Claire Louise Designs

Claire Louise Designs is a small textile design studio based in Oldham. They specialise in curtains, bedding, and wallpaper. All designs are hand painted and range from painted florals, modern florals, geometrics, modern damasks, abstract and embroideries. They sell to all areas of the Home Furnishing Market and, with an initial consultation, work on commissions producing quality artwork that meet their clients needs regarding any specific requirements. These include embroideries, canvas art, trend boards, storyboards, colourways and paper products. Having spoken to Claire Louse in person on the telephone she happily agreed to answer a few questions about her working process and the industry.

All her designs are hand-painted. Sometimes she works on smaller motifs on Photoshop but prefers painted artwork as do her clients.

Claire Louise has a small collection of embroidery designs. She hand sews sequins on etc and also uses metallic on her designs as well as textured grounds.

She works to briefs set by companies. These are called commissions. They give her an idea of what they are looking for and then she will come up with a design/idea. They might show her a fabric or picture then ask for something that would do the same job.

Claire Louise says Heimtextil is good to go and see the years trends/colours. Working with companies she gets a good idea of what designs sell well and which trends are in. She looks in magazines and also does research in shops.

After University she worked for two companies, Susan Hawes Design and Artwork Design. This was good experience but she thinks if you have an eye for design you can teach and grow yourself without this. She taught herself a lot, before she went to companies, by looking at repeats and fabric. She thinks work experience is always good but has learnt more on her own than she did working for companies.

Claire Louise once gave her work to a design studio but only sold a few and still to this day cannot get her work back so advises us to be careful! '"There are a lot of companies you can trust but also a lot who see students coming and use their talent"'.

She tries to produce as many designs as she can but if she gets commissions this affects how many new designs she does. When she worked for companies they wanted 3-4designs a week. She could produce one design a day if she worked till late but she always has commissions and meetings which take up a lot of her time.

Claire Louise says her work has not not been affected by the state of the global economy although she can see bigger studios suffering. Smaller companies seem to be doing ok. She thinks as more people cannot afford to move they will re-decorate their homes so will need new designs, fingers crossed!

Costs to produce designs are low. Designs sell from £350-£500

Claire Louise's market differs as she works with some low-mid end market companies and some high end companies.

A lot of design studios are CAD studios. She is different because all her designs are hand-painted and her clients get a more personal service.

Claire Louise believes if you want something, work hard and you will get it. She advises not to be lazy or scared to go to London for work. When she first started she lost a lot of work through being lazy and not wanting to go to London on the train, which she thinks was silly. She says that with time you get confidence and she loves doing the shows in Germany and Belgium, so now London doesn't seem so bad!

And finally she says "Take some chances and don't change your style for a company. I have seen many people come and go in studios but if you have a strong style and work hard you will have a good career. Don't get down if you are not selling as many as others in the studio. It can be hard but if you love it its worth it. Designing or working in an office all day? I know which one I'm happy with. And its nice being my own boss! (Claire Louise Designs)