Rachel Powell Interiors

We continue our series of Q&As with designers and makers who will be showing at New Designers One Year On this summer. We interview Rachel Powell, who will be in Part 2 running July 04-07 2012.

ARTS THREAD: Tell us a little about your background?
Rachel Powell: I am a Surface Designer specialising in print for interiors. I graduated in 2011 (from London College of Communication) and have since been working hard finalising my collection. Having shown my lighting range at Tent 2011; summer 2012 will see the launch of my complementary homewares collection featuring my first two repeat prints.

AT: What will you be showing at One Year On?
RP: My brand new wallpaper collection featuring my new bird print ‘Woodstock’ and a leafy print called ‘Prudence’. Each roll is screen printed by hand and made in the UK.

My etched veneer lampshades complete with vintage lamp bases, which will also be new for 2012 and launched at OYO. Each has been individually sourced and rewired, I love that each lamp has its own personality. Each shade is bespoke allowing the customer to play with size and choose the wood.

Hand screen-printed textiles which match my wallpaper collections, most of which are printed by me in my studio.

Rachel Powell Interiors

AT: What are you looking forward to most at OYO?
RP: I’m really looking forward to seeing how my work is received and exhibiting alongside some seriously talented designers.
 

AT: What do you hope to gain by exhibiting at OYO?
RP: It would be great to gain some commissions and/or orders, but I would also like to meet some new contacts and get some valuable feedback from the industry. Above all I want to leave the show with a big fat smile on my face!

Meet Rachel Powell and her fellow designers at One Year On Part 2 July 04-07 2012; Part 1 runs June 27-30 2012.

Geraldine Florin, Galeries Lafayette; Galeries Lafayette promotion

With the second edition of the Who’s Next/Arts Thread Fashion Graduate Competition coming to an entry deadline of next Monday May 21, and in advance of the Who’s Next show coming up this sumemr, we find out more about jury member Geraldine Florin, in charge of womenswear Purchases & Events for the Galeries Lafayette.

ARTS THREAD: Can you briefly describe your mission at the Galeries Lafayette?

Geraldine Florin: Discover new brands, develop and promote pop-up stores, promote Paris-based or national partnerships, promote the latest womenswear trends developed by the Galeries Lafayette (press, marketing and social networks co-ordination).

AT: Why do you visit the WHO’S NEXT Prêt-à-Porter Paris trade show?

GF: To discover new brands, their latest collections and to get an idea of the season’s directions.

AT: How can a website such as artsthread.com help young designers?

GF: Young fashion designers need follow-up, support and exposure; this website provides fashion students with a connection to the professional world, which is an important first step into the fashion industry.

Galeries Lafayette Paris

GF: New talents

AT: How do Galeries Lafayette help support young fashion designers?

GF: We support young designers through pop-up stores, providing them with an international exposure at our main Paris store (Haussmann) and ensuring the promotion through our communications agency. We also have a corporate sponsorship programme for young fashion designers; we are one of the main sponsors of the Villa Noailles in Hyères, among other projects.

AT: How can young fashion designers attract the attention of department stores?

GF: By bringing a completely new vision, considering we already have a very large offer!

AT: A piece of advice for the upcoming session of Who’s Next Prêt-à-Porter Paris next June?

GF: ‘Feet on the ground, head in the sky’, a true sense of creativity combined with a good sense of business. The perfect example: Carven!

The Who’s Next/Arts Thread Fashion Graduate Competition is now open, with a deadline of May 21 for applications.

Wanna Come For A Walk In The Woods?, Malene Hartmann Rasmussen

Taken over for the first time last May by the festival, the House of Detention, the converted vaults of a Victorian prison, is once again home to upcoming design talent from the UK and around the world.

Malene Hartmann Rasmussen graduated from the RCA in 2011 in Ceramcis & Glass and alongside Ornella Stocco (see below), was one of the 10 ARTS THREAD designers shown at Designersblock in September. Malene will be showing an installation made from old and new work. We hope to see the colourful Vil Du Med I Skoven? (Wanna Come For A Walk In The Woods?) made last year in Denmark.

