To round off my trend research i am looking into some colour trends for SS’21. Throughout my research so far i have already encountered many of the reports focusing on colour so within this post just focusing on those i have not yet encountered. Despite having a good idea on what colours i want to use already, i still think it is important to be informed by the predicted hues to be on trend for this season to ensure my colour pallet and designs are up to date.

Lifestyle and Interiors Global Colour

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83713/page/2

This report takes a global perspective on colour meaning it may make my designs appropriate for a global market. If i can ensure i am reaching out to a global customer base through the use of colour this may make my designs more attractive to a wider market.

Within this reports action points it notes neutral tones paired with richly tinted shades will create a sophisticated feel for SS’21 collections. To make my designs more appropriate for my target demographic i will utilise the neutral tones to add a sophisticated feel to my collection; however, pair these with brighter shades to add a youthful and fun feel. I feel this will create an appropriate balance for being on trend for a global market; however, whilst still appealing to my target market.

Another important point raised within this reports action points is to embrace off kilter brights. This is an idea i have previously encountered within another action point and felt it was a really good way to incorporate bright tones; however, in a modern way. Introducing less traditional off kilter brights would also relate to my alien theme as they will both be reminiscent to every day life; however, slightly juxtaposed.

Overall this report has brought new inspiration for how i can develop my colour pallet and is also helping me make decisions to how i can make my colour pallet as appropriate as possible for my target demographic.

Key Points: Neutral tones paired with rich/ bright shades, Off kilter brights.

Europe Colour

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83688/page/1

This report takes inspiration from the global colour report i have just looked at and applies it to a European market. It will be interesting to see how much it has actually changed.

Within this reports action points it still notes the use of natural colours; however, this time says they will add a sense of luxury instead of sophistication. This action point also notes a particular increase in the popularity of brown which will reach mainstream in SS’21. Although brown may have trickled down to mainstream i do not feel it will be overly appropriate for my target demographic. Small areas of the hue may be included; however, i feel to really reach out to my target demographic i will avoid using it unless in this minimal way.

Another important idea in relation to colour is the idea to look to online sources for inspiration. The report notes that as we enter the era of 5G screen based tech will alter the way we view brighter tones as we will see them evolve into a more artificial age. This idea has a direct relation to the idea of off kilter brights within the previous report. Growing up as part of a generation constantly fixed to screens and devices i feel this point is very important for my target demographic as their up bringing will be even more saturated in screens and devices than my own. When experimenting with colour pallets i am very excited to see what hues i come up with in relation to this idea.

Overall this report has reinforced the ideas of the Global perspective however just slightly adapted the points. It is interesting to see how a global and a European perspective differs and how i can manipulate my designs to suit either of these two markets.

Key Points: Neutrals to signify luxury, Artificial colour inspired by 5G and screens.

Colour Evolution

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83170/page/1

This report focus on particular colours and how they have developed over the past year through three seasons. It is interesting to see this development and how certain hues become brighter in the summer and others in winter. Seeing colours development visually like this could prove vital when choosing my brighter and pastel colours for my SS’21 colour pallet.

What is interesting about most of the hues featured within these colour pallets is that they tend to be brighter in AW rather than SS. When thinking about my research into AW and SS, when deciding what season i want to design for i selected SS based on the lighter hues which i felt better suited my collection. However, thinking more deeply into this, the SS hues probably seem more dull as they are more pastel shades which offer a cool feel where as the AW hues are bright and give off a warmer feel. This idea is reinforced by the pastel slide within this report which presents the SS hues as far lighter in tone than the AW.

Wanting to definitely include pink within my designs i am taking particular notice of how this shade has developed over the past three seasons. Back in SS’20 pink hues which could be associated with a Barbie doll were prominent and then paired right back for AW with a much more reserved tone for the hue. Moving onto SS’21 colour has been re-injected; however, in a more fleshy brown tone. I feel the first pink hue presented for SS’21 would be very appropriate for my target demographic as it is quite sophisticated which they would enjoy.

Overall this report has been very useful for demonstrating how colour develops over time. Rather than just looking at SS’21 on its own it has given me knowledge about how colours progress and how exactly they change and develop from season to season. When devising my colour pallet this report will prove awfully useful in informing my ideas.

Key Ideas: Use pastel tones to represent SS, Fleshy pinks.

Overall looking at all these trend reports has really helped to develop my ideas and will also assist me to be on trend for SS’21. I feel these reports have really sent me on a journey and helped me solidify some ideas; especially the season i want to design for. Although i have now finished the bulk of my trend research i will still check WGSN regally for any new updates that can inform my ideas as the project continues. From here i want to collect my key points so i can look at them quickly and easily if i ever need inspiration for where i should go next with my ideas. Tomorrow i will put together my brief and time table and then start with TV, film and game research as inspired by these trends. To manage my time as well as i can i hope to have completed my research by the end of the first week as i feel like this is a reasonable target.

Print and Pattern: 10 Key Trends for 2020

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85415/page/2

Although this report is directed at 2020 i still feel there are some areas i could utilise and adapt to be more appropriate for SS’21. By being aware of recent trends gone by i am also making myself more aware of how trends can develop over time.

Within this reports checklist it noes the importance of being inspired by nature, utilising contour designs and botanicals. Within my designs i already plan to be inspired by nature and florals which means my current ideas directly link with this point. The second checklist point also refers to natural forms in the shape of soft blooms and soothing pastel tones. Within my designs i feel the basis of my colour pallet will be softer pastel tones; however, also with bright pops of colour injected to highlight particular areas and help my designs appeal to my target market.

Another point this report references is the idea of culture collaboration with reference to folk motifs and new ages narratives. Within my collection i want to utilise this idea; however, update it by letting my florals and aliens depict this idea. I feel by using these two elements i will be allowing two different sub cultures to collaborate, united through my personal style.

The last point from this checklist i would like to raise is the idea of utilising mystic wonders coming from astrology and the cosmic world. Although i have only been considering using aliens within my work i could easily extend this to other elements that may be found in the universe such as planets, stars and space ships. I feel to start i will create my floral and alien imagery and then see how these are working as a motif before i choose whether i want to develop new elements as i do not want to overwhelm my designs.

Key Points: Be inspired by nature, natural forms and soft florals, Culture collaboration, Mystic wonders from astrology and the cosmic world

Instagrams That Inspire: Print and Pattern

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85582/page/2

In an ever increasingly digital society, social media platforms are becoming a key way to engage in print and pattern. Social media has the benefit of being accesable from almost anywhere on the planet meaning even if your sitting on your sofa in Cardiff you can be inspired by the wonders of India through your friends and influencers accounts.

