Cheese map created for Paxton & Whitfield by Isobel Bushell
Appreciating Britain and everything these islands offer seems to be a theme of much of the design and research work at Vicki Thomas Associates in 2019.
Julie Lavender continues to extend her patterns collections inspired by natural life in the British countryside and bird watching on the South coast. Some of her designs like Fetch are being picked up as concepts for the National Parks’ licensing program. Similarly, Jane Jones ceramic designs are inspired by her Lake District studio’s views and local walks.
Walks and tours are of particular interest. Everyone is escaping to the countryside or at least outside with the dog. Clinton Banbury’s humorous illustrations still appeal to pet owners. Yet, it his paintings inspired by his travels, that are attracting attention. Isobel Bushel is creating maps and views for heritage sites, that allow them to create bespoke ranges. Here too, it is her drawings of horses and sheep that people buy for themselves.
The firms interested in licensing designs from the silk pattern book collections in Macclesfield’s Museums, seem to be picking up on patterns that are quintessentially British. Conversational prints like foxes and dogs and loose florals are top of their wish lists. At Clerkenwell Design Week, several furnishing companies commented how great it was to see British design. Looking around I could see what they meant.
We have often been asked to work with very classic children’s illustrations like Bonzo or the work of Mabel Lucie Attwell. Both these properties started as artwork commissioned for adults but were soon adapted and loved by children. Vicki Thomas Associates seem to be to have a flair for creating designs that are seen as British and something to share with loved ones.
At Brand License, why not stop for a sense of Britishness on stand B413?