Show & Tell - an interview with Imogen Tunnicliffe, homewares & textiles designer

Super lovely Imogen Tunnicliffe is the Senior Designer for NZ homeware and accessories brand Citta, responsible not only for product and pattern design but for the overall art direction of Citta's themed seasonal collections. Let's nose around her home and office, shall we?

Tell us about your background... how did you come to be a homeware designer?  
I’ve loved drawing and arty things since I was tiny, so it was an easy choice when it came to University, and I went to Elam at Auckland University and majored in printmaking.
For me print was a natural progression from drawing and I also loved accessibility of it – as in, because you can produce editions, people are able to own a bit of affordable, real art!   I guess this is what I like about designing for homeware too – you can create beautiful patterns and objects for everyday items.  People can afford to buy them and enjoy them in their homes daily.

How did I get into textile/homeware design? It was one of those lucky things really – right place at the right time sort of thing. Citta needed an artist to do some illustrations and designs.  I had just come back from New York and was trying to make a crust as an exhibiting artist, as well as doing a bit of freelance illustration and trying to sell some hand printed cards - no easy feat! Needless to say I needed some extra work. I had always wanted to work in the textile design industry, and love homeware, so it was the prefect opportunity.

I started out a couple of days a week and remember my first project was designing hand painted tin fairies for Christmas decorations – that was nearly 10 years ago!! Back then it was pretty much just me – now, we have 5 full time designers and one part timer and the design department has become an integral part of the company and our brand.  

On her inspiration board, on her desk

What's your favourite part of the homeware design process? 

I honestly actually really like most parts of the process.  Lucky aren’t I!! I love the beginning of the process – researching the new destination we are off to and learning about a new culture  – especially if I get to go there! I love beginning doodling in my workbook and coming up with ideas for new patterns and products. Seeing ideas transform from a 2D image in your workbook or on your computer into a tangible product is hugely satisfying.

The photoshoot is great fun too. Working with talented stylists, photographers, designers and the marketing team to realise our story and collection through photos and different media.

Imogen at work. 

What's on your personal Wishlist at the mo? 
A Bitossi rimini blue miniature (they are limited edition but still very affordable), a beautiful table lamp – there is one at Douglas and Bec I have my eye on, a Juliette Hogan sequin dress, copper leather brogues, a hand woven metallic gold black and natural wall tapestry from nativeline.com, the Sola ceramics from our new Greece collection, an Amaya Gutierrez adjustable ‘Perchero’ coat rack, and a weed eater!! Not much really…

Imogen's bedroom. That tapestry is awesome!

Fellow lover of vintage

What's your favourite piece of work/project you've done so far?
Personally – the body of work I created and printed for an exhibition in New Zealand whilst living in New York. I had just arrived and it was a real challenge, but I had such a sense of achievement afterwards – and the prints weren’t bad either…

Workwise – the Citta design Tokyo & Mexico collections – completely different aesthetics but I was similarly inspired by their popular culture, use of colour, traditional hand crafts and the people – needless to say the outcomes were worlds apart however.

Designs  – the Zoo duvet design, the Meguro design from the Tokyo collection, and the Eye Spy design from the New York collection. All of these designs are narrative in style, which I love.  I have always loved illustration, and designs that tell a story, and for me they are a great combination of both. I also like the fact that they appealed to adults and children alike. And potentially something I’m working on for our new winter collection, Copenhagen…!

Two of Imogen's fave patterns - Meguro and Zoo

Imogen's inspiration for The Heath pattern was London's Hampstead Heath

 - the perfect spot for a bike ride on a summer's day

What are you looking forward to?  

Spending time with my family who have just arrived from London to live for a while.  Seeing all my bare trees and flowers coming to life again after the cold-(ish) winter.  I can see all the buds forming already – it’s very exciting!  (Geeky I know…)  Going to see the new movie about Liberace, Behind the Candelabra.  Putting in some French doors that will open out onto our lawn.  And summer. I love summer – everything makes sense and seems better for me in the warmer months.