FISE: Noémi Gera; Zsuzsa Boldizsár

Noémi Gera is a jewellery designer who graduated from MOME, Budapest with a master’s degree in jewellery and metal design in 2005. Noémi works with paper, aluminium, plastic, textile, fur, and a lot of other materials in addition to silver and gold.

9 Across: Tow Coloured, Amy de Wit; Cleracut, Ornella Stocco

Ornella Stocco’s Cleracut comes from the clue ‘Straightforward copper behind king in court (5-3)’ is a selection of pendant lamps and tea light candle holders in hand blown glass. ‘As its name suggests, the Clearcut Lamp has been cut at the very final stage of its blowing process with a pair of scissors.’ Tow Coloured from ‘Very fair clue – word too obsucure? (3-8)’ by Amy de Wit is a series of hand knitted baskets in sisal and polypropylene rope.

New Goods, Czech Centre: Lightning Fireflies, Jolana Vodicka Sornerova; Toys, Lukas Urbanec

The Czech Centre will be showcasing New Goods, a selection of upcoming talents from the republic. Designers include Jolana Vodicka Sornerova with her Lightning Fireflies, insect-shaped ceiling lights in porcelain and plastic that respond to movement – the colour of their light changes according to the height of the person below. Lukas Urbanec’s Toy is new learning game for children using interchangeable coloured discs.

Antron installation, Eleanor Ross

Led Zeppelin, wow, Arthur Analts

In addition, look out for the Led Zeppelin ladder, named after the track Stairway to Heaven and able to be placed in different angled positions in a room without falling down. Arthur also told us he has a third not-completed project which sounds intriguing – made from shredded money in GBP and LVL currencies.

For more information and to register for Clerkenwell Design Week

Writing a Press Release

A press release is an essential communication tool, one that is used to provide information on a graduate show or when launching your own business or at any time after graduation. 

You use it when taking part in exhibitions and also for promoting your work outside of exhibition times. Ideally, a press release is a brief summery of what you do and who you are. It has to be eye catching and informative. Sharp and to the point.

WHAT IS IT FOR?

A press release enables anyone from the press and the media as a whole to learn in a few paragraphs about you and your product.
Imagine going round an exhibition, seeing every stand and trying to remember them all. You can see how useful it would be to have all the information printed out or on a screen, ready for the journalist to pick out what interests them.

The press release needs to have a particular focus, or hook – Why should I write about this? And why now?

You can use a press release for a specific event such as an exhibition or for a new product you are launching or as a news story – the collaboration you have formed with another designer, is a typical example.

WHAT WILL MAKE THEM USE MY STORY?

The prime focus for any publication, whether online or in print, is to keep its readers. This is done online by keeping them on their site as long as possible and in print by ensuring they buy every issue of the publication.

Target your press release by selecting publications that you think would be most likely to be interested in your work and analyse the stories they cover. We will look in more detail at how this is done below under WHAT PUBLICATIONS SHOULD I SEND IT TO?

A key point. It is vital that the first paragraph of the story interests them and holds their attention. If this is the case, they will look at the photos you’ve supplied along with the story and make a yes/no judgement. Should it be yes, they will then go on to read more of the release.

To sum up. Your aim is a punchy first paragraph, good images, easy to understand text and if it’s digital, laid out easily for them to copy and paste if necessary.

WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE PRESS RELEASE?

• Put your logo at the top, then the date and in large type the title and sub-title of the press release.

• The key first paragraph must answers the following questions and should be no more than 50 words. 
What is the new product/exhibition/event? 
Who is involved? 
Where is it happening? 
When is it happening?

• In the first half of the page, concentrate on the event/product and what makes it newsworthy. Pick out the unusual and new aspects of the design – the materials, the technique, the inspiration.

• In the bottom half of the page talk about your business and yourself. What makes the business/you unique and different?

• Below this, add contact details. You may wish to create an email address just for press, normally press@mycompany.com. Add your landline, if you have one, as well as a mobile number, since it is quite common a journalist may contact you at short notice in order to meet a deadline.

• Pay careful attention to spelling and grammar. Print it out and read it through. It is a good idea to ask a friend to read through it as well, as a fresh pair of eyes can often see an obvious mistake.

TIPS

• Keep the text simple and easy to read. It is important to remember that many exhibitions include overseas visitors who speak English as their second language.

