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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy 2013!

Believe creative studio staff, want to wish you all a lovely Christams and a Happy 2013. We hope your wishes come true and that you and your beloved ones have lots of blessings, health, love, joy and prosperity. 

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Featured today in Business Boom collective


 I am very honored and grateful with James  Aspinall at Business Boom Collective UK for the fantastic feature today in the amazing Business boom collective site
"Business Boom Collective is the ideal place to see features of up-and-coming and freelance creatives from the UK and beyond."
Visit them they have tons of inspiration from creatives  from de UK and around the world, They cover different areas such a fashion design,photograohy, music, arts& crafts and much more.
 

Logo from Business boom collective

Thursday, December 13, 2012

The agent hat

After few weeks I enrolled for the second time to exhibit in Indigo in September 2012 ,I realized there was an opportunity to support the enthusiastic and talented designers who I meet during the course my ABSPD course as well as other talented designers that have approached me.

When I open up the invitation to everyone from the course who wanted to contribuite to the collection ,I didn't receive a high or quick response, I was a bit surprised because during the course, the designers were really eager to start selling, contacting agents and to start doing business with their work, but  suddenly more girls started to get interested and we ended up working with a really nice  group of  designers with different styles and lots of enthusiasm.


I made sure  I answered all the doubts or questions they had and  I also created a contract to protect both parties; 

I think in this situation formality is a key for a succesful relationship.
Being a designer my self I am very sensitive on all the matters that are important to start commercializing creative work, like confidentiality, respect for the work and  privacy.


Establishing the commission %  was a difficult thing to do; being a designer my self I only wished I can promote their work for free, but from the business perspective that is just impossible. So I set the same commission my agent and the other agents in The Netherlands charge.

I worked with the principle that I wanted to keep the studio concept, promoting Believe creative studio  rather than promoting the individual designers.
I was in charge of providing mood boards with specific themes, color direction and guidance about the general aspects that are important for my brand, as well thinking ahead on the needs of the market. Is key
to have designs with the right balance : beautiful and commercial.


I love mentoring and inspiring, is in my nature to motivate others and I love being incharge; the most important thing I try to communicate to the designers is to have fun and to enjoy creating. Quality is more important to me than quantity, and to me a quality design for childrens is achieved through creating with joy.

This experience was amazing to me, mainly because I really wanted to give other talented designers  the opportunity of exhibit their work in the most important textile design show in the world and to start commercializing designs and work in bulding a real collection.
I had the opportunity to collaborate and witness the amazing work of each of them.
I was so happy when I sold some of the designers work, for some of them was their very first time they sold a pattern so that was a huge joy for me.

Of course the hard part is when you have to tell a designer that has worked so hard and that has a great set of designs that none of their designs were sold.
As an agent or seller you want them to do fantastic, selling other designer work with in the studio collection can be a benefit not only for them, but also for the studio:
The collection is bigger than a single person collection, the collection is more diverse and you can also support the talent and even make a profit that help to relieve some of the expenses involved with exhibiting.


During my almost 2 years since  Believe creative studio started; collaborating with other designers   has been one of the most rewarding experiences.
I have the chance to work directly with amazing and talented group of designers and  to guide them into a unified  yet diverse style for the collection ; but the best part of all that I  had the opportunity to meet supporting, caring  and positive people;  to discover fantastic persons: Big believers!
I loved meeting all of them personally during the show; is like we knew each other for ages and now I feel them as friends , I hope they feel the same way.



Fantastic group of Believe Creative studio guest designers and friends in Paris.
From left to right Virginia Kamau, Bethania Lima ,Annette Plummer,Eva Seyffarth,Miranda Mol,Aide Dorantes ,Rosie Martinez-Dekker & Veronica Galbraith



Here is the complete list of Believe creative studio guest designers and friends that contribuited to the collection and into the Believe creative studio stand during Indigo Paris in September 2012

Aide Dorantes (Mexico) 
Anna Berger (Sweden)
Becky Holmes (UK)
Bethan Janine Westran (UK)
Bethania Lima  (Chile) 
Eva Marion Seyffarth (Germany)
Leslie Daughty (USA)
Jacqueline van Roosmalen (Netherlands)
Justine Aldersey-Williams (UK)
Laura Palacios (Canada)
Miranda Mol  (Netherlands)
Phyllida Coroneo (UK)
Silvia Micalizo (Italy)
Sue Cashman (UK)
Veronica Galbraith (UK)
Virginia Kamau (Sweden)

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The designer hat

 I  got in love with textile design since the first time I heard about it. Since I was a little girl, I have been in love with clothing and fashion and when I had the chance to actually choose my career path I knew I wanted to design prints.



