I am so grateful to come across your perspective. I live how passionately you care about the larger issues in the industry. I am currently learning handloom weaving and aim to become a production weaver as soon as possible - my longterm goal, though, is to buy industrial looms as well and own and operate my own small fabric mill. It sounds like this is not a very normal route into the industry! 😅 But I am starting later in life, so I have the financial stability to at least get started on my own terms.
It's just less widespread, but doesn't mean it doesn't exist :) Everybody seems obsessed with repeating patterns these days but there are other great textile aspects including weaving! I'm thinking it might be a better niche since it's not so oversaturated. One of my fellow school alumni (a few years prior) has a weaving company and is very successful on Etsy. Unfortunately, I can't find her name... She came to a career night in college. My former manager from corporate is also quite a weaver and has a hand loom at home :) Follow your heart! Have you seen this video? I talk a bit about weaving here as well: ua-cam.com/video/JGR2H5zKJhM/v-deo.html And thank you for your kind words, I do like to look at the bigger picture!
Absolutely love your thoughtful and kind videos. So much insight into the day to day life for textile design. I'm a different kind of designer who's curious about textiles, and I was stunned by how relevant your words were for my work too e.g. contracting, supplies, controlling production issues, and then the copied artwork as well. I would even say that after my work was copied, I became more guarded about my knowledge, resources, and the suppliers I use - referencing your point about not crediting a brand or designer even if I dearly wanted to, and I personally do want to! So I feel very conflicted about it often, but I think you raise a great point. Anyway. Thank you for making such a wonderful video, I'm still watching your other videos!!
Visit my website: www.patterntalent.com/ Follow me on instagram: instagram.com/pattern_talent Take a look at my Spoonflower fabric and home decor shop/also counts as portfolio: www.spoonflower.com/profiles/pattern_talent
You make me want to do this even more. What is colour reducing in complex artwork? Sorry I am Just starting my journey I’m starting with a diploma of graphic design combined with a diploma of visual art majoring in print making as I can’t get into the diploma of visual Arts that majors in textile and surface pattern design as the ONE school in ausuyalia that offered that closed down last year! So sad. I would have to move 800kms with a baby and a toddler as a single mum to study textile specific courses that are accredited at like a community college (we call it TAFE here in Australia) as RMIT Melbourne is the main place that offers that. I’m Happy to do that when my babies are a little Older and I’m a bit more financially stable. But I thought at least doing the visual arts diploma (I can choose print making or painting as my major/stream- can you advise me which major/stream you think would be best for being a surface pattern and textile designer? Is it okay if I link the courses im considering and would you mind checking them Out for me and giving me your very valuable opinion? I would be just so so grateful. I can ONLY do online study atm as childcare is insanely expensive until later on the year when government reforms are coming in and I will only have to pay 10% of the usual cost as a single mum. Then I can get childcare sorted. But I’m 39 so I don’t want ro wait any longer. Thus enrolling into community college online. I previously studied some fashion deosgn which I loved but I think it would be much harder trying to get a job or trying to start a whole fashion collection for my own brand rather than surface pattern and textile design. I couldn’t choose between graphic and fashion design and then my sister bought me these gorgeous floral pjs when I gave birth in January and I became obsessed with being able to design stuff like that myself. And now here I am! I feel like I’ve finally at 39 found “my perfect thing”…. My best friend actually encouraged me ten years ago to do it but I was in love with learning about fashion design and then graphic design but just didn’t stuck to either because I was in a violent relationship and wasn’t really allowed to do anything outside the house. I’m just starting my life at 39 after nearly 19 years of surviving really awful Domestic violence. Now I get to live my dreams and try to build a career/business that supports my children and myself without having to deal with being abused myself just to keep a roof over our head. It’s financially hard but worth every single thing I sacrifice just to have freedom and safety . And to be able to finally find something I LOVE career wise and KNOW that only I can stop myself now. There’s nothing standing in the way (we’ll finances but we get to defer our course costs here in Australia and pay the gov back at a very low rate only if we start earning over $48k a year so studying here is quite affordable upfront. So definitely want to do my one year diploma of graphic design online (I’m probably going through Billy Blue School of Design at Torrens Uni- Now they have a diploma Of graphic design OR. A straight diploma of design that is a little broader and I think I can cherry pick some Units from their Fashion and graphic design diplomas and do a generic diploma of design. Not sure which is better