• Be colourful, descriptive and enthuse about your work, but avoid too many obvious adjectives hyping your work – words such as amazing, excellent, etc won’t interest a journalists who has read them thousands of times.

WHAT PUBLICATIONS SHOULD I SEND IT TO?

• Research across both print and digital to see which publications would be best suited to your work and make a list.

• A highly effective way is to create a spreadsheet, for example in Excel or use Google Docs, listing first and last name, email, position held and postal address. By doing this, you can easily monitor the success you have with different publications.

• Email or telephone the publication to ask if it’s not clear to whom you should send your press information.

HOW SHOULD I SEND IT, TO WHOM? & WHEN?

• As above, if it’s not clear on the site or in the publication, contact them to ask how they prefer to receive press information and to whom should it be addressed. Double check addresses, as often the editorial team can work separately from the other parts of the publication.

• Check the lead times for the publications, how far in advance do they work? If in doubt, ask them. Monthly print titles can often work up to three months ahead, but these days often leave some, such as new product pages, closer to the print deadline. Online, it’s much more instant and can often be posted within days.

PRESS RELEASES FOR EXHIBITION PR

• Many exhibitions will include a service whereby the exhibition’s PR will collate all the releases from all the exhibitors and make them available to the press in form of a shared server or as a CD. Alternatively, they give all the exhibitors the opportunity to upload information and images themselves to a dedicated part of the exhibition’s website.

• If the above is the case, do make sure you use it! This is included as part of the cost of the stand package, so it’s a key tool. Get your releases and images in early and you stand a better chance of having them picked by the press.

• In addition to the above, make sure you follow the PR advice in terms of text length and content and image size etc, as they have asked for a reason and you don’t want your text or image to appear ‘wrong’ when uploaded onto the exhibition’s site.

SENDING THE PRESS RELEASE IN THE POST

• Choose a good quality paper stock for the release: not too flimsy!  And include images on a CD.

• Do telephone to check they have received it, but once they confirm they have, don’t pester them asking when and if etc…This often has the reverse effect of making you appear over eager and not ‘cool.’ No one wants that!

SENDING THE RELEASE BY EMAIL

• The simplest method is to email the A4 press release as a Word Document or PDF and attach a couple of low-res jpg or PDF images. Make sure the images are less than around 200 KB, as no one wants large files cluttering up their Inbox and in larger companies, the servers often keep back any large files.

• Think carefully about the Subject title of the email. Experience shows that this can often make a difference to someone either opening an email or binning it.

• Consider creating a flyer jpg image to sit alongside the Word Document or PDF and the images. If you can’t design this yourself, ask a graphic designer friend. If this is not possible, contact your old university/college and enquire if there are students/graduates who could do this for you.

• Once you have a done a few simple email shots and using the spreadsheet you have created, look at using a system such as MailChimp, http://mailchimp.com, which allows you to send Email Newsletters – in this case press releases – to all your press contacts in one go and allows you to using predesigned templates if you wish (free for up to 2000 email addresses). You do need to have a person’s written permission to do this and in our article on marketing, we show you how to create and build this list.

HOUSING THE RELEASE ONLINE

• It is also worth housing the release online, as this will enable you to send it easily as a URL link.

• If you have your own website, you can allow people to download the press release as a PDF from your site and you can also allow people to download images.  Some designers make it openly available, which does save time, but others protect it with a password. You can also create a URL that’s not visible on your site, which you can send to press as a link.

• If you don’t have a website, then you can use your blog and also facebook and Flickr to post up releases and images that press can use. Create and use a dedicated facebook page for your business, not your private one!

AND FINALLY…

Always remember that you are marketing yourself and your business with every email and press release you do. So always be yourself. Be professional and always be positive. Your audience, the journalists, the press and all those you need to contact in the media are quick to recognise a positive attitude and quick to respond favourably.

Jessica Hogarth

ARTS THREAD starts a new series of Q&As with designers and makers who will be exhibiting at New Designers One Year On this summer. We speak to Jessica Hogarth who will be in Part 2 running July 04-07 2012.

