THE DESIGN JOURNAL

I think I've finally realised what I've been doing for the last thirty years. More importantly, I've realised why.

Some stories take twenty years to reveal their meaning. In 1997, I arrived in New York as a young designer with a portfolio under my arm, a working-class determination and absolutely no idea where life was about to take me. I'd worked hard to secure a position with textile archivist and designer Marlene Goldstein in Manhattan's Garment District and, to me, it felt like stepping into a film set. Each morning I walked through streets filled with designers, buyers and fashion cr

Why We’re Craving a More Connected Creative Life Toile de Jouy fabric that documented rural life Lately, I’ve found myself thinking more deeply about our relationship with cloth, craft and creativity, and how far removed many of us have become from the origins of making. A recent visit to the Manchester Textile Society Fair brought all of these thoughts gently to the surface. Somewhere between the handwoven cloth, faded textiles and conversations around process, I found mysel

Whether you’re working with a designer, artist or creative studio, a thoughtful brief can completely transform the outcome of a project. Below are some useful considerations on collaborating well 1. Share Emotional Context The strongest briefs communicate feeling as much as function. What's the story of the brand or founder, how does this translate into the visual world? Instead of only sharing print references, consider the wider atmosphere surrounding your brand or project.

In today’s creative world, mood boards have become second nature. We collect images, save references and pin visual inspiration in an attempt to shape the feeling of a collection or interior story. But increasingly, I’ve found the most meaningful creative direction happens beyond the screen.The strongest collections rarely come from flat imagery alone. They emerge from atmosphere, memory, texture, sound, place and emotional resonance. From immersing yourself so deeply within

Nature doesn’t rush, yet everything unfolds in its own time. As creatives, we spend so much time drawing inspiration from the natural world that we become deeply attuned to its cycles, yet we often forget that we are nature too.