My life as an in house designer:
The first 8 years of my professional career were as an in house designer, including the art director position which I holed last before I move to the business side of textiles and fashion.

During my time as in-house designer ,I worked in different companies in Mexico, mainly dedicated to woman's, and children market. I also did a bit of men's and home decor.


I think being an in-house designer was one of the most amazing professional experiences I ever had, because I learned how to work with deadlines but you also learn how to interpret the trends and to create designs that were applied in to a commercial fabric.
The first time I saw my designs was pretty amazing! was so great to see rolls and rolls of fabrics being lined up in the warehouse of the company to be ready to ship.
Was also pretty exciting see the garments in people walking in the street , but my biggest moment of all is when I saw my own baby niece dressed up in a lovely dress of a print I designed.

I was lucky to work in companies where resources where dedicated to send their designers to absorb and buy inspiration in the fashionable cities, and to get magazines , fabrics, garments, stickers, ribbons  and everything that can give the design team ideas and inspiration.
I got experience as a designer and also learned about production and the commercialization process. Once I even had to be a witness in a copyright dispute; that was a shock of adrenaline!
Because I went to the authorities in Mexico to "identify" my design as a result of another company that had copied a design I created for my employeer and was actually selling it in a fabric store.

Being an in-house designer is one of my best working experiences and  I certainly enjoyed and learned a lot.

Developing my own collection
I moved to the business side of textiles and fashion for a while and then I restarted my design career in 2011. After registering my business I officially became Believe creative studio
Since the beginning I knew I wanted to focus in children designs because it suits better my style and personality.
It actually didn't took a lot, because I just undusted my painting stuff and sitted at home in our kitchen table for almost 4 months; I hand painted around 80 designs. 
I also signed for Indigo-PV for the september of that year. 
I didn't made any mood boards, not trend research, no big plans, I just wanted to design, so I did.

I enjoyed the process so much, that the more I painted the more ideas I got, it was so difficult to keep up with so many  ideas flowing, that I needed and extra set of hands and eyes.
Then Indigo came and reality hitted on me: both for good and for bad, there I was finally making my dream true, but when I looked around there was some many amazing work that I honestly felt really insecure.
I did have some sales, but nothing close to my expectations. I received pretty good feedback about my hand painted work but most of my competitors in the children's market and  some customers were asking for digital work; which by the way I didn't knew how to do.
I have to confess I came home a bit disappointed, but I was determined to make it happen; to prepare my self and to be in shape for the next round.
So I enrolled to the vey inspiring and educative course "The art and business of surface pattern design" created by Rachel Taylor and Beth Nichols.
This course was so amazing and helpful that the view of my business changed in a positive way, gave me more confidence and more knowledge but most important it helped me to believe in my work and in my dream. I took the 3 modules to refresh and to actuallize my self on what was happening in the industry.

So I prepare my self for the show this year, with more knowledge and determination. This year I came to the show more prepared, it was way better, yet more stressful. Sales again were not where I expected but my business is definitely growing and my brand is getting recognized in the market in addition to this I had the opportunity to collaborate with my amazing and talented classmates from the ABSPD course. 




I think I still need more preparation in the digital design area, but I realized people do not want the copy-paste-copy-paste work. The market is actually craving for more original and more unique work.
Most of the customers actually do not really care if the designs are hand-painted or digitally created , what they ask is for the hand created feeling.
So if you can master both you are in the right path, if not I invite you to try to learn both. You do not need to be Claude Monet, mastering drawing and painting neither  Steve Jobs master computer science.
Just learn how to do your basics and start from there, if you have money invest in a course, if you don't ,buy a book or make the challenge to learn by yourself. This will give you more tools to create.


