Patternistas

Inspiration

Much of their work is influenced by their childhood experiences of living in exotic countries; Suzanne in Zambia and Chris in Singapore.

“At an impressionable age we each experienced a spirit soaring, culture shift that left us with a love of bold pattern and vibrant colour. We were excited by the luminous light, dramatic landscapes, tropical plants and abundance of fascinating wildlife; both of us in different parts of the world. We were surrounded by exuberant local fabrics which both our mothers would use for dress making and soft furnishings. The people in those diverse communities seemed so beautifully flamboyant and awe inspiring that we’ve been on a mission to stand out, rather than blend, in ever since.”

Based on the graphic exploration of natural forms, their eclectic collection for Rug Couture was shortlisted for an FX International Interior Design Award 2017, with the studio winning the Mixology North award for Design Team of the Year 2017.

“At home or abroad, on a bike or on foot, night and day, our life is an intense game of I-spy; peering at ripples in puddles, staring at shadows of trees, rummaging through flea markets, dreaming in doodles. Collecting, absorbing, recording, creating; patterns have played their part throughout our lives and underpin how we see the world. Our work at Patternistas is a release valve for the myriad of patterns that have built up in our brains.”

Background

With a background in graphic design and illustration, the pair spent many years as directors of a successful branding agency, Stills. They often worked independently but loved combining their skills to craft engaging messages and tell brand stories. After their family grew up and left home it felt like the perfect time to start another creative adventure and write a new story of their own. Following the successful sale of their branding agency in 2016 they formed Patternistas to fulfill the dream of working together full time and focus on their deep love of colour and pattern.

“We love the discipline of working with architects and interior designers to develop patterns that link with their projects or themes but it’s especially exciting to share the personal design work that makes up our Rug Couture collection. It’s awe inspiring to see the craftsmanship and care that has gone into recreating the designs in wool. The richness of the colours, softening of the forms and the depth of the pile gives such a luxurious look. Our designs have been applied to many different surfaces but we can honestly say that this process holds a special kind of magic.”

Working Method

Experimental in their approach neither Chris nor Suzanne are married to any particular medium. They’re as comfortable playing with paint as they are with a digital pen. Designs often begin as doodles and can develop in a host of ways from cut-paper collages to watercolour patterns and detailed digital drawings. Sometimes one or other will begin a pattern and nurture it through to it’s final conclusion but mostly ideas will be passed back and forth in a collaborative effort to manipulate and tweak them into satisfying shapes and enrich them with multitude of colour combinations.

“We hope that when people view our patterns they’ll share some of the joy that we took in creating them and that the rugs will create a vibrant focal point for interiors both contemporary and classic.”