This report notes the benefits of using social media to engage customers in products and services. Within its first action point it states to encourage consumers to take risks when it comes to mixing and matching maximalist patterns. Within my collection i will have a wide a range of maximalist designs because of my hero designs. Although within my show space i want to keep my display clean and harmonious, through photography and CAD visuals i could still reach out to customers and encourage this maximalist style.

Although the information from this report was minimal it still highlights the importance of social media when creating a successful brand. I love maximalist designs which limit negative space so it is really encouraging to see that this will be on trend. Although these maximalist designs will feature throughout my hero outcomes i will still have a variety of paired back blender designs to help the busy designs coordinate as a collection.

Key Points: Mix and Match maximalist patterns, Use social media to reach a wider audience.

Mystic Nights

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85414/page/2

Although initially thinking aliens would be slightly random for a bedroom collection i am uncovering more and more trends which actually point to space as a theme of inspiration for interior product ranges.

Within this report it notes to utilise magical motifs and icons to build a cohesive narrative throughout the product range. I feel for my aliens to be consistent they should be diverse in size, shape and form; however, have one cohesive element to them such as colour, texture, style or one particular characteristic they all have. I want each alien to seem exciting and different from the next; however, still work well as a collective.

This report also points towards horoscope and zodiac sighs as a good theme to use within designs. These i could use to inspire the shape and forms of my aliens as if i were to include this idea within my work i would want it to be more abstract than literal. I feel as i am already using aliens and florals within my work the addition of a third major theme such as zodiac signs may slightly overwhelm my motifs and overall collection.

The last action point within this report mentions updating the SS’20 theme of outer space by getting new influences from sci-fi games and videos for a futuristic feel. This action point also goes onto state the UFO will remain a key icon for kids. Following my trend research i have already planned to look into TV and Films; however, had not considered looking into video games. This may be an interesting area of exploration and provide myself with more diverse ideas. To inform my ideas further i will go back and look at this report from SS’20 to see how i can further adapt it.

Key Points: Magical motifs and icons, Horoscope and Zodiac Signs, Be influenced by sci-fi games, UFOs.

Key Icons: S/S 20

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85117/page/7

This report focuses on key icons for the season i am aiming for (SS); however for the previous year. I was inspired to look at this report because the previous report i looked at mentioned updating UFO imagery from this report for my chosen year and season.

On the UFO slide it mentions the Star Wars franchise as a continuing influencer within the Sci-fi world and the topic of UFO’s being relevant for both boys and girls. When starting my film research Star Wars could inspire some of my alien imagery and as it is such a popular franchise i know i will be gaining inspiration from a reliable and popular source.

Another important point this slide makes reference to is the inclusion of space ships and flying saucers within designs. Within my initial drawings i would initially like to stick to my aliens and florals and then once happy with this progress, expand my ideas and imagery into this area. Although space ships would link in well with aliens i do not want to overwhelm my designs so i will experiment both with and without this imagery to make an informed decision to whether they would be an asset to my motifs and designs.

Overall i think this report has helped broaden my ideas for further research i can undertake in relation to the Star Wars films. This report has also provided me with more imagery i can look into in relation to space ships which may make my designs more interesting.

Key Points: Star Wars, Space Ships

Key Patters: Furniture and Lighting

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85413/page/2

Within this reports action points it references utilising natures narratives by looking at surface textures from outdoors. Following this the report also notes taking this one step further by embossing materials for a textural quality. Within my own designs i have considered utilising hand embroidery to integrate textural values; however, not that of embossing. To embed my design onto my wallpaper i could research companies that create 3D surfaces through techniques such as embossing. This would be an interesting technique to use on monotone designs to give them a bigger textural value and also make them more appealing to the touch.

Within a slide of this report it references another key idea to be botanical foliage within interiors. It notes to pair this theme with soft illustrations, updating a previous seasons trend. Now having visited Kew Gardens i have lots of inspiration of botanical foliage which i can utilise within my designs. I feel the organic shapes and patterns from these images will really complement my florals and also help me to integrate my aliens into my motifs in a more elegant way.

This report has raised key points in relation to the use of natural inspiration for interior designs. Within my own collection i hope that my ideas will fit in with these points so my designs will be on trend for an interiors market.

Key Points: Textures inspired by the outdoors, Embossed wallpapers, Botanical foliage.

Baxter Mill Archive: S/S 21 Print Inspiration

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85235/page/5

This report is said to bring together three reports i have already looked at for SS’21 which were TransForm, HomeSpun and GameScape. I hope this report will be able to extend on the ideas that i have already noted from these three reports and also extend upon them with new ideas.

On the first slide of this report it notes the use of altered nature through a digital and distorted style. These kind of textural designs are something i was considering for the background of my hero designs and would become central for my blender designs. I still really like this idea as it would help to draw my collection together.

On another slide the use of wild stems is noted which was previously referenced in the HomeSpun SS’21 report. This notes looking at the wilder side of nature taking inspiration from untamed meadows and weeds. When taking inspiration from this idea i will have to ensure it is really suited to my target demographic as the images included within this report make it appear to be aimed at a much elder audience from their soft and harmonious colour pallet.

Unfortunately i do not feel this report has provided me with any new inspiration compared to the original three reports i looked at; however, just reiterated some of the points. To continue to ensure my designs are on trend for SS’21 i will now look into reports on colour for this season.

Maison and Objet September 2019: Print, Pattern and Textiles

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/84847/page/2

Although this report is two years before the season i am designing for i thought it may be interesting to compare this to some of those for future years in order to see if there are any consistent or revived ideas between the two seasons.

Within this reports action points it opens with the idea of sustainability as a way to catch customers attention. This report similar to others, also notes the importance of advertising both the big and small steps the company is taking in order to make their process more sustainable. From this 2019 report it is clear that sustainability has now been gaining traction for a long time; however, from my in store research it is not evident that shops are utilising this idea within their own products or as a means for branding. If i do go down the sustainable route which i am planning i will have to ensure i advertise this to it’s full potential to ensure customers know they are buying into products which encourage a healthy environment.

Another action point this report notes is the importance of going bold with pattern and allowing customers to mix and match patterns through alternate colour ways. My personal handwriting/ style does embody a maximalist approach to pattern and colour so this is something i would definitely be looking to include within my designs.