Working with an agent.
I have been for almost a year working with a renowned agent here in the Netherlands, I had the chance to have my work exhibited both in Surtex and Indigo Brussels, with no success.
Seeing my style and my agent  style is a complete different thing, so I need to learn how to adjust to their customers, to their style and their products since there are not in fashion but in Home decor, & stationary .




Working with an agent is not an easy thing for me, since I need to get out of my comfort zone, and adjust my style if I want to have any sales.
To me is difficult to create with no direction in trends, colors, etc. Is funny but I need a bit more guidance,which is personal, because I know lots of designers work better in freedom; it depends a lot in your own personality.
Is also difficult to create work and to keep creating with almost no results.
I know how difficult can be for an agent selling work since I just had a bit taste of that experience and I know that as an agent you want to sell, at the end is a win-win situation for both.

My recommendation for those ones looking for an agent, is to really check first what the agent market and style is. Do not send children work to the ones focused in Woman's wear.
When you are applying for a full time work in any area is a must you make a research in the company you are intending to work for. So is a must to research as much as you can about the agents, learn their philosophy, market, style, history, if possible visit a show where they are exhibiting to know them better.


When you actually make an appoitnement with them, make as many questions you need to know .Is better to over ask than assume.
If you work with an agent that you trust and you rely and they have the same feeling for you, the relationship can be very successful.
Is never sure when and how much of your work is going to be sold ,just try to be open minded and have an honest and open chat with the agent before signing a contract.
I was lucky I did, my agent is an open and friendly person, and since the beginning he told me that it will take time.
Choose wise, and remember as any job relationship is not a favor they hire you and is not a favor that you are working for them, is a relationship that have to be based on trust, respect, openness and even fun.


Images property of Believe creative studio

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wearing the hats.

Hello I have been away from blogging for a while. I hope everyone is enjoying the autumn!

During my career I have been very lucky and blessed to have the opportunity to hold the 3 different roles in design commercialization.
I have worn  the different hats needed to understand the commercialization process.
Although I have hold some experiences more time than others, I wanted to share my view with you about the 3 main roles :the buyer, the designer &the agent.

In this post I will focus in the the buyer:

In the very beginning I I worked  as a textile designer,one of my teachers hired me right after college to work in a leader Textile company in Mexico.
I was  doing color ways and designs by hand  along with preparing color cards according to the trends my manager was bringing from Paris & Milan.
To me this was so chic and so exciting; every time that she went to buy designs, magazines and samples I actually felt like a children waiting for X'mas presents, I always looked forward for her to come back and show us all the treasures brought from the "magical land".

With the time this became a little obsession to me, I put into my head that one day I will visit the show and be the one doing the buying the "presents".
After this job I worked in another companies I had the chance to travel to Europe on a personal trip thanks to my daddy and to see the "magical land"
Still no textile show was in my horizon, after few steps I worked with a company that actually provided me the opportunity to attend my first show as a buyer. 


I was doing textile designs for children's, and I had enough seniority to be trusted to go to the world get designs, samples and magazines for them.Woooohooo !!!I think I didn't sleep for weeks before my trip and when I arrived and I saw all the amount of people and all the amount of designs presented there that I was so excited and overwhelmed with joy that words can not described.


At the beginning I wanted of course sit with studio and see their collections and ask as many questions as words I could articulate, since the moment I stepped in the show, I knew one day I will exhibit there (and my dream come true!)

Anyhow with the time and season after season visiting the shows to buy designs  I learned to be a very active and focused buyer. I couldn't afford to spend too much time admiring the amazing designs that were presented.
After a long plain trip, jet lag, hours of walking in the shops to buy samples and inspiration, late dinners, the time I could actually spend admiring designs became very limited.
So I  focused in going directly to my favorite studios, to the ones I was at the time familiar with, that we have successful designs  from and that actually feel connected.

When buying a design you have to think not only in that design but in the potential of that particular piece to use it as inspiration and multiply it into a collection with the in house design team in the company I worked for.


I had to think not only in the trend but also in the market that I was buying for, I had to keep in mind our best sellers and also our own customers requests.
And all of this had to be done while you are watching hundreds of designs not only from one studio but form different ones, so with the time I learned to appreciate that the studio I was buying from, knew well our style and requirements.
I always appreciate courtesy and even the fact it was developing a good personal relationship with them.
I loved when I haven't had the need to go trough tons and tons of designs with the same look but a collections with a good range yet homogeneous themes.
I definitely was not happy to see same motifs repited and repited again in different designs, this can lead to your competitor having the same motif  in a different compositions , that was and is a big NO NO in the industry.

