Designing Print

by Cwe | Jan 26, 2016 | Creative Process, Design, Print

Start by looking beyond fashion, drawing inspiration from art, photography, branding and graphic design before we look to street style, catwalks and tradeshows.

Here are five key points I bear in mind when building or designing a print collection:

Create a mood board
This will help consolidate an idea and communicate a clear message. Four strong images are sometimes better than 40. It’s always good to consider your muse – who will wear this print? What season is it for? What market is it for? It’s good practice to answer these questions before you begin the design process.

Don’t simply rely on Tumblr
The influx of readily available information and Tumblr accounts full of recurring images means we have to look beyond the Internet for inspiration. Of course, use blogs and Instagram but also look to exhibitions, upcoming films and emerging designers from street art to illustration, to inform trends.

Consider perennial favorites
Nothing is new. Many core trends re-appear time and time again and evolve through seasons. Think about how to update perennial trends such as camouflage, animal skins and festival florals. Look to new techniques, effects and styles to refresh these repeating themes.

Colour
Pick key colours from your inspiration and pair with popping accents and subtler shades to craft a balanced palette. Colour can really make or break a print so it’s a good idea to try three colourways of a design before you make your final decision.

Experiment with scale
Scale often gets forgotten when you’re focusing on the details of a print design. Experimenting with scale can be the most impactful and effective way of renewing a time-honored favourite. Is it a micro-scale ditsy or a strikingly oversized repeat? You can use CAD (Computer-aided design) drawings to quickly visualise the scale on the end product.