Light-filled lounge; snapshots from Rose's room

What do you love to do in your spare time? 

In an ideal world with lots of spare time I would be: Gardening, reading a whole book (such a rarity these days!), pottering about with my daughter Rose, going for a bite and a movie, perusing second hand shops, creating some of my own work, writing and illustrating a children’s book, doing up our house.

Sweet little things in the kitchen

I LOVE a good recommendation –  tell us about something(s) that we should know about:

Song – Laura Mvula, Green Garden – great song and video.
Book – For children, Eric Carle’s Animals Animals, pub. 1989 – an illustrated collection of poems about the animals – it’s beautiful.
Restaurant - The Basque Kitchen – delicious tapas restaurant in Newmarket – great before or after the movies... and lovely Spanish beers.
Website – Petite Kitchen
Destination – The Cotswolds in England. And while your there, pop into The Swan Inn at Swinbrook, for a delicious pub lunch.
Illustrator – Saul Steinberg. Wonderfully clever illustrations and satire.

These two are part of the coming Summer collection - me wanty

You've just come back from Copenhagen – the city that will inspire the new CITTA collection - give us some words that represent the direction you're going to be taking...

Tivoli, mermaids, story book, snow and frozen sea, wood, folklore, harlequin, black & bone, playful, geometric patterns, well crafted, soft pink, Kelly green, misty blue, forests, earthenware, copper foiling, woodland animals, houses, patterned carpets, rabbits, cobbled streets, beards, patterned socks, magical, quality, patchwork, felt, clean lines, modernist, ships, spring flowers, bicycles.. a winter wonderland.

Show & Tell - NZ Illustrator (of kid's books!) Erica Harrison

Awesome Erica came to my attention when I saw her cute art prints over at endemicworld. She's only recently moved to Auckland, after 7 years in London working for Usborne as a book illustrator.
COOL JOB!

Tell us about your ‘day job’ - it seems like every young illustrators dream! 
I guess I am one of those very lucky people that loves their 'day job'. It certainly doesn't feel like a regular 9 till 5, that's for sure. I have always loved to draw and actually, I had a lot of the Usborne ‘How to draw’ books as a child. I did art through school and college and when I went to art school, I was considering taking the path of fine art as I was good at portrait paintings, but it was my graphics teacher who had plans to make a designer and illustrator out of me!

I think I then convinced myself, that maybe illustration was the way to go, when Robert Crowther, a fabulous pop-up book illustrator and paper engineer, came in to do a workshop with us. He pulled out my work up at the end of the week as one of his favourite pieces, and said that one day he thought that I might be a children’s illustrator too.

That was it, from that point on I put down my oil pastels, and picked up my 0.5 black fine liner. I went to Uni and studied Graphic arts and design, but focused on children’s book design all the way through. I applied for a junior designer role at Usborne a few months after graduating and I got the job two interviews later.  

In the 9 years I have been with Usborne I have worked on all sorts of books, the majority of which have been art and craft based books to inspire children to get creative. Over the last couple of years, I have helped to develop the drawing, doodling and colouring range and activity books for children ages 4+.

I work closely with an editor to come up with ideas and themes for a particular title. They write the text and then it’s my job to take these words and bring them to life on a spread! I work on most of my titles from start to finish, either designing and illustrating all of the book myself, or working in collaboration with other illustrators.  

Some of the books Erica has worked on

You’ve recently moved here from London. What have been your favourite things about Auckland/NZ so far?  
My personal work is inspired a lot by nature and New Zealand's full of it!

Since moving here, and regularly escaping the city at weekends, my mind, and my camera are just crammed with images of amazing countryside, stunning coastlines and wonderful wildlife. The birds here are beautiful. I’m no bird expert, but I do love them. I really wanted to see penguins in the wild, so over Christmas we headed to the South Island and I wasn’t disappointed. I saw loads of Little blue penguins in Oamaru and the Yellow Eyed ones on the Otago Peninsula. Something I will never forget and something I wanted to record as soon as I was back in the studio, and so my Penguin Parade print was born.