Overall despite this report being for 2019 it has reinforced some ideas i have seen within SS’21 reports and has also brought new ideas about pattern and colour ways. Despite finding these ideas intriguing i feel i am best off to look at the seasons ahead as this forward thinking is only really available on trend sites such as WGSN. Books tend to be best for ideas gone by, magazine’s for the present moment and trends for forward thinking. By incorporating all three of these research areas amongst others, i should create a solid ground work for my initial drawings.

Key Points: Advertise sustainable aspects of my designs, Go bold with pattern.

Sustainable Textiles

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83926/page/2

With a keen interest to integrate some level of sustainability into my project i have uncovered a report which directly links to sustainable textiles. Where as other reports have only included one key action point referring to sustainability in relation to some aspect of my product range/ market, i hope this report will be brimming with different ideas which can expand on my current research.

The first action point is an idea which i have now encountered several times before which is the idea of being transparent so consumers know the products i am making are eco friendly and organic. Although this is a simple idea of advertising products correctly it is clearly being missed by some brands as different reports keep reiterating this point. I will have to have a brainstorm of how i can advertise my sustainable products in a professional and marketable way.

The second action point within this report differs to any suggestion i have encountered on WGSN before and provides the idea of working with local manufactures to grow the local economy. This idea does make sense as not only will this mean i am investing in my local area; however, also means there will be less transportation of goods which should reduce the amount of CO2 my project is causing. Although this may seem a small idea, it is those like this i would be able to advertise to consumers to show i am taking every step necessary to ensure a better future for our planet.

The final action point which could improve my ideas for this project is ensuring i include the Fairtrade logos on my products and packaging if i do go down this route. This will build a level of trust between my products and the consumers as well as being another way to advertise my products are fairly made and ethically sourced.

Key Points: Be transparent about sustainability, work with local manufactures to grow the local community

The Sustainable Garden

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85186/page/2

Although this report links to gardening and how retailers can better engage their customers in sustainable living, i feel there are a few action points from this post i can engage within my project. I feel most sustainable ideas can be transformed or adapted to suit pretty much any product or idea.

The first action point within this report is the idea of telling a story to add excitement to products. This can be done by embedding flower seeds into greetings cards or repurposing old tyres into stepping stones. It would be interesting to have a brainstorm of how i could develop these ideas into something more appropriate for my children’s bedroom collection. As of yet i do not have any ideas springing to mind; however, this is something i will keep an eye out for throughout my research to see if i can find anything interesting.

The second action point is to give the gift of craft by offering products that get consumers making with their hands and tie into their personal interests. Once again i am not 100% sure how i could tie this into my own project as of yet; however, it is something to consider as i am continuing my research. By adding an engaging creative element to my product range, this may help attract my target market as they are still at a crafty age where they have time to engage in fun activities.

The third action point within this report is one that has been consistent throughout all the research i have done so far which is to use natural and sustainable materials. This seems to be the mothership and hub of where all sustainable ideas stem from and crucial to ensuring my project has a good sustainable grounding.

Overall this report has given myself a lot to think about with ideas which are not necessarily easy to create solutions to straight away. Although feeling a bit stuck with these ideas at the minute, these that require a vast amount of thinking and planning could really make the difference to my project and ensure it stands out to consumers in a positive way.

Key Points: Tell a story, Give the gift of craft, Use natural and sustainable materials.

As well as the usual retailers such as department and home wear stores that sell bedding i have also noticed ranges creeping into our supermarkets. I feel supermarkets may be a good area to design for as children within my demographic may go food shopping with their parents and spot items they like there. To assess their range and if i think one would be appropriate to design for i have decided to take a look at their ranges.

Morrisons

I first considered supermarkets to design for whilst i was in my local Morrisons store and noticed they stocked half an isle full of home wear related items including bedding and cushions. The products retailed at a low end price meaning there would most likely be a lack of opportunity to include sustainable substrates within my designs. Once again this retailer did not stock wallpaper. Despite the vast variety of items i could not find anything that i felt would particularly inspire my project. It was clear the retailer was selling a maximum of 4 collections within the one small space; however, having such a vast variety of colour and texture in a small place i felt done more harm to the designs than good. Although not finding any pressing inspiration from Morrisons i will continue to look around and assess whether this is the correct market for myself to design for.

Tesco

Overall Tesco had a much wider range of homeware and bedroom items than Morrisons; however, this Tesco’s was a much larger store. As this store had more space to spread their stock out the collections did not seem so jumbled together which made them seem a lot more attractive. Not overwhelming a space is something i should remember for the end of year show. As we will have to create 30 designs it may be tempting to present them all; however, this is probably not the best idea. To ensure my space looks successful and attractive i will have to ensure i select a minimum amount of designs and present them well within my space.

Within the first image is Tescos bedding collection. Overall i found the hues within this very underwhelming and mostly of a very greyish tone. Although within my own collection not every design can be filled with bright hues i would like my collection to make a bigger impact with colours than Tesco’s does here.

The second image of vases i took as the hues within the glass reminded me of the pearlescent glow that was referenced so many times within my trend research. Although i have no intention to learn how to blow/ mould glass within this project, i thought having this image to reference for this colour-way may prove useful.

The third image caught my eye because of the embroidery used within the pillow to create texture. Within my own collection i have considered using either hand or machine embroidery to highlight certain aspects within my designs; however, have been concerned if this may irritate the skin on bedding sets. Throughout my designing process i will continue to consider using embroidery and could actually perform my ow experiment by stitching into my own pillow case to see if this does in fact cause irritation.

The final two images i took for inspiration on composition and imagery. Within my designs florals will be prominent; however, i am not sure how i want to present these e.g. in a damask style or other repeating structure. It is useful too see how designs currently on the market are constructed to assess which are the most popular amoung consumers.

Despite finding researching in Tesco useful they did have a lack of interior products for children. Within all of my research so far i think i have really assessed a gap in the market as there is a huge variety of items for adults and quite a lot for younger children; however, the amount gets blurry when it comes to older children/ young teens. I feel this is an age which is not so focused on by the industry; however, a very crucial stage as the children’s designs are too babyish and the adult designs aimed far too much at an elder demographic. Hopefully by aiming at this gap in the market i will be able to attract more people within my demographic to my collection.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

ASDA

Asdas collection was more reminiscent of Morrisons rather than Tescos because of the limited stock and designs jumbled together. Although retail outlets such as this will want to show their full range of designs in one space, it does not do any justice for the designs as they all juxtapose and create a very unattractive display with a mix of hues, textures and patterns. Within my display i will have to carefully consider the placement of each designs so’s to avoid such contrast. Despite this, all all my designs will be for one collection so, this should enable them to blend better and complement each-other.