ARTS THREAD: Tell us a little about your background?
Jessica Hogarth: I am a freelance illustrator and surface pattern designer, based on the North Yorkshire Coast. After studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design at Leeds College of Art, I got a job working for a commercial design studio. My job was to both draw and colour design layouts. After 8 months, I chose to leave my position to follow my dream to one day launch my own range of prints and products. 11 months later I showed my first collection at the British Craft Trade Fair (April 2012). I am now continuing to work on new product ideas for my own brand, as well as working freelance on a variety of projects.

AT: What will you be showing at One Year On?
JH: The products displayed at one year on will be largely paper based. I have a number of greetings cards, some wallpaper and limited edition screen prints. My collection also includes bone china mugs and tea towels, both of which feature my ‘Coastal Cottages’ design.

Jessica Hogarth

AT: What are you looking forward to most at OYO?
JH: After having such a great time at the British Craft Trade Fair, I am very excited to meet more other designer-makers and also to have further contact with people working in the industry. Working freelance in my own studio can be lonely at times, and exhibitions such as this one provides the opportunity to meet people you have perhaps had contact with online, as well as making important new connections.

AT: What do you hope to gain by exhibiting at OYO?
JH: I see One Year On as an opportunity to meet potential new buyers for my collection, but also a way of extending my network of freelance contacts. It will be an excellent chance to gain press coverage, as well as getting invaluable feedback on my work.

See Jessica Hogarth‘s collection at One Year On Part 2 July 04-07 2012; Part 1 runs June 27-30 2012.

Annecy 2012; Paperman, Disney

The International Animation Film Festival at Annecy takes place June 04 to 09 2012. Located in the Rhône-Alpes, the town has been running the festival since 1960. The opening ceremony includes a sneak preview of the The Suicide Shop, the latest film by Patrice Leconte and Paperman, the world premiere of Disney’s latest short and the first directing role for John Kahrs (Toy Story 2, Tangled, The Incredibles).

The Suicide Shop, Patrice Leconte

Festival Artistic Director, Serge Bromberg and the team from the Creative Content department selected the films for Annecy 2012, which represent 2,455 films and some 380 hours of screening. ‘We laughed, we cried, and we had a lot of doubts as choosing was very difficult. It’s this quality, this diversity and this infinite richness that is the salt of a Festival like our own. Many thanks to the creators and animators for this wonderful gift.’ said Serge Bromberg.

The Official Selection includes films such as Le Tableau by French animator Jean-François Laguionie, Eun-sil-yee (The Dearest) by Sun-ah Kim and Se-hee Park from South Korea, Arrugas (Wrinkles) by Ignacio Ferreras from Spain and Crulic: drumul spre dincolo by (Crulic: The Path to Beyond) by Anca Damian from Romania.

The Official Selection also includes music videos, such as Du Monde tout autour for French band Louise Attaque, directed by Louis Clichy in 22 days with animation/compositing assistance from Antoine Ettori, Sébastien Rouxel, Matthieu Gaillard, Mathias Lachal, Ludovic Versace, Thibaud Gayral and Alice Bissonnet.

Mark Gravas is an Australian animator who co-owns the animation studio Kapow Pictures. Showing at Annecy is his work for the Sydney-based punk band the Hard-Ons entitled Everyone Seems to Be Out to Get You.

For the full International Animation Film Festival programme at Annecy 2012.

Wire Wonderland, Hayley Dix

ARTS THREAD starts a new series of Q&As with designers and makers who will be exhibiting at New Designers One Year On this summer. First up is Hayley Dix who will be showing her work in Part 1 June 27-30 2012.
 
ARTS THREAD: Tell us a little about your background? 
Hayley Dix: I am a 2011 graduate of Middlesex University, who studied Design Interior and Applied Arts. My work is inspired by subjects relevant to science and the natural world and often aims at telling a story or educating my viewers. I have an interest in a wide variety of materials, from thread to wire, from paper to acrylic. So far these qualities have led me to create a wide variety of works, including, acrylic brooches, paper lighting, and interactive displays.
 
AT: What will you be showing at One Year On?
HD: Since graduating I have developed a collection of wire and wood drawings which will be on display during Part 1 of New Designers. Currently my drawings include birds, foxes, and squirrels which can sit on a surface, hang or fix to the wall.
 
