We continuously use artwork here at AVA, often designing in house ourselves or using customer files (with their consent). However, this year we were on the hunt for some new fresh talent and wanted to provide an exciting opportunity to design something fresh, which could be showcased by us when we attend international trade fairs, or deliver demonstrations and training throughout industry. So, we decided to set up our own design competition (for the first time ever) and tasked our creative team here at AVA to set a design brief in June 2021.
The Brief
We didn’t want too many boundaries, we wanted designers to have a bit of fun and freedom with this and welcomed designs created for both textiles (fashion, home furnishings) and surfaces (wallpaper, flooring, laminates). The designs just needed to be exciting, playful and striking. We asked for the artwork to be created with a repeat in mind, so it could be made seamless using our tools. Designers could choose to paint, draw, collage or design in CAD and enter several designs.
The Prize
Each winner would be invited to attend our online E-CAD Specialist Training course (worth a monetary value of £250), plus they would receive a 6-month free loan of the software to experiment with and consolidate their new skills, as well as a certificate to complement their CV’s.
Choosing a winner (or three!)
We received entries from 14 designers, which were judged in September by our Education team here at AVA. It was extremely tough to choose just one winner, the bar was raised high…so we opted to choose three winners with totally different handwriting styles. Each winner was chosen for a different reason.
We interviewed each of our lucky winners to learn more about them and we’re delighted to share their journey with you as well as links to their profiles to view more of their talented work!
Charlotte Nicholson
1. When and where did you study?
I studied Textile Design at Leeds Arts University and I graduated in 2020. I loved the course at LAU and it really helped me develop my practice. It was a very busy and supportive environment to be working in and I learned lots about my own way of working and my identity as a print designer through the exploration I did on the course.
2. Where are you based?
I’m currently based in Workington in West Cumbria.
3. How did you hear about AVA and the design competition?
I first heard of AVA through university as we had some short workshops to learn some of the basics as an introduction to the software. I saw the design competition advertised through social media and thought it’d be an amazing opportunity if I won so I had to enter! I thought it was a great chance to gain an industry specific qualification and meet other people on the course.
4. What inspires you in your work?
I’m inspired mostly by harmonious colour palettes and painting processes. I’m interested in the way colours can affect emotions and I aim to use colour palettes in my designs that are uplifting and positive. I find painting really relaxing and I enjoy using gouache and expressive painting techniques create painterly marks and textures that I love to get into my print designs. I’m mostly inspired to paint florals and compositions inspired by natural forms. I think painting with just a rough idea of what you want to paint can be therapeutic and it’s exciting to see what you end up with.
5. What are your career plans? Would you like any help with recruitment? If so, what would be your dream job?
I’ve recently started a new job in the Design team at Edinburgh Woollen Mill and I’m really enjoying it so far! It’s given me a fantastic chance to see how print design works within a business. I am going to work on building freelance projects and my own print design brand as I enjoy collaborating with brands and trying new things when it comes to licensing and product launching. I’m concentrating now on learning as much as I can through work, freelance projects and a bit of trial and error, then seeing where this takes me in the future.
6. How did you feel when you found out you were one of the AVA competition winners?
I was very happy and pleasantly surprised when I found out I was a winner of the competition! I was wanting to develop my technical software skills especially with AVA since it’s used lots in industry but didn’t think I’d get access to the software again, so I’m really pleased I won a place on the course and get the six-month license to practice with. The course is a great chance to gain a qualification that’s relevant to print design, and it’s been a fantastic opportunity to learn new skills.
7. How did you find the CAD Specialist Training course? Was it useful? What was your favourite feature that you were shown?
The CAD Specialist Training Course was full of in-depth demonstrations and helpful information. There was lots of opportunities to ask questions and explore the features in your own time which was great. I found the advanced colour separation tools extremely useful as I find it difficult to properly colour separate my paintings because of the tonal colours, but the AVA software means I can do this more accurately. I also found the image mapping tools great for creating visualisations to see what my designs look like on products; they looked much more realistic than other methods I’ve tried and I’m planning on practising using this tool in the future!
