Meeting a brief when you are a Textiles surface Designer/marker

  

Customer 

When looking at what Designers need to consider when reacting to a brief , we looked at the exterior of people. Judging a book by its cover as some may say. We looked at two 'customers' and their surroundings in the photograph and became really judgmental , and mentally depicted their 'lifestyles'  we decided where they shopped, lived, who they provided for, who where their influences? political views?

When designing to a brief you have to consider a lot of basic information when put together will guide your work and help it flourish into what would hopefully be a final design/collection of final designs that the company is happy with.

When meeting with the client;

Introductions - are a must ( in case you need to call them ect)

Research the company you are working for.

The Format- how do they work? Skype meetings? phone calls?

How do they want you to present your work? mounted? digitally? ect.

Do they want you to brand your own work? Or does the company have their own branding methods they want to use?

DEADLINES - Make sure you will be able to meet the deadline before you commit !

Amends - ensure that you discuss your rates of amendments (do this before you agree to anything and start the project!) This will ensure you don't waste your time and break even when you need to earn a living and make a profit.

Trends 

Spring, Summer , Autumn, Winter.

Colour of the fabric, fabric weight , initial design , type of clothing , and the cut of the garment. (some of these apply to the UK )

Gift and surface designer/maker ( the work will be less weather influenced)

Holidays and the school calender will be more of an influence.

Christmas , Birthdays , Halloween , Motherdays ect..

When looking for the trends that are going to inspire the designers there are books and journals with he predictions in.

Today Music, film , global culture , cross over design trends and social trends influence us!

The use of pan-tone colours is much more apparent and keeps the accuracy of colours higher.

Trend sites 

A few years ago i foound this amazing site , which enables you to collect images (default or your own) to create a 'trend' collage. You can add colour charts and furniture mixed with fashion garments/accessories to create quite a sophisticated collage.
Here are a few examples created by different member of the website ; http://www.polyvore.com/

City Style Home - Teach Mom Polyvore by thewovenwolf featuring rod pocket curtains
http://www.polyvore.com/city_style_home_teach_mom/set?id=140983717

Untitled #815 by alyssastar featuring ceramic table lamps
http://www.polyvore.com/untitled_815/set?id=140950252

Winter Trend Burgundy by stylepersonal featuring Free People
http://www.polyvore.com/winter_trend_burgundy/set?id=140859276

Mexican colour schemes by bettiehope featuring mexican home decor

Here is a quick collage that I made using the Polyvore website, I collected a series of images that would help inspire my latest project which I am currently doing. Im making a lot of over the top Mexican shrine boxes that are all sparkly and bedazzled, its a really fun project and the boxes will be for sale as part of a collection for a craft fair!

http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=141358836