Overall i feel most of these designs would appeal to my older girl market as they do entail feminine themes such as unicorns, butterflies and florals. Previously i have not considered using butterflies within my collection; however, i could use these as inspiration for my aliens as i have seen Butterflies in many different retail outlets and feel they would really appeal to my target demographic. As well as this, i feel i could take a lot of inspiration from their wings and bodies to transform them into something a little more alien.

Despite feeling florals will engage my target demographic i feel the floral bedding set’s colour pallet (very right image) is a little too paired back and slightly dull for this age range. Using grey does add a much more mature and dull feel and i think another shade such as pink could really help to make this design more appropriate for my demographic.

• 

• 

• 

Overall looking at supermarkets has given me lots of ideas on colour pallets and especially how i should arrange my show. I want to avoid this clash of colour, pattern and texture to hopefully create a much more appealing display which will complement my collection rather than overwhelm it. To achieve this i only want to display a minimum amount of designs which all complement each other, rather than trying to include everything and it being totally overwhelming.

Now having looked at WSGN’s reports for interiors SS’21 and A/W’21/22 i have decided on designing for SS’21 as i feel my initial ideas best match this season. To extend upon this research i am now looking under the Kids and Teens section of WGSN to see how i can further focus my ideas to be on trend for my older girl/ preteen market.

Sustainable Design for Kids

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85581/page/2

Wanting to include a sustainable element to my collection this report caught my eye as it weighs heavily on the inclusion of this idea for my demographic market. Within this reports action points it notes products should be made to last and use less packaging. For my products to stand the test of time i will have to ensure they are made out of high quality material which (if fabric) can be washed multiple times without the colours fading. Although i may not have to package my products i could repurpose this idea and ensure i am not creating a vast amount of waist throughout my designing and production process. To ensure this is the case i will try to reuse paper and other substrates along with ensuring the printing method i choose is eco friendly and sustainable.

Overall although this report only covers a few key points they will still be vital if i want my project to have a sustainable outcome. I feel utilising eco friendly and sustainable materials will help to attract my target market and the parents who will be investing their money into my designs in our ever growing eco conscious society.

Key Points: Made to last, Reduce waste through design and production.

Kids’ Home Textiles

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85242/page/2

This report reinforces that of the previous by referencing a sustainability focus within its action points. However, instead of thinking about how the products will stand the test of time it focuses on eco-alternative fabrics that are ethically sourced. Now seeing how these two trend reports react differently to sustainability within textiles it is clear for my products to be truly sustainable the entire process needs to be thought out carefully. It is not simply a case of selecting recycled and eco friendly materials at the start; however, i need to also ensure they will stand the test of time as well.

An interesting action point this report brings up is the idea of going ageless and genderless with design employing a no-rules policy. Initially when reading this i thought this will be quite hard when most of my designs will feature flowers; however, now thinking about it in more depth if i only included aliens within some of my designs this could make my collection more appropriate to a boys market. This is something i would very much like to play with when creating my motifs as it could inspire new ideas and also allow me to draw on a wider target market.

Another action point this report brings up is the idea of focusing on comfort within kids interior spaces. As my designs will be intended for the bedroom comfort will be key; however, it would be interesting to see how much i can play on this and bring it even further into my work. When designing i will have to constantly assess how i can draw in more comfort elements which can help my designs be on trend for this market.

The final action point within this report is to encourage self expression by mixing ideas and utilising daring colour combinations. With my theme

of aliens and florals i feel my ideas already tap into this area quite well; however, i still want to be constantly thinking about how i can push this further throughout my project.

Overall this report has many ideas which i feel i can utilise within my project. The reference once again to sustainability shows how key it will be for my market and definitely something i should look into further.

Key Points: Sustainable materials and lasting sustainability, ageless and genderless, focus on comfort, encourage self expression.

Kids Character Licensing

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/84980/page/2

Within kids bedroom products often licensed tv or film characters are used. During my in store research i noted a vast amount of products within the girls market were licensed LOL Dolls themed designs which is currently a popular game/ toys for younger girls. Although i will not be using licensed designs within my collection i can still be inspired by the ideas within this action point to inform my own designs.

Within this reports action points it says to plan ahead by tracking new TV and film character launches for future product lines. To make this idea useful for my own collection i should take inspiration from future films and TV series so although my designs will not be exactly the same as these characters, there may be elements which are reminiscent with my market which may draw them to my designs.

Another action point this report provides is the idea of embracing nostalgia by updating retro favourites. This idea takes an opposite stance to the previous action point by saying we should look back as well as forward. Within my research i should do both these things in order to ensure i have a wide range of inspiration for my designs.

The final action point within this report notes going eco- friendly. This is now the third report under this section which has referenced the importance of sustainable design meaning it will be key within the seasons ahead. However, not only does this report mention the importance of utilising sustainable materials but actually creating imagery/ designs that will educate children about helping the planet and environmental issues. This is a very interesting idea which i have not yet considered for my collection. Within my floral and alien imagery i could experiment with motif placement to see if i can create a design which also demonstrates to my market the need to look after our planet.

Overall despite this report being centrally about licensed products it has given me lots of ideas about how i can develop my own designs. One point i really liked from this report was to use the imagery within my designs to show children how to take care of the planet. With an ever growing demand for eco friendly products from consumers this could be a way to set my designs apart from the rest on the market.

Key Points: New tv and film characters, retro favourite characters, using illustrations to show kids how to help protect the planet.

Kids Wellness: Key Priorities

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83416/page/2

As well as sustainability becoming an every increasing issue within todays UK society, wellness and mental health has also become a big issue in recent years. To ensure my designs have positive effects on children who are perhaps going to embark on the most confusing years of their life, i thought this report may inspire some positive thinking and how i can integrate this into my designs.

The first action point this report gives is to develop products to get children outside and explore nature. Although i initially thought of florals for their aesthetic qualities, these could be key for this idea as they may inspire children to go outside and see if they can find these flowers in the wilderness.

As well as this point, this report also notes of the importance of sensory crafting experiences. Within my research so far i have discussed the possible use of embroidery, and i think this would be a really good way to integrate these sensory experiences into my work. Having a variety of textures within my designs may add a soothing and calming element to my products which may play some role in improving a child’s wellbeing. As well as embroidery, i could also experiment with patch working or appliquéing other materials together for added tactile experiences. This would also link to the Kids Home Textiles report which notes to focus on comfort.