AT: Can you tell us the inspiration behind the wire and wood drawings?
HD: I have mentioned that I am inspired by science and the natural world; there is definitely no exception here. These recent drawings are driven by the wildlife that surrounds me, particularly birds, which I find fascinating; I just love the variety of characters which they display. I also really like the idea of the history behind the wood that I use. By collecting wood that has fallen from the trees I feel that I am almost continuing its lifespan by incorporating it into one of my pieces. This fits within the story telling trait of my works.
 
AT: What are you looking forward to most at OYO?
HD: I cannot wait for the atmosphere that comes from having so many creative minds under one roof, this inspires me massively. I am also excited about meeting new people who have a genuine interest in my work. When I am making I often think about where this piece of work will end up? Who will give it a home? As well as were they might display it? It is almost as if waiting for a new chapter to be written in my ‘story’.
 
AT: What do you hope to gain by exhibiting at OYO?
HD: Exhibiting at New Designers last year definitely helped with my confidence, it taught me to have belief in what I do; I am hoping that this year can develop on that further. Perhaps I may even find homes for some of my little birds; that would be brilliant.

Meet Hayley Dix and the One Year On exhibitors in Part 1 June 27-30 2012. Part 2 runs July 04-07 2012.

Grand Prix L'Oreal Professional Award winners, Siiri Raasakka, Tiia Siren & Elina Laitenen

Last night saw the announcement of the winners of the 27th edition of the Hyères Festival in the south of France. ARTS THREAD takes a look.

The Grand Prix L’Oreal Professional went to a trio from Finland – Siiri Raasakka, Tiia Siren and Elina Laitenen with their menswear collection. Having met at Aalto University of Art and Design in Helsinki, the three have designed menswear for ‘urban nomads, living in a utopian society of the future’, full of colourful print, fringing and fake fur. The winners will be given the opportunity to present a collection at the L’Oréal Académie 14, rue Royale, during 2013 summer/spring Fashion Week.

Première Vision Award winner, Ragne Kikas

Chloé Award winner, Steven Tai

Public Palais de Tokyo/Villa Noailles Award winner, Lucas Sponchiado

The School of Visual Arts in New York Photo Global scholarship winner, Namsa Leuba

Photography Jury Grand Prize winner, Jessica Eaton

Image credits: catwalk photography ©Etienne Tordoir.

For more information on the 27th International Festival of Fashion and Photography.

Format, AVA Academia

There are a number of titles on the market dealing with aspects of format but few can match this. The key to any book providing instruction is the clarity of the writing and the quality of the material used to illustrate it. Basic Design 01: Format, scores top marks on both counts.

Format, AVA Academia

Format, AVA Academia

Format, AVA Academia

Format is written by Gavin Ambrose, a practising graphic designer and freelance writer and editor Paul Harris. For more information on Basic Design 01: Format, AVA Academia.

FAME, Who's Next; Henri Lloyd: Technical Clothing Sponsor to the RYA youth Programme; Craig Prest, Creative Director Henri Lloyd

The Who’s Next/Arts Thread jury will pick 10 winning 2012 graduates who will be able to show their recent collection for one time only at Who’s Next/Prêt-à-Porter in Paris June 30-July 03 2012.

ARTS THREAD: Please explain your role at Henri Lloyd?

Craig Prest: As Creative Director my role involves anything visual within the business. Design and Technical Development governs most of my time alongside marketing and brand communication.

Henri Lloyd: Ben Ainslie collection, Technical Clothing Sponsor to the RYA Youth Programme

CP: It’s important as an international brand that we support our international markets. We have a strong presence in key European shows such as Pitti in Italy and Who’s Next is part of that same strategy.

AT: How do you think artsthread.com can benefit young designers?

CP: It not only provides a protected and relevant platform but its global reach into the industry makes it uniquely effective.

AT: What do you hope to discover from the Who’s Next/Arts Thread competition?

CP: New generation designers who can make my life easier!

Henri Lloyd: Bournemouth University student briefing; Catwalk Australia

CP: We run annual collaborations with key academic partners on design and development projects – this year we are working with Bournemouth University with 2nd year design students on an outerwear brief.

AT: And your top fashion tip to look out for at WSA in June?

CP: Nautical Hybrid !

The Who’s Next/Arts Thread Fashion Graduate Competition is now open, with a deadline of May 21 for applications.