As a buyer I always appreciate the studio taking time for our company rather than to try to provide service to several customers at the time, specially if the space is limited. I always appreciated flexibility but I what I loved the most
was to see when the person in the studio love their own collection , when this was presented with passion and care, when a person is proud to present their work, is one of the things that keep me going back to that studio to do business with.

I hope this part of the experience gives you a little view of what is being of the other side of the table, I think in any successful business relationship, you have to have empathy with the other person and to do your best to understand the opposite role, this can definitely lead you to a win win situation which should be the purpose of any business.


Vintage Indigo Paris Brochure from 2000

Vintage Indigo Map from 2000


Stay tuned for the following post.

Friday, November 2, 2012

The one... great inspiration for the weekend!

I want to share this video with you, just the kind of words I love to hear to get that extra push.
Get inspired & Happy weekend.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Indigo- The 3rd day!


The third day is  a very slow day, people come in later than the other 2 days, everything is more relaxed and casual, lots of walkers and yes you still can get some sales, but expectations for this day shouldn't be that high.
People take more time to really observe the booths, you can provide a better attention if a customer is interested in the collection and definitely is a good day to engage in conversation with other studios.
Most of the people is open to conversation, some of them come to you just to say hello and even to give you a little compliment.
I love this side of the show, I think although we are competitors, we can also share a nice and friendly conversation at the end "sun shines for everyone".
 
At 5:45pm of last day everybody is running around stripping out stands and leaving to prepare for their next show. 


Removing our pretty decorations out.




A very lonley place!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Indigo : The second day



The second day is normally less stressful, still customers are walking around and stopping by at the stand, but is way more relaxed that the first day.
I immediately ran to see the Indigo Influences area, where you can see every studio work in the screens in a video that is running all day long.
You can not see this video before the show and first day is too busy in the stand to even think in going out of it.
To get your work in this area you have to submit designs according the Indigo macro trends a moth before the show. You never know exactly which of the submitted work is going to be selected by the Indigo team to be displayed in that area.
For this season I have submitted around 20 designs from my own designs and from my guest designers.
 
I was extremely happy to see  3 of my designs running in the screen representing Believe Creative studio for Macro trends.
I also was extremely happy to see also  a design created for Believe Creative Studio collection by  Bethan Janine Westran, one of our fabulous guest designers  being printed and displayed as a representation of the Enchanted and Mysterious Macro-Trend.
Indigo Influences - Trend Area


Second day is also student day. Designs students over the world come to the show to gain some insight on the trends and the activities in this market. I love to get approached by enthusiastic souls making all sort of questions, being extremely curious and interested on how something is developed but it has unfortunately another side: some of the students came in groups gather around the stand to have a great conversation between each other about all the topics imaginable, except design, they are really interested in getting your business cards, goodies and candies;  "students happenings"  around the booth are definitely not good for business.
I have seen customers walking away from the stands because of this reason. It is a sensitive topic, because in one end I want to inspire the younger generations and I want to communicate my passion for this work but  in the other end this is sometimes just not good if you are expecting to still attract  new customers in the second day of the show.

This year the second day was very special because I became 40! so yes I was a very happy seller.
Happy 40th!
Lovely cards and a lovely present a "Swedish dala horse"



Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Indigo-Part2 : The crazy and exciting first day of the show



Indigo is divided in 3 days, each one is completely different from the other which and I will describe them over the following post.
 
This season Indigo-Paris  was visited by over 14,000 visitors from around the world. With 194 studios exhibiting their collections. 

The first day is totally busy, since the opening of the show you see lots of people walking in the isles.The energy is great, everybody is "shiny". Is wonderful too see also the great work most of the studios put to decorate their stands. 
You can see that some of the visitors have already appointments set up with the studios, you see people walking around, most of them with a plan in mind,some of the buyers even carry a list of the studios to visit as well.
To me this day is very exciting, I happily wait, smile and do my best to provide answers and to show the collection at their customer pace.