Despite not being about print, pattern or colour this report has provided myself with a new way to look at my designs rather than just going out with the aim of them looking pretty. The focus on wellness within this report and that on sustainability in the previous really demonstrates how important a design can be, far past just looking good. When a child within my age demographic looks at my designs i want to encourage a positive feeling of wellness as then my design could embody a sentimental quality and truly last a lifetime.

Key Points: Encourage children to get back to nature, create sensory experiences, encourage wellness through design.

Baby, Kids and Teens: Bedtime Comfort

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/83136/page/2

Planning on designing for older girls bedrooms this report will hopefully entail some vital knowledge demonstrating how i can make my designs bang on trend for this room of the house.

Within this report the idea of genderless design has been reiterated meaning this may be a key idea for future bedroom design. Within society less pressure is being put on individuals to confine themselves to a gender and this looser approach is now entering the interior market. As i mentioned in response to a previous report, i want to experiment with some designs featuring florals and aliens, some just florals and some just aliens. I feel by doing this i will be diversifying my designs and appealing to a wider market.

Another action point this report notes is to make the products sustainable by using 100% organic and ethically sourced materials and substrates. Following this, it also states the importance of ensuring consumers know the products are sustainable. Once finishing the ground work for my research which includes these trend reports, books, magazines, social media ect, i will explore sustainable substrates in more depth to ensure this is an aspect i can incorporate into my collection.

As well as these action points this report also mentions the importance of Glam and Shine within a bedroom to add a glamorous and dreamy touch. To integrate this into a room, this report notes including metallic printed foils, rhinestones and mini diamonds. I feel these are all elements that would really attract my target demographic and could work really well to help inject some magic into my aliens. Despite this, i will have to be careful of the placement of such items as if they are used on bedding they may cause irritation.

Utilising sparkly elements such as these could also help to glamorise another key point from this report which is space adventure. Wanting to include aliens within my designs i feel my ideas link really well with this key point. Looking at the images on this slide of the report all the designs are seemly aimed at boys due to their characteristics such as colour pallet and graphic shapes. Now seeing this, i am actually really excited to try and recreate some space themed elements; however, directed at a girls/ genderless market.

This report has given me some really good and strong ideas with a direct relation to the market i am designing for. Now having seen the slide on a space theme and thinking about how space and aliens are normally marketed to boys, this has made me really excited to try and develop these ideas for a girls market. Hopefully my designs having a more feminine touch than others with this theme on the market could mean more girls become interested in space and may actually help them consider a career in this sector.

Key Points: Genderless design, 100% organic and ethically sourced substrates, Glam and Shine, Space Adventure.

Inspired by my initial ideas and research i have started to collect items which inspire my theme and remind me of the customer i am aiming for. Within my collection of items i have selected some which represent which substrates i intend to use, who my customer is and what they enjoy, my customers age and interests, my intended colour pallet and other random items which may prompt ideas throughout my project. Throughout the project i intend to remove and add things to this box to ensure the items within it are as closely matched to my collection and customer as possible.

As i will be aiming for a girls market i wanted to include many pink and girly items within my box such as the pink fabric swatches and flower headband. From my in store research i learnt that pink is consistent throughout the market and age demographic i am aiming at so this is a crucial characteristic to my box. Throughout the project i intend to add more pink items as and when i find them so hopefully by the end of the project it has an overwhelmingly pink theme. I think the flower headband i have included is a great asset to my box as it includes a variety of pink hues and is the kind of accessory a girl in my market would wear. Not only is this item a great indication of my customer and colour pallet; however, also my floral theme.

Within my selection of fabric swatches i have included a fabric which changes colour depending on the light which is shown in the image above as the purple swatch. This is a fabric that was gifted to me by a relative and i feel it is another great asset which really displays my theme, ideas and target market. The swatch changes from a purple to a pink hue which creates a mystical feel which i feel my target demographic would find really alluring. As well as this, this swatch also helps to represent the iridescent and pearlescent colour-ways that were key within my trend research for SS’21.

As my theme and imagery will also include aliens i also wanted to represent this within my box. To display this, i selected a dvd cover from the tv series Doctor Who and also created a hand embroidery sample of an alien. Not only does Doctor Who heavily feature a variety of aliens; however, it is also the sort of show a girl from my demographic will enjoy. When continuing my research i want to look at aliens from doctor who in order to expand my ideas of how i could represent them within my collection. As i did not have any other alien themed memorabilia around my student house i decided to create a hand embroidery sample. To do this i utilised a piece of scrap pink fabric i had in my room which is of a similar shade to what i intend to use within my collection. Now having created this sample it is giving me the idea to hand stitch the aliens within my collection to add texture, a variety of mediums and because of the fact i rather enjoyed the process.

To extend on trying to represent my customer within my box i also decided to include a make up pallet, a water colour pallet, some leafs and a heart shaped ceramic piece i made within field in second year. Including the make up pallet demonstrates that although my customer is into aliens she is also quite a girly girl and enjoys experimenting with make up. As well as experimenting with make up my customer also enjoys playing with watercolours to paint imagery inspired by nature which is represented by the leafs. She is creative at heart and loves how complex and beautiful nature can be. Finally the heart shaped ceramic piece extends upon the idea that my my customer is a girly girl and enjoys decorating her bedroom with her own personal style.

The final items within my box are wallpaper samples i collected from my in store research. From these i selected those that included pink, florals and a glitter finish which i felt would really inspire my ideas for my collection. To bring this sparkle further into my inspiration box i also selected a box which was absolutely covered in glitter. Initially, when looking for a box i wanted either a pink sparkly one or one with a pearlescent finish which i felt would best represent my ideas up until this point. Unfortunately, i could not find exactly what i was looking for but did find one that is still a good representation of my customer and can inspire my collection by reminding me that glitter or iridescent substrates can be utilised within my collection.

Overall i feel i have made a really strong start to my box as it entails many items which directly relate to my collection so far. Having all these ideas in one place has given myself a much better idea of how my inspirations can work together and where my project is heading. Despite being happy at this stage i still intend to add and remove items from this in order to make my inspiration box as closely matched with my project as possible and to give the maximum amount of inspiration.

After visiting my local library at home i thought it be best i also visited the university library as it would have a wider selection of art and design related books. I feel my main area of inspiration that is currently lacking is my ideas for how i could draw and stylise my aliens so, i have decided to focus this bit of research on informing these ideas. Initially i tried to search for aliens and other relatable words through met search; however, it does not seem the Cardiff met library has a wide selection of texts about this. Instead i started looking at the surrealist section as i felt this would inspire me to start thinking outside the box.

