
All your designs look as if they are in repeat, do you create the design and then turn it into a repeat on Illustrator/Photoshop?
We don't actually use Illustrator much in the creation of our designs. We do nearly all the designing in Photoshop, using light room occasionally when using photographic images. You are probably like me and experienced at University that final pieces and final prints are normally technically in repeat. Here we aren't need to 'technically put our designs into repeat. Our role and job is really to produce designs which buyers in the fashion industry will like and will
Do you tend to have an idea of how you designs will come out or do you just go with it and play?
I think when we're given the mood board prepared by Irene (Art Director), and begun to look over it, looking at the trends and colours, you start to be come inspired and influenced. I think alot of the design process is still abour playing- exploring new ideas, layouts, compositions, drawing techniques and styles. It's very much seeing where-what you've been influenced by, takes you and your work. As a designer you learn to be able to produce designs at a much faster pace. Also to design for a particular market and brief. In short it's taking your brief and seeing what you can do different with it.
I've seen a many of the designers drawing there motifs and components of their designs with pen and paper, rather than drawing straight into the software. Does it just depend on designers preference?
I would say it is personal preference, what works best for each designer. Most do like to draw before, start with just pen and paper or even really develop their drawings using paint and other materials. Sometimes it is easier to achieve what you have in your head by drawing on paper however, sometimes it is easier to draw into Photoshop and start that way.
I understand you have end of week deadlines and sometimes a small deadline every day, are you set a goal with how many designs you should complete a day?
No not really, it is really dependent on what your designing and how time consuming the drawing is. We have weekly targets/goals and are definitely expected to produce high quailty designs, but daily targets aren't usually put in place, unless it's for a client deadline. Daily target can be too pressuring and effect the designs they do produce.