though? And then the diploma of visual art. Not sure whether to go with print making or painting as the stream/major though. So would love love your advice! That is online through Central Queensland University. If I wasn’t wanting to find a job in the industry I would just do non-accredited courses through some of the great design website schools like Make It In Design or Skillshare etc…. Or there is a lady called Cass or The Print School. But when I checked out job ads for textile and surface pattern designers here - every single ad demands tertiary education in textile/graphic/fashion design and a large portfolio and experience either working for yourself or another company. So I’ll definitely start my own little label even if only through places like Spoonflower and printify at first just so i am Building up experience and a portfolio and try to get freelance work too. If I was just going to work only for myself I wouldn’t get diplomas at accredited colleges but I am A Stay at home mum Anyway atm…. So why not spend my spare time really learning! I still intend on learning here on UA-cam through people like yourself who are SO KIND to put out the amazing educational and business content that you do! (HUGE HUGE THANK YOU!) and on skillshare and linked in learning and websites like The Print School & Make It In Design (and if you ever start an Online school or patreon I would be your first subscriber if I can financially!) and then within 2-3 years I’ll have a few diplomas under my belt will Hopefully be ready to move to Melbourne to start my dream Degree at RMIT - the bachelor of textile design! While I am Working for myself through freelance and spoon flower and Etsy etc… and maybe even sharing the skills I’ve learnt on skillshare and UA-cam etc MYSELF! I have to watch your sources of income For SPD’ers! And by that stage one Child will full time primary school and they other will be in full time Preschool and I can start looking for a paid job at a company too! That the plan anyway! I’m A Virgo so I have to sit down and write it all out and organise it into a 5 year plan calendar so I know exactly what step I’m Taking and why and when and how etc….. I’m Just so happy and excited to be able to combine my love of graphic and fashion deosgn and art! My mum is an amazing artist - she started as a graphic designer back before computers existed drawing up the fashion catalogues for a massive department store like Macy’s but in Australia nack in the 60’s and 70’s’…. As a child I Would spend whole days pouring over her massive portfolio. Now she works With alcohol inks and resin and creates the most amazing fine art and has her own Little Art shop in a small town and art gallery. It’s called Funkdelic Art Surprises if you want to check it out. She’s created this amazing fake stained glass the last month. Anyway…. I will link the courses and if you ever happen to get time my gosh I would be just so grateful if you could let me know:) thank you for everything you do for us! Lots of love Liv from Australia (sorry this got sooooo long 😂 just feeling really excited and passionate and so ready to jump into the two diplomas- I’m Just going to do one unit of each at a time for the first semester and see how I go and then increase to two units as I can. Or maybe I’ll do one diploma after the next. I just thought doing it as a double diploma type situation would give me the ability to get more covered sooner and give me the variability of art and graphic design to mix my days up a Little.
Hi Olivia, I talk about reducing artwork in this video at 8 min 20 sec: ua-cam.com/video/JGR2H5zKJhM/v-deo.html As for other things, they involve a lot of serious life decisions that I would not be in power of making for you. Especially since you are in a different country and things are so different. In the US you do not need a degree to work as a textile designer. I talk about it in my latest video (How to find an in-house job). I have looked at The Print School classes, they seem very well organized and relevant. They are a subdivision of Longina Phillips Studio - a reputable Australian textile design studio. Perhaps you could get in touch with them and ask for guidance. You might also want to reach out to local colleges and see if there's a contact person to talk about textile programs. I did that locally as well before I chose a program. Erin Kendal is another well-known designer from Australia that might offer some guidelines.
thank you SOOOO MUCH. Can I ask though is printing makinh more relevant to SPD or painting? Or both equallly? And what IS printmaking exactly? Is it used in SPD?
Any technique can be transferred to SPD, so in this way I'd say they are equal. Printmaking produces a beautiful and distinct image. You'd be cutting blocks from wood, linoleum and/or rubber and cover them in ink to create prints. Look up printmaking process here on UA-cam to see what it looks like :) For example, this one: ua-cam.com/video/lNoRrp17SJ4/v-deo.html
Part 2 of the video:
ua-cam.com/video/ojC8_OrUakY/v-deo.html
Thank you so much! I was seeing all the things. Especially being seated all day painting. I have stopped to do exercise. It is so important.
I am so grateful to come across your perspective. I live how passionately you care about the larger issues in the industry. I am currently learning handloom weaving and aim to become a production weaver as soon as possible - my longterm goal, though, is to buy industrial looms as well and own and operate my own small fabric mill.