Dada and Surrealism- Dawn Ades

• 

• 

The first book i looked at had a range of surrealist paintings from different artists throughout this movement. I selected the two above pieces of art as i felt the forms within them could inspire my ideas. Within both images the basic human form of a head and limbs is there; however, they have been totally abstracted to beyond the point of abnormal. When creating my aliens i want to use the idea of taking the human form and totally editing it appart from a few key features as these artist have done above. Although this will be the initial starting point for creating my beings i may decide to develop this further throughout the designing process.

Although liking the abstracted ideas embodied within these pieces i feel i would want to create them in my own style and not have them drawn as simply as they are above. As i am aiming for a girls market i feel more elegant illustrations would be more appropriate through a medium such as watercolour. Utilising a medium such as this should add a feminine touch to my designs and soften the overall image.

Outsider Art- Roger Cardinal

• 

• 

The second book i looked at focuses on outsider art which i initially encountered within a field mogul in second year. Much like surrealism any forms are distorted to some extent which is important for inspiring my ideas. I selected the two images above as i found them inspiring and a good starting point for my aliens. Although neither drawing is directly alien related i still feel there are some key areas i could gather inspiration from.

Within the first image i really like how out of proportion the legs are to the rest of the body. These being long and gangly have a very alien and abnormal look about them which i feel i could utilise within my own designs. As well as this, the lack of torso extends on the idea that this figure is some how alien and not human. Within the second image it was the shape of the face and eyes which drew me in. As i definitely want to be including some sort of head within the majority of my alien illustrations i need to start to think how i can adapt these to make them look more alien and different to each other.

Imaginative Realism- James Gurney

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

I found this book awfully inspiring and useful for starting to think about the forms my aliens can take. The text included a vast variety of alien like entities in a wide variety of shapes and sizes which has provided myself with a wealth of research to dip myself into when i start my drawing process.

What is interesting about most of these illustrations is that they all have at least one element which is seemingly recognisable within our world and then the artist has extended on this with mystical traits which takes it as far away from human as it can go. When starting to draw my own entities this is an idea i could utilise to start to get into my flow with drawing my aliens.

One of the images i think that will really attract the girls market i am aiming for is the third image on the top row entitled Shipwreck. This is off a mystical flying mermaid type entity which i feel would really capture my preteen girls imagination. As well as the figure it’s self i feel the hues present within this illustration would also be really appropriate for my target market. The fine blend of hues remind me of the pearlescent glow which i have seen within a wide variety of trend reports for SS’21 meaning this effect would also help my designs to be on trend for this season.

Devils- Gilles Neret

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

As i was not getting awfully far when trying to find books on alien illustrations i started to see if i could find any books on mythical creatures. Mythical creatures to me are like the aliens of history as no one quite knew what they were nor fully understood them. Thankfully the library had a much more diverse range of texts and images on mythical creatures which i felt i could interpret into my own style for my collection.

When searching in the stacks for the mythical creature books i came across one about devils. Upon flicking through i realised there was a lot of imagery within this book i could utilise to create my alien beings. When selecting images i mainly wanted to find things which were weird and running parreoll to our own universe; however, living in a distorted version. What would really attract me to an image however was if it made me laugh. I feel if i can create imagery which just looks exceptionally strange; however, at the end of the day makes the child laugh this will really attract them to my designs.

Within all the images above it is not the colour pallet, style nor medium used which i found inspiring; however, simply the imagery and its shape and form. I find the mix of relatable and juxtaposing elements inspiring as it shows that to create something out of this world there is no set way but it is just down to abstract thinking. I feel from this book research so far i am gaining a much better understanding of how i can present my monsters and starting to get a lot more confident about actually including them in my collection.

Mythology Pictures

Carrying on with my research into mythical monsters i found this text which presented mythological beings from all around the world. This book has both given me a historical and cultural understanding of how the creatures can differ between place and time. Once again within this text it is the shape and form of the creatures i find inspiring, more so than the medium and style. Throughout this book all the images were presented in black and white and i definitely want to include a much more diverse range of hues within my own designs.

Despite finding all these images rather whimsical one i do find particularly funny is Sea Demon (See image references). Although the being within this image is clearly not human the body and limbs do have a likeness and the shape of the curved spine really does make me giggle. To adapt and stylise a piece like this to create my aliens i would take an element from the image such as this and combine it with other elements i really like from different illustrations to create an alien entity of my own.

Big Book of Dragons, Monsters, and Other Mythical Creatures- Lehner and Lehner

The final book i have looked at for now within the university library is another entailing mystical creatures. Once again i mostly selected these images as they mainly made me laugh and i felt i could adapt them to my own collection. Upon flicking through this book and selecting images it made me think i should start to look at films and TV series which have aliens in them to give myself an even broader range of inspiration. I feel TV series such as doctor who could be really inspiring as they entail aliens; however, also are aimed at a similar demographic to what my collection will be.

From here i want to do some social media research and also look into TV and films to see what other inspiration i can gather for my imagery. Following that, i want to start printing out some of the imagery i have collected from my research and start to collage it in my sketch book, this was something i done at the start of the DG project and felt it was a great point of reference for when i needed extra inspiration.

To ensure i am selecting the right season to design for i have decided to take a look also at AW’21/22 reports. To make sure my collection is successful i want it to pair well with the season i have selected.

Lifestyle and Interiors Colour Trend Concepts A/W 21/22: Conscious Clarity

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85615/page/2

To start my research into AW i have decided to look at some of the key colour trends forecasted. This report includes three action points which it refers to as going back to basics and essential for a sustainable lifestyle.

The first action point this report gives is the the use of non-colour with white being central as it embodies all colour without being overwhelming. Although this is an interesting concept i do not feel my younger demographic will be able to appreciate the full extent of this concept. This idea is very philosophical and may be a bit difficult for those in my demographic to get their head around.

The second action point within this report highlights the use of winter pigments through warm earthy hues that soften and enrich designs. Although this colour way idea clearly directly relates to an AW market, i feel such hues may come off too dull for my demographic and they will be longing for brighter pops of colour. This colour scheme would be more appropriate for an elder, more mature market than my own.

Finally the third action points refers to adding a digital twist via pops of vibrant hues that have a digitally enhanced quality. This idea i feel would really work for my demographic if i included it within my colour scheme. Although really liking this idea as it has something i have been thinking about since encountering it in previous research i would have to introduce these pops of colour in a refined way to ensure i do not overwhelm my designs.