Is kind of hard job, even though you wish to explain every bit of a single design, you have also to try to put yourself  on the other side of the table to understand the buyer. Luckily I have the opportunity  back in the day to be in that side and I know how challenging and  tiring can be to watch hundreds and hundreds of designs during the show.
In my opinion as a seller you have to be fast when showing the collection, be open to engage in conversation and open to explain or answer any question asked by the customer, but you have to try to read the body language of the buyer and understand if they need you to slow down, if they want to spend more time in a particular  design or if they just want  you to finish as fast as possible.

At the end of the first day I was completely exhausted, is lots of emotions and energy going on, I was very tired of working on the collection, the trip, building the stand… oh gosh I am getting the chills just to remember how tired I was.
The first day                                                     Image from Indigo website.


The first day                                                     Image from Indigo website

Friday, October 5, 2012

Our participation in Indigo- Paris- Part 1: The stand


Finally I am back after few days of obligated time off after one of the most exciting yet busiest times of my life.
There is so many things that happen in september:

  • First of all we had one of my dearest friends visiting from Mexico, she is the amazing and talented Aide Dorantes.
  • My husband Vincent and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary as husband and wife.
  • I celebrated my 40th birthday and we participated in Indigo -PV for second time this time in collaboration with 16 fabulous guest designers.

There is of course too much to tell and too much to share so I decided to make it in parts.
First I want to tell you about the stand:

In my previous participation in Indigo-Paris  in september 2011 I honestly focused only in designing, designing, designing.
I spend almost 4 months sitting in our kitchen and garden tables hand painting my designs, a week before the show I visited Indigo -Brussels were
I realized I have forgotten to think about the stand, for me was as simply as displaying my prettiest work in the wall, but during Indigo -Brussels I was blown away with some of the work the studios did to decorate the stand.
I came home and went shopping for details to give the stand a more personal look. Of course pink elements were in my priority list.
I took me 2 or 3 days to gather all together and I think at the end the stand was nice, but compared with the other studios was not an eye catcher.
That time I saw people covering walls with very expensive huge size prints, color curtains, lamps, wallpapering all the stand and even having a living room ambiance.
So I though, next time I will be at that level.
Believe creative studio Indigo -Paris 2011 stand


This year I went to the extreme: 4 months previous to the show I started to think what I want for a stand, I knew few things
1. Pink should be involved
2. I wanted an eye catcher stand
3. I Wanted lots of details but everything had to fit in our car including me, my husband and my friend, the collection, my outfits including birthday sparkling ballerinas and tiara.
4. I wanted something personal, I wanted to include pictures specially from the ones I mainly design for :the little ones in the world.

I truly spend days and nights thinking about the stand and every detail I needed to cover.
I was so obsessed about it that for weeks I focused only on it. I make some very rough graphics on how it will look.
I bought papers to wall cover part of my studio to try which one we liked the most and I spend hours in the shops looking every little detail even coordinating napkins which by the way I just stored because we barely used them.
I also needed to keep in mind I had somehow to display a selection of the designs that were the most representative of the collection without delivering everything at once to the customer.







I got amazing pictures from my lovely nieces and also amazing shoots from the boys of Ana Berger , one of our guest designers.
At the end, I did loved the stand, I think it really represented Believe Creative Studio style and  our soul as a brand.
I think walking trough all the isles and seeing fabulous and well planned stands ,ours was popping out thanks of the stikking pink paper we used as a wallpaper.
At least I think people will remember that : the pink stand.
To mount the stand we spend around 5 hours between 3 people , is honestly a bit of a heavy task, and it was really hard because that day (18 of September ) was our wedding anniversary and after we finished
We were so tired and hungry that we needed to eat anything… what was our immediate option? Burgers in Mc' Donald's… seriously???

Anyhow, we have to do what we have to do, this as any other job require sometimes little sacrifices which at the end payoff when you see the results and even better when you are happy with it.
Hope you like it as well.