Close-up detail from Erica's Penguin Parade print

What has been your favourite creative project you’ve done and why?  
My favourite creative project so far is definitely the drawing, doodling and colouring book.

It was a really exciting opportunity to create something different to what other publishers were doing, by making it bigger, better and more sophisticated than any other doodling books on the market. I love this range of books, mostly because I think they appeal to big adult kids as much as little ones!

I have gotten to work with some fabulous international illustrating talent on these titles and I am very proud of the fact that the original title was nominated for ‘Best cover design’ at the British Book Design and Production Awards.

Erica's favourite project so far - I can see why!

Besides Graphic design and illustration, what else do you love to do?  
Well, print making now takes up a lot of my spare time.

In the minutes that I can find to spare around doing this and designing for Usborne, I really enjoy watching films. I love getting lost in a good book in the evenings, for as long as I can keep my eyes open.

And number one I guess, is that I love to travel. Being on this side of the planet opens up a whole new world of places to explore.  

Top: A freshly cut stencil for a new screen print, alongside Erica's studio essentials. 

Bottom: A collection of Erica's greetings cards and her ‘Green machine’ art print.

What would you like to be doing in 10 years?  
I hope I will still be designing and illustrating children’s books. That would make me very happy.

I would like to have a house (preferably by the sea) with a big enough garden to have a 'creative shed' at the bottom. I want to set up a permanent screen printing space where I never have to clear away my inks and it can be as messy as I want it to be! By then I hope to have travelled lots more too, to have seen more of the world and to have a head full of new creative ideas as a result.  

Birds & Bow - limited edition print available at endemicworld

Tell us about some people who inspire you...  
With my printmaking, I find Scandinavian design hugely inspiring. I really like Sanna Annukka’s work. She now designs for Marimekko whose blog I follow for surface pattern inspiration.

I love the work of Rob Ryan. I don’t think I would have started paper-cutting if it wasn’t for him. I have a beautiful screen print of his packed away in London somewhere and I kick myself regularly for not bringing it with me to New Zealand, as I miss looking at it!

For book design and illustration, I love the work of Portuguese publishers, Planeta Tangerina. Very arty and beautifully designed books for kids.

And last but not least, Jon Burgerman is my favourite doodler.

A chat with Wellington-gone-Melbourne-gone-New York stylist, Glen Proebstel

From the 'burbs of Wellington, to the pages of some of the world's best interiors and lifestyle publications, and now to New York City - ready to take his styling career to even greater heights... 

Whilst working as a high-end visual merchandiser, Glen's window displays were spotted by an editor at Inside Out magazine, and he was given the opportunity to join the staff as their newest stylist. Good move. Glen turned out to be nothing short of an artist, with his eye for beautiful things and his ability to use them as a master would his oils, painting a moody, romantic story around them. Glen soon became Australia's foremost interior stylist and a leading food stylist, was named Style Director for Inside Out and grew hotly in demand with international commercial clients.

You're (originally) from New Zealand - where were you born and raised? Do you come back often?

Yes. I was born in Wellington and grew up in the suburbs areas of the Hutt Valley. I left for Sydney when I was 21 years old and never looked back basically. I do enjoy coming home though as there is nothing more nurturing for the soul than the landscapes and natural flora and fauna of Aotearoa. 

I was back in January this year for a long weekend. Whilst working in Sydney on an advertising gig meant I could zip over and see Ma & Pa. When I come home I just enjoy being on the farm with the folks where there is no internet, no mobile reception. Just the sound of the occasional Morepork and Tui's.    

Where did it all start for you? Was there a moment or a person or a project? 

I had a background in Visual Merchandising and was looking after a team of people at David Jones in their Market Street (Sydney) Store. We would turn over the thirteen store