Overall out of the three action points within this report i only feel one has some relevance to my chosen demographic and current ideas. So far i feel a SS collection would definitely be more appropriate in terms of the colour pallet i want to use; however, more research needs to be done before i can confirm this.

Key Points: Add a digital twist through digitally enhanced hues.

Lifestyle and Interiors Colour Trend Concepts A/W 21/22: New Mythologies

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85618/page/1

This colour trend report has a high sustainability focus which it uses to influence the trends of this season. One of the key ideas within this report is the use of raw neutrals which consist of untreated and un-dyed materials. Although this is a very sustainable idea which is an area i really want to tap into, i feel this really pushes it to its limits meaning there is an extreme lack of colour except from very earthy shades. Despite wanting to make my designs as sustainable as possible i still want to ensure the colours will attract my market and i do not feel producing an entire collection in beige and brown will really attract older girls/ young teens. To ensure i can keep both the earth and my market happy i will have to find a way to balance both to come to a practical solution.

A step in the right direction to this happy solution is another key idea of organic colour. This entails a wider selection of hues which come from natural dyes. Although feeling this is definitely a step in the right direction i still think the colour pallet provided is a bit dull for my target market. I feel a more successful idea would be to use colour to a minimum and when utilising it use the tones that would attract my target market.

Overall i do not feel this report has really engaged with my ideas nor the hues i have been looking to include. Through my in store research i noticed a vast amount of pink was used throughout girls lines and neither of these reports have mentioned this hue, nor has it been on any of the colour pallets provided in any tone. I feel SS reports linked a lot better to what i am looking to achieve; however, i will look through a few more AW reports to see if there are any ideas that i can bring into my collection.

Key Points: Organic colour

Europe Colour Trend Concepts A/W 21/22

https://www-wgsn-com.ezproxy.cardiffmet.ac.uk/content/board_viewer/#/85161/page/3

In an every increasing global society i thought it may be interesting to look at how trends are consistent across Europe. Despite being initially excited by the report on the opening page a statement is made about utilising deep red and rich teal in a time of turmoil and chaos to add stability and clarity. Although personally liking these hues i am not sure how appropriate they will be for my target demographic. Despite this, this report has been written for the whole of Europe so it is understandable not every point will directly link to my own ideas.

Within the reports action points it states the evolution of digital colour will become key. The sugary pastels from digital processes will be more closely attuned to natural colour. This idea is something i would very much like to employ within my own collection as i feel these tones paired with bright pops of colour will really attract my target demographic. By using more washed out pastel shades within my collection this may also mean it could become more eco-friendly due to the limited amount of harsh unforgiving dyes.

Key Points: Muted sugary pastels.

Overall this report has given me a single much stronger idea i feel would work really well in relation to my collection. Despite this, i am still not overwhelmed by the amount of critical inspiration i am getting from the AW reports. Because of this i feel it would best for myself to design a SS collection for 2021 as my ideas more closely relate to that of this season and i feel the colours presented within the reports are a lot more appropriate. Now having decided what season to design for i cam start to really fine tune my ideas and look into more reports for this season with a closer link to my target demographic.

After completing in store research in Bromley i still felt there was an opportunity to gather more inspiration from different stores. Doing more research in a completely different area of the UK will hopefully diversify the inspiration i can find and provide me with different ideas, designers and collections than my first outing.

Next

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Next i had previously visited in Bromley; however, they had a much smaller store meaning their range of homeware items was greatly limited. Fortunately the Cardiff store had a much bigger and diverse range of collections and items including a range specifically for kids.

The first two images are those from the children’s range. I decided to photograph one bedding set up close to have a clear view of what the imagery entailed and the other of the whole girls section to get an overarching view. From the first image what is striking is the overwhelming amount of baby pink, which is featured on almost every product. To help my designs to stand out to a girls market i feel i should include pink within my colour pallet; however, go for a more sophisticated shade as i will be aiming at an older girl/ young teen market.

The third image of a set of bedding i selected as i felt the combination of spots and illustrative imagery was inspiring in relation to how i could repeat and present my own designs. Although the spots and animals do not necessarily match in style or texture the spots are reminiscent of snow falling meaning this and the polar bears pair nicely. Within my own designs i could experiment with an idea like this; however, swap the spots for tear drop like shapes which reflect the shape of a petal.

The fourth design i selected as i enjoyed the abstract mark making strokes and spots to create flower forms. This creates a very loose and calming feel which is also reflected in this designs colour pallet. These organic textural marks combined with a neutral colour pallet remind me of the ideas embedded within a trend report i have looked at for SS’21 which brings the idea of utilising these aspects to extend a sustainable products qualities into the design. Despite this, when checking the packaging there was no evidence this product was made out of ethically sourced substrates.

The fifth and final image i took was of a pillow within the homeware section. As of yet i have not seen any of these products that i have felt could inspire my collection but i felt the colours and floral forms could provide me with some initial ideas for my own designing process. Although the floral hues are bright and bold within this design having a very neutral background has made this more sophisticated and enabled it to be paired more easily with other bright or neutral tones. I really like the idea of this cushion paired with the pink one on its right as i feel they would work really well as part of a collection and in someones sitting room. For my own designing process i could experiment with similar tones as are presented here to try and recreate some of these ideas; however, whilst also taking inspiration from the new seasons trends.

Overall i feel my ideas would work really well within a collection for next and as they retail for a slightly higher price this may also allow me to be more experimental with sustainable substrates. I would love to present Next with a new collection all created with sustainable substrates as i feel this would really reach out to the high end high street and customers alike.

Matalan

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

A store which they did not have in Bromley is Matalan. This is a store i do not regally shop at; however, has proven useful in the past year for gathering research and inspiration. Luckily this branch had a wide selection of homeware items and like Next, even a range for kids. I find it really useful when a store both has an adults and a kids range as it gives me ideas for how i should be balancing between the two market demographics.

The first three images are from the normal adult homeware section. Comparing the hues present with these three images with the two bellow these are slightly duller in tone and have a dusty quality to them. To appeal to a more mature demographic the retailer has used slightly more sophisticated tones. To reach out to my target demographic i want my designs to have an air of sophistication; however, ensure some colours are still bright to add a youthful feel. I feel i could utilise some of these shades; however, pair them with slightly brighter colours to find a balance between these two demographics.

Within the second image the designer has chosen to utilise machine embroidery within some of the pink florals to highlight them and add texture. Within my own designs i would like to consider an idea such as this; however, i will have to remember this may increase the price of my products so it will depend if my market has enough disposable income. If i do design for a high enough market to include such ideas this may be a good way of including metallic threads which some trend reports have pointed to be on trend for SS’21.