Some notes for next time:
1. Try to find a balance between not even thinking that stand decoration is needed and obsessing about it.
2. Find and decide in few main elements and stick to them, even if later on I find the coolest ever.
3. Still think eye catcher stand.
4. Reflect the soul and brand identity.
5. Be efficient and reuse
6. Make reservations for dinner in a decent restaurant so we have time pressure and nice reward after the hard work.

at our arrival- blank stand
Aide cutting paper to wallcover the stand
last piece is covered... no more paper available!
finalizing details
the perfect team: Vincent too tall me too short

chairs and tablecloth
Love to see the name of our studio displayed in this way
Adorable giveaways


Vincent & Rosie: proud, happy and in love




Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Welcome to our blog hop!



Thanks for joining us in our blog hop and  visiting us from the fabulous Miranda Mol blog.

I am Rosie Martinez-Dekker Co-Founder and Creative Director of Believe Creative Studio.
Indigo-Paris  is almost there! We as a team have been working for few month already in preparing an amazing collection,full of color,fun and fantasy.

I am extremely  happy and proud of all of us in the team, We have been working for few months, preparing for this wonderful adventure.

Believe Creative Studio has been a dream of mine for years,  my goal was to be able to exhibit my work in the most important textile design show:Indigo Paris. I knew one day it will happen!
I also wanted to help other talented designers to achieve the same goal, and  this season I had the great idea to make an open invitation to other designers to be part of this adventure as Believe Creative Studio guest designers; which has been a great and rewarding experience.
I love to mentor and to motivate others, is in my nature!  This season I directed 16  talented designers from allover the world, and it  has been a great  challenge but also a great experience.
The group has been so supportive, enthusiastic and creative that the results are beyond expectations. So much good vibes and great spirit going around!

Our collection started wit the right foot, even before Indigo we already sold some designs from the A13/W14 collection.  I loved the moment of communicating it to the designers.
Is such a celebration not only for them but also for me. 

I hope this inspire you in someway to make that jump!
Everything is possible if you really want it, do not let the fear to overcome your dreams. Just go for it and Believe!!

If you want to get in touch, visit me at Believe Creative studio website and if you are in Paris visiting Premiere vision or Indigo next week, stop by at Believe Creative Studio stand (5U49) were you can see our fabulous collection.


Your invitation to visit Believe Creative Studio stand 

Thank you to all of the Believe Creative Studio guest designers for their efforts, hard work, encouragement, kindness and positive vibes. Thanks for  Believing in this adventure :
Anna Berger (Sweden)
Becky Holmes (UK)
Bethan Janine Westran (UK)
Bethania Lima  (Chile) 
Eva Marion Seyffarth (Germany)
Leslie Daughty (USA)
Jacqueline van Roosmalen (Netherlands)
Justine Aldersey-Williams (UK)
Laura Palacios (Canada)
Miranda Mol  (Netherlands)
Nicola Griffiths (UK)
Phyllida Coroneo (UK)
Silvia Micalizo (Italy)
Sue Cashman (UK)
Veronica Galbraith (UK)
Virginia Kamau (Sweden)

and once again thanks to my beloved and supportive husband Vincent Dekker for all his efforts, love, patience, help and mainly for Believing in my crazy adventures. He is definetly the brain in Believe Creative Studio.

Celebrate!
To continue with our blog hoop please visit Eva Marion Syffarth blog, she will  definitely amaze you with her wonderful personality and her lovely work.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Meet Virginia Kamau, Believe Creative Studio guest designer

Virginia is a talented designer born in Nairobi named at birth Njeri, which means a warrior's daughter.
Vriginia is based in Sweden, where she also attended University.
She wanted to enrich her passion in colors and she specialized in Surface Pattern design.
Virginia (Njeri)  Kamau 

Njeri Designs studio 

Virginia describes her style as very expressive and playful a mix which results into bold, bright,vibrant and exotic patterns.

I love the mix of elements and tribal motifs Virginia uses in her designs. I think is fantastic, the way she mix lines and forms to create beautiful patterns.

If you are interested of learning more about Virginia's visit her blog  where she shares DIY ideas, design tips, books she loves and she also features artists and creatives whom she admires or people who are a big inspiration in Virginias life.
Enjoy her lovely work !


Here is the mini-interview I made to Virginia.

What inspires you?
I have a very huge appetite for inspiration and that means, inspirations have got to be within rich to satisfy my appetite. 
So, certainly my ideas crop up from just any thing around the place I have my presence on at a given time. 
And lately I have become so bound with nature and especially on wild flowers. 