Instagram: @Charlotte.nicholson.design
Website: www.charlottenicholsondesign.com
Freya Celeste Walsh
1. When and where did you study?
I am currently a final year printed textile design student at the Glasgow School of Art, graduating June 2022.
2. Where are you based?
I am currently based in Glasgow.
3. How did you hear about AVA and the design competition?
I heard about AVA through an internship and found the competition through social media.
4. What inspires you in your work?
My work is inspired by natural forms and their subtleties, how those shapes and colours can be distorted and contrasting delicate figurative drawing with abstract painterly marks. My current project explores the subtleties of shadows and multiflorous forms. Juxtaposed with a bold colour palette, I am exploring these notions through layering and contrasting materials, embodying the delicacy of silhouette and shadow.
5. What are your career plans? Would you like any help with recruitment? If so, what would be your dream job?
When I graduate this coming June I would like to begin my career as a printed textile designer, creating patterns and artwork. My dream job would be working for a company either in the fashion or interiors sector designing prints. I would be extremely appreciative of any help with recruitment!
7. How did you find the CAD Specialist Training course? Was it useful? What was your favourite feature that you were shown?
I was really excited to find out I was a winner of the competition as I knew how much the programme is used in industry and I was excited to learn new skills and develop my work. The CAD Specialist training programme was enormously helpful. It has really helped me consider the potential of my designs and made adapting them into different colour ways and repeats so much easier! I’m really looking forward to continuing using it in the future! My favourite feature is the carbon copy and mapping tool; amazing for transforming painterly drawings into repeats and the mapping tool makes visualisations super realistic!
Anita Šarkezi
1. When and where did you study?
I am currently in my third year studying Textile Design at the Glasgow School of Art.
2. Where are you based?
I am based in Glasgow Southside.
3. How did you hear about AVA and the design competition?
I knew about AVA through some of the graduates from the GSA and I have been following the website for some time. So I was sort of keeping my eye on social media and was very happy when this opportunity came along, especially because I knew I would be involved in a live interiors project as a part of the curriculum. I am now using the software for this project!
4. What inspires you in your work?
Oh, too many things! I am constantly influenced by everyday things and leftover materials, mostly. I have a weird obsession with the different kinds of paper we use: from post envelopes to record sleeves I find in charity shops. I get inspired by the ready-made patterns and shapes and then try to arrange them into various compositions. My colour palette is usually informed by current landscapes – so, for example, the interiors project is inspired by Glasgow architecture and weather. It is a city with lots of grey and brown tones, although to make things interesting I like to inject neon or a range of bolder colours, such as ultramarine blue or crimson red.
It is one thing to keep a client happy, but I also have to keep myself happy during the design-making process – and I usually do that with colour.
5. What are your career plans? Would you like any help with recruitment? If so, what would be your dream job?
For now, my full-time job is my Textiles course, specializing in weave, but I have always maintained a strong relationship with digital manipulations, and I do see a symbiosis between the two. Using technology to support more traditional ways of working is the path I want to follow. For example, how can I combine an ancient medium such as ikat with digital print?
I would love to gain experience in a design studio where sustainability and wellbeing is a crucial part. Ideally, I want to own an interdisciplinary design studio practice and be able to employ people and create meaningful jobs within the creative industries,
6. How did you feel when you found out you were one of the AVA competition winners?
I was absolutely thrilled! I have heard so many great things about the software and how useful it is. I was excited to gain this rare opportunity and also to gain recognition for my work, of course.
7. How did you find the CAD Specialist Training course? Was it useful? What was your favourite feature that you were shown?
The training course was extremely useful, it was slow-paced so everyone has a chance to catch up on different features. The software is compatible with other design programs, so you can easily import files from there and take them forward in AVA CAD.
I have to say I found everything very useful, but I specifically enjoyed pattern making and colour separation. It was so easy to get different colour combinations and make things in repeat look seamless. I would definitely recommend it for every designer and artists, too. I feel like with this software I can work on a more professional level.
AVA cannot wait to start using these designs in our software training and demonstrations and we wish all three of our lucky winners the very best success in their future careers. Thank you to all the designers who took part in our first ever design competition!