The forth image i took in Matalan is of the full range of girls bedding. Once again like Next the section features an overwhelming amount of pink which is again featured on almost every product. As this is becoming a pattern i feel i will have to use pink within my colour pallet; however, i will want to ensure i include shades appropriate for my older girl/ young teen market.

The final image of girls bedding really drew me in because of how simple but effective the design is. The light pink and white background create a very girly feel which when paired with the hearts make it unmistakably for a girls market. I really like how the designer has tilted each heart to the left or right ever so slightly as i think this creates a really fun finish to the design. I would love to include hearts within my designs; however, i will need to make them slightly more stylised than they are here. To help them fit in with my collection better i could use heart shaped petals or even alien hearts.

Overall Matalan has given me some great ideas on colour pallet and also reinforced the use of pink for a girls market which i initially saw in Next. Although i was impressed by Matalan’s collection their products do retail for a slightly lower price than Next so i would have less opportunity to introduce sustainable substrates to my designs. Despite this, they have inspired me to consider to use machine embroidery within my designs which may really enhance my collection.

John Lewis

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Bring a department store John Lewis had a whole host of products for the home, far greater than anywhere else i have visited. Not only did the store sell bedding, accessories and curtains but also wallpaper which i was very excited to see. As John Lewis allows you to take samples of their wallpaper i have decided to collage these in my sketchbook which i will then annotate separately.

After helping myself to about a dozen different wallpaper samples i then looked at the range of curtains they stock which are presented within the first two images above. Despite there being a lot featuring floral patterns there were none that i really felt stood out to my demographic. The vast array of them were directed to a much elder market which was made clear through the use of pattern and dusky colours. I feel if i am to create curtains for my target demographic i will have to include much more exciting patterns and bolder more youthful colours. As well as curtains for my collection there would also be the possibility of creating a blind which could coordinate with the curtains or be instead of them. I feel blinds are a much more modern way of covering a window; however, certainly like the idea of creating the two to coordinate together and give customers choice.

The third and forth image above are of products from the John Lewis girls homeware range. I decided to photograph these items specifically because of how the designer has coordinated two products together. This could prove to be vital inspiration for when i am thinking about how different products could come together within my own collection. What is interesting about both these designs is the use of a rainbow of bright and bold hues all paired with a much more calming white background. Through previous research i have found a block white background generally works best for an older persons or babies market; however, i feel because the imagery is so tightly packed within these designs the white negative space is more refreshing than washing out the design.

The fifth and final image is of two designs by Bluebellgray sold in John Lewis. This designer i have not previously heard of and engaged with for the first time today. What i really liked about both these designs was the watercolour style which has been embedded within the illustrations. This adds a really soft, calming edge which i feel would really appeal to my target market. To ensure i am aiming even more so to the correct market i feel i will need to be a little more experimental with colour and add some finer details so the overall feel is not so wishy-washy; however, still has a soft calming feel embedded.

Overall i really enjoyed looking around John Lewis’s product ranges, especially in relation to the wide variety of products they stock. I feel designing for John Lewis would give me enough room to engage with sustainable materials as their products retail for a much higher price than most high street stores. At this point i could not see any collection of homeware items in John Lewis which did have a specific sustainability edge. I feel if i approached John Lewis with a new eco-friendly range they would welcome this due to the environmental issues we face today.

Cath Kidson

• 

• 

After reaching a point where i felt i would not be able to find any more inspiration in Cardiff’s city centre i stumbled across Cath Kidson. This designer has become renowned thanks to their very particular dainty style of illustrations across different product ranges such as accessories, clothing and gifts.

I was very excited when i came across the first image of a small bag featuring space ships. Wanting to include aliens within my own designs i have been searching for inspiring imagery such as this and am glad i have finally found some. Although the colour scheme, angular shapes and space forms make this product more appropriate for a male market i will be very easily able to adapt these elements to give them a softer edge and a more appropriate colour scheme so they better suit my target market.

The second image of woman’s clothing i took because i really liked the style of the delicate illustrations and also how the dark and light blue really complement each other despite being on two completely separate products. As i will have to create a range of designs for my entire collection i am always on the look out for shades which work as well as these two do together. What i think really helps these two shades of blue to come together is how the same shades of pink, green and white are also utilised within the two designs. It is amazing how although both designs feature completely different imagery, through an element as simple as colour they are really drawn together.

Overall i am really glad i stumbled across Cath Kidson’s store as i would have otherwise never thought about this designer. Although i did not take many images of the products in store the two which i did decide to photograph have proven really worthy and inspiring for my collection. Despite liking the ideas i have found i feel designing for Cath Kidson may restrict my ideas as i would be tempted to follow her very precise in house style, rather than develop my own.

House of Frazer

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Much like John Lewis, House of Frazer also had a wide range of designs; however, these were mostly for bedding. The first two designs i selected as i liked their monotone colour pallets and found it interesting how much contrast can be created through only utilising two shades. For my target demographic i feel a bigger contrast such as in the second image would be more appropriate in order to make my designs appear interesting and attract their attention. Despite this, i would most likely either use white or black with another hue and not these two colours together. Once again i want my designs to really appeal to my target market and feel using a brighter shade may do this.

The third image above is of Kylie Minogue’s range of bedding. What attracted me to her designs was the vast use of sequins which gives off a very luxurious princess feel. I would have initially thought sequins would be uncomfortable and irritating to sleep with; however, as they are on every bedding set in her collection there must be a way around this. Despite liking the glamorous look the shiny elements give i cant help but feel sequins are slightly tacky and think there are more appropriate ways to add this shine if i want to include this within my own collection.

The bottom two designs are both by Fat Face who i had no idea produced bedding or any interior items. The first image is off a bedding set from their adults range and the second from their children’s range. What attracted me to the first image was the interesting placement of the pattern which is exaggerated through the use of negative space. I feel creating a placement design such as this would really appeal to my target market and make my collection more diverse. The kids bedding set attracted me because of its use of juxtaposing imagery much like will be in my designs. I was drew to how the designer has managed to roll these into one coordinating package which creates an overall attractive finished design.

Overall this market research has given me a much better idea of what products are on the market. All together it has really inspired me through colour and presenting some interesting ways i can utilise placements within my designs. From here i really need to decide which season i will be designing for so i can get a better idea of the colour pallet i will be aiming for in my collection. Although i now feel the vast majority of my in store research is done, i will still be on the look out to see if any designs stand out to me.