Wire Drawing with Marcus Steele

We were really pleased to have Marcus Steele back in the studio a few weeks ago, teaching our 3rd year students how to draw with wire....some great results. 

The students are currently developing these back into 2D drawings as well as some sculptural textiles.  You'll need to come to our degree show in June to see the results!

New Designers Update

So just in case you missed it on our Facebook pages, New Designers was an exciting time for our students, with lots of interest on the stand from many companies, including Tigerprint, Hallmark, John Lewis, Tescos, Nina Campbell and many more.

Graduate success included Caroline Hunter gaining the Sanderson Award

and Soma Doyle being awarded a place at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC in August

Well done to all our graduates who exhibited, we know you are all off to do great things.
Read more on the univesity web page here

New Designers 2014

We are looking forward to taking our students down to New Designers again this year and its great to see some of our students work being retweeted by New Designers on Twitter already.  See more here https://twitter.com/NewDesigners

First Year Students Online Swatch Exhibition

As our our first year students from BA Hons Surface Pattern and BA Hons Textile Surfaces have just completed their first year of study, we are celebrating with a mini online exhibition, featuring a small swatch of their work.....

 

                                                          Annie Greenhough                                                        Agatha Kona

                                                            Alex Percival                                                                   Dhruti Lad
 

                                                             Chelsea Imlack                                                              Caroline Porter

                                                             Emily McCarthy                                                              Evie Sweetmore

                                                           Hannah Valentine                                                            Hannah Abutaeva

                                                           Joshua Jackson                                                                 Katie Alcock

                                                             Laura Deakin                                                                   Lauren Lawton

                                                              Naomi Rawcliffe                                                              Natalie Brown

                                                             Oliver Reynolds                                                            Samantha Broomhall

                                                             Taylor Nuttal                                                            Tessi Davies-Scott

 

                                                           Tyler Latham                                                                     Laura Peacock

Watermark Cards

Today we are catching up with Beni Wibisono, who graduated last year from BA Hons Surface Pattern Design.  After exhibiting on the Staffordshire University stand at New Designers, Beni's work was noticed by Watermark Cards, she was offered a placement and is now a Junior Designer......

 

"Things have been going great since I moved and started working at Watermark. It's nearly been 6 months and the time's flown by, but looking back I've learnt so much in that time. It's exactly the situation I was aiming for when I left uni and I feel I've definitely benefitted from being in a design studio where I can make use of everyone's help and experience. I'm constantly learning something new and I can feel myself progressing into a better designer. 

 

My job title is junior designer and it ranges from assisting senior designers with mocking up cards and adding finishes, to formatting new cards on the Mac, and sometimes generating new ideas and designs. 

 

Since I started working here we've been designing for Christmas 2014 so for us Christmas lasts a lot longer than usual! At the moment I have been busy helping with Christmas singles, which are individual captioned cards. This means I've been able to work on all the different ranges available and this has not only helped my technical skills, but I am also getting to know the company as well as the business and commercial aspects. 

 

Beni in the Watermark studio

 

One exciting project I got to work on was to create some 3D stitched characters. They were well received by the managers and creative directors and are not only going to feature on a number of cards but have had a whole range created just for them. I never expected that so soon after joining the team, but I can't wait to see them in the shops next Christmas. 

 

I've got to say though that I wouldn't be in this position if it weren't for Staffordshire University and the course. They introduced me to Watermark and helped me develop and realise that I had the skills to work for a company like it. "

Beni Wibisono - Graduate from BA Hons Surface Pattern Design 2013

 

Hallmark Cards

Last month, Emma Greaves, Art Director from Hallmark Cards and her colleague and illustrator Hannah came to launch a live project brief for our second and third year students on the BA (Hons) Surface Pattern and BA (Hons) Textile Surface degree courses.

 

The students were asked to create a new range of cards and gift wrap in 3 weeks, with 2 work placements at the Hallmark studios up for grabs for the best designs.

 

After much deliberation, Hallmark finally decided on giving out 4 placements due to the high standard of work produced by the two year groups.

 

"Please congratulate all the students who took part in the project, everyone did so well ... we will certainly be watching what everyone's doing over the next year so tell them to keep up the good work."  Emma Greaves, Hallmark

 

The winners were Jemma Moore, Charlotte Deaville, Zahra Akhtar and Alix Webb - well done to them all

Not on the High Street

Very exciting to see one of our graduates from last year now selling her work on Not on the High Street. Sarah Taylor who graduated from BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design is selling her range of ceramics on the well known website.  You can find details and purchase here http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/sarahtaylor. 