What is your favorite part of the surface pattern design work?
Absolute favorite is color choosing and coloring. Seeing how different color palettes choice result to different feelings is magical and I probably take ages on this part. I am learning though to limit my time as I could really spend time on coloring. 


What is your big dream as a designer?
O' I have a dream and it is with no doubt to sell my designs all over the globe keeping everyone's heart warm!





Copyright © Believe Creative Studio

Copyright © Believe Creative Studio

Copyright © Believe Creative Studio

                                          Images courtesy and property of Virginia Kamau

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Introducing Believe Creative Studio guest designer: Bethania Lima


Bethania Lima is originally from Brazil and currently she is  located in Chile
She has a two degrees, one in Economics and one in Graphic Design.

Bethania is a passionate colorful  Surface Pattern Designer ,she defines her style as " colorful spontaneous geometry". 
Bethania  creates beautiful  artwork . I love her floral work!
She is very enthusiastic and very active participating in design contest where she has lots of success with her work.
Bethania  won a colourlovers contest and has been runner up and finalist of some others, and her work has been featured in several design blogs.

Bethania has a lovely blog which she defines as her sketch blog,  a place where  she shares her  surface pattern design love, she  has also amazing pictures of beautiful cities in South America such as Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and her current home Chile. 
Visit her blog!, you will be amazed with her fabulous images, from beautiful cities and her design work.
Bethania Lima

Bethania Lima studio

Here is a mini-interview I made to Bethania
What inspires you?
Nature, art, color, curiosity, trips, cities.
What is your favorite part of the surface pattern design work?
The “click” moment, I mean, the moment that after “blood, sweat and tears” you think you got an interesting idea.
What is your big dream as a designer?
To have a fresh, creative, vivid, recognizable and loved work!
Slides     Copyright@ Bethania Lima

June flower   Copyright@ Bethania Lima

Rug   Copyright@ Bethania Lima

Swing shapes     Copyright@ Bethania Lima 

Flower vase     Copyright@ Bethania Lima

All images are courtesy and property of Bethania Lima

Friday, August 17, 2012

Meet Believe Creative Studio guest designer: Miranda Mol


Miranda Mol is based in Den Bosh inThe Netherlands. 
Miranda Mol in her studio

Miranda, graduated in Textile Design with a BA in Tilburg the Netherlands. During several  years she has  worked freelancing as colorist and  designer. 
Miranda started her own company in lightning design.
After a while  Miranda decided to return to her other great ‘love’: Surface Pattern Design.
Miranda has great achievements , her work has been selected to be featured in the Pattern Base book and also she was runner up in a Rug designer competition from Elle Decoration.

She really has a very particular and unique style full of colorful geometric shapes very intrincated, but very well balanced full of color, her patterns are visual delight. Miranda is a very talented designer, super enthusiastic ! I love her positive spirit!

If you want to see more about Miranda's work visit her lovely blog, you will definetly will be fascinated with her work.

Here is the mini-interview I made to Miranda:

What inspires you?
All my life I’ve been totally addicted to colors and patterns. As a kid I liked sewing and knitting clothes for my puppets and for myself, using the most beautiful colorful fabrics. 
I find my inspiration in structures in nature, architecture and everywhere. Also I can get  many ideas from cultural expressions, like arabic patterns, etnics and tropicals. And the retro time of 70’s another my favorites, I  like to transform my ideas in patterns that are organical, symmetrical, colorful and full of expression.  
        
What is your favorite part of the surface pattern design work?
My favorite part of the surface design work is playing around with forms and colors. Mostly I translate my inspirations sources indirectly. I like starting by drawing some lines and forms, combining elements, often to abstract compositions. Love that process of experiments. When I have made a lot of these sketched elements I take a look to how to transform this in repeats and patterns. 

What is your big dream as a designer?
My big dream as designer is to start my own brand one day. Also designing for firms like Ikea and Hema are the goals I really like to achieve!

Mexican                              Copyright©Miranda Mol

Mosaique                        Copyright©Miranda Mol

Swirling Tile                    Copyright©Miranda Mol

Tangerine Tiles                       Copyright©Miranda Mol

Zigzag                     Copyright©Miranda Mol
All images are courtesy and property of Miranda Mol