It sounds like this is not a very normal route into the industry! 😅 But I am starting later in life, so I have the financial stability to at least get started on my own terms.
It's just less widespread, but doesn't mean it doesn't exist :) Everybody seems obsessed with repeating patterns these days but there are other great textile aspects including weaving! I'm thinking it might be a better niche since it's not so oversaturated. One of my fellow school alumni (a few years prior) has a weaving company and is very successful on Etsy. Unfortunately, I can't find her name... She came to a career night in college. My former manager from corporate is also quite a weaver and has a hand loom at home :) Follow your heart!
Have you seen this video? I talk a bit about weaving here as well: ua-cam.com/video/JGR2H5zKJhM/v-deo.html
And thank you for your kind words, I do like to look at the bigger picture!
Yes. The same trends in the uk. In India, there are different tastes, this is where the most amazing textiles come fro.
Absolutely love your thoughtful and kind videos. So much insight into the day to day life for textile design. I'm a different kind of designer who's curious about textiles, and I was stunned by how relevant your words were for my work too e.g. contracting, supplies, controlling production issues, and then the copied artwork as well. I would even say that after my work was copied, I became more guarded about my knowledge, resources, and the suppliers I use - referencing your point about not crediting a brand or designer even if I dearly wanted to, and I personally do want to! So I feel very conflicted about it often, but I think you raise a great point. Anyway. Thank you for making such a wonderful video, I'm still watching your other videos!!
Amazing how many things are the same across different kinds of design, isn't it?? Thank you for your kind feedback and welcome!
Visit my website: www.patterntalent.com/
Follow me on instagram: instagram.com/pattern_talent
Take a look at my Spoonflower fabric and home decor shop/also counts as portfolio: www.spoonflower.com/profiles/pattern_talent
Very needful thank you
You are very welcome!
Really interesting video- thanks
You are very welcome and thank you for your comment!
I sign my fabric designs. Will they tell me to take my signature off.
Who?
Yes! Now I am changing my strategy. When you make you products to sell, is it hard to sell them?
It's not easy!
You make me want to do this even more. What is colour reducing in complex artwork? Sorry I am
Just starting my journey I’m starting with a diploma of graphic design combined with a diploma of visual art majoring in print making as I can’t get into the diploma of visual
Arts that majors in textile and surface pattern design as the ONE school in ausuyalia that offered that closed down last year! So sad. I would have to move 800kms with a baby and a toddler as a single mum to study textile specific courses that are accredited at like a community college (we call it TAFE here in Australia) as RMIT Melbourne is the main place that offers that. I’m
Happy to do that when my babies are a little
Older and I’m a bit more financially stable. But I thought at least doing the visual arts diploma (I can choose print making or painting as my major/stream- can you advise me which major/stream you think would be best for being a surface pattern and textile designer? Is it okay if I link the courses im considering and would you mind checking them
Out for me and giving me your very valuable opinion? I would be just so so grateful. I can ONLY do online study atm as childcare is insanely expensive until later on the year when government reforms are coming in and I will only have to pay 10% of the usual cost as a single mum. Then I can get childcare sorted. But I’m 39 so I don’t want ro wait any longer. Thus enrolling into community college online. I previously studied some fashion deosgn which I loved but I think it would be much harder trying to get a job or trying to start a whole fashion collection for my own brand rather than surface pattern and textile design. I couldn’t choose between graphic and fashion design and then my sister bought me these gorgeous floral pjs when I gave birth in January and I became obsessed with being able to design stuff like that myself. And now here I am! I feel like
I’ve finally at 39 found “my perfect thing”…. My best friend actually encouraged me ten years ago to do it but I was in love with learning about fashion design and then graphic design but just didn’t stuck to either because I was in a violent relationship and wasn’t really allowed to do anything outside the house. I’m just starting my life at 39 after nearly 19 years of surviving really awful
Domestic violence. Now I get to live my dreams and try to build a career/business that supports my children and myself without having to deal with being abused myself just to keep a roof over our head. It’s financially hard but worth every single thing I sacrifice just to have freedom and safety . And to be able to finally find something I LOVE career wise and KNOW that only I can stop myself now. There’s nothing standing in the way (we’ll finances but we get to defer our course costs here in Australia and pay the gov back at a very low rate only if we start earning over $48k a year so studying here is quite affordable upfront.
So definitely want to do my one year diploma of graphic design online (I’m probably going through Billy Blue School of Design at Torrens Uni-
Now they have a diploma
Of graphic design OR. A straight diploma of design that is a little broader and I think
I can cherry pick some
Units from their
Fashion and graphic design diplomas and do a
generic diploma of design. Not sure which is better though?
And then the diploma of visual art. Not sure whether to go with print making or painting as the stream/major though. So would love love your advice! That is online through Central Queensland University.
If I wasn’t wanting to find a job in the industry I would just do non-accredited courses through some of the great design website schools like Make It In Design or Skillshare etc…. Or there is a lady called Cass or The Print School. But when I checked out job ads for textile and surface pattern designers here - every single ad demands tertiary education in textile/graphic/fashion design and a large portfolio and experience either working for yourself or another company. So I’ll definitely start my own little label even if only through places like
Spoonflower and printify at first just so i am
Building up experience and a portfolio and try to get freelance work too.
If I was just going to work only for myself I wouldn’t get diplomas at accredited colleges but I am
A
Stay at home mum
Anyway atm…. So why not spend my spare time really learning! I still intend on learning here on UA-cam through people like yourself who are SO KIND to put out the amazing educational and business content that you do! (HUGE HUGE THANK YOU!) and on skillshare and linked in learning and websites like The Print School &
Make It In Design (and if you ever start an
Online school or patreon I would be your first subscriber if I can financially!) and then within 2-3 years I’ll have a few diplomas under my belt will
Hopefully be ready to move to Melbourne to start my dream
Degree at RMIT - the bachelor of textile design! While I am
Working for myself through freelance and spoon flower and Etsy etc… and maybe even sharing the skills I’ve learnt on skillshare and UA-cam etc MYSELF! I have to watch your sources of income
For SPD’ers!
And by that stage one
Child will full time primary school and they other will be in full time
Preschool and I can start looking for a paid job at a company too! That the plan anyway! I’m
A
Virgo so I have to sit down and write it all out and organise it into a 5 year plan calendar so I know exactly what step I’m
Taking and why and when and how etc….. I’m
Just so happy and excited to be able to combine my love of graphic and fashion deosgn and art! My mum is an amazing artist - she started as a graphic designer back before computers existed drawing up the fashion catalogues for a massive department store like Macy’s but in Australia nack in the 60’s and 70’s’…. As a child I
Would spend whole days pouring over her massive portfolio. Now she works
With alcohol inks and resin and creates the most amazing fine art and has her own
Little
Art shop in a small town and art gallery. It’s called Funkdelic Art Surprises if you want to check it out. She’s created this amazing fake stained glass the last month.
Anyway…. I will link the courses and if you ever happen to get time my gosh I would be just so grateful if you could let me know:) thank you for everything you do for us! Lots of love Liv from
Australia (sorry this got sooooo long 😂 just feeling really excited and passionate and so ready to jump into the two diplomas- I’m
Just going to do one unit of each at a time for the first semester and see how I go and then increase to two units as I can. Or maybe I’ll do one diploma after the next. I just thought doing it as a double diploma type situation would give me the ability to get more covered sooner and give me the variability of art and graphic design to mix my days up a Little.
Hi Olivia,
I talk about reducing artwork in this video at 8 min 20 sec: ua-cam.com/video/JGR2H5zKJhM/v-deo.html
As for other things, they involve a lot of serious life decisions that I would not be in power of making for you. Especially since you are in a different country and things are so different. In the US you do not need a degree to work as a textile designer. I talk about it in my latest video (How to find an in-house job). I have looked at The Print School classes, they seem very well organized and relevant. They are a subdivision of Longina Phillips Studio - a reputable Australian textile design studio. Perhaps you could get in touch with them and ask for guidance. You might also want to reach out to local colleges and see if there's a contact person to talk about textile programs. I did that locally as well before I chose a program. Erin Kendal is another well-known designer from Australia that might offer some guidelines.
thank you SOOOO MUCH. Can I ask though is printing makinh more relevant to SPD or painting? Or both equallly? And what IS printmaking exactly? Is it used in SPD?
Any technique can be transferred to SPD, so in this way I'd say they are equal. Printmaking produces a beautiful and distinct image. You'd be cutting blocks from wood, linoleum and/or rubber and cover them in ink to create prints. Look up printmaking process here on UA-cam to see what it looks like :) For example, this one: ua-cam.com/video/lNoRrp17SJ4/v-deo.html
I never realized so many things.
It's subjective 😊
Heyy mam❤
'7 green lines all strictly perpendicular '
*How?????*
That's the point ;) Impossible, like some of the client requirements!