We asked Sarah how she came to get her work onto Not on the High Street - see her answer below.....

"Early last July I received an email from Carrie at Notonthehighstreet.com saying that my business stood out, she had recently come across my ‘fantastic collection of ceramics’ at New designers, and was delighted to invite me to join notonthehighstreet.com, the Uk’s original online marketplace for small businesses. This was such a good opportunity for me so I jumped at the chance to become a partner and created my business. I now have 2 collections of patterns, Ingeo and Inspiro which are all mix and match dinner, side and mini plates and matching mugs, which have developed from my degree show collection. My plates and mugs are all hand finished using screen printed lithographs and ceramics made in Stoke on Trent. I am currently working on matching table runners and place mats which will hopefully be available on Notonthehighstreet.com in the very near future. "

Sarah Taylor, Graduate from BA Hons Surface Pattern Design 2013

Selling Work at Premiere Vision in Paris

As our current students are busy getting ready to go to Paris next week and see their work exhibtied at the Premiere Vision trade show with our in house agency SPoTS Atelier, Sarah Harris, one of our graduates from last year tells us why she chose Textile Surfaces at Staffordshire University and of her experience at Premiere Vision.

"I've been interested in embroidery for as long as I can remember and that’s why I chose Textile Surfaces at Staffordshire University. I liked the fact that there were opportunities to work on live project briefs too. 

The lecturers are very talented in their specialist areas and have worked in the industry, so the level of teaching is high. It’s nice to be taught by people who have been there, done it, understand your passion and don’t mind you knocking on their office doors for advice or a chat. The weekly tutorials also helped me a lot with my work.

The course technician was so helpful. Even though she had a million other things to do, she always went over a print technique with me again or fixed a sewing machine so I could get on with my work.

I was fortunate to be a finalist in the Hand and Lock embroidery prize in my second year, when my senior lecturer spent her free time in the holidays helping me to construct my garment for the live catwalk show in London.

 

The opportunity to work with industry leading companies who set live briefs is extremely beneficial to students as it prepares them for working in the industry after university.  In my second year I did a summer work placement with independent fashion designer Netty Ratti in her studio in Manchester, I learnt lots of new skills including how to follow patterns and make fashion samples and as a result sold my fashion samples two years running at Premiere Vision in Paris."

Sarah Harris - Textile Surfaces Graduate 2013

Sarah's entry for the Hand and Lock competition

Ashley Thomas Designs

We've been catching up with past graduates again, this time it was the turn of Ashley Thomas, who graduated from the Surface Pattern degree in 2007.  Read her interview below, and find out more about her on her website here. 

"I choose Staffordshire University as no others seemed to specialise in Surface Pattern Design. During my degree I was mentored to bring out the best in myself. The focus was on my career and preparing me for working in the design industry. We worked on projects with respected companies such as Accessorize, Denby and Hallmark Cards.  The facilities are fantastic and the staff are always there for you when you need them. 

Since graduating I've set up my own company and I'm doing my dream job. I run my own design company and am a homeware Designer for Debenhams. I wouldn't be where I am today without the fantastic opportunities this course offers."

Ashley Thomas, Director at Ashley Thomas Ltd and Homeware Designer at Debenhams

We are looking forward to having Ashley back in March to talk to our current students when she will be giving them some valuable advice before they graduate.

Why I chose to study at Staffordshire University...

We recently caught up with Sarah Tanser, a graduate from 2011 who now works at Paper Rose Greeting Cards.  Read about Sarah's experience on the  BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Degree Course and why she chose to study at Staffordshire Univeristy below:

"I chose Staffordshire University because of its reputation within the field of Surface Pattern. At the Open Day, I was blown away by the studio and the facilities. The quality of work on the course was amazing, and the structure of the course was the best I had seen. Their connections within industry were extremely impressive.

The teaching team helped direct me towards the career I am in today, working as a Designer for Paper Rose Greeting Cards. Their depth of knowledge is remarkable. In fact, some tutors run their design career alongside lecturing, meaning they are still in the loop with industry. You’ll find that even after graduation, they are only a phone call away. This level of support makes you feel like you are always part of the Surface Pattern course.

The course technician helped me understand all the different techniques and possibilities, while my tutor was always there to help and guide me to push boundaries in my work.

I would say to any student looking to come to Staffordshire University - definitely do it! The time I spent here has been the best three years of my life so far. My course is one of the best in the country. If I could do my three years at university again, I would definitely go back to Staffordshire University. Having done this interview, I am re-living every moment with a smile."

Sarah Tanser,  BA(Hons) Surface Pattern Design – graduated in 2011 and now a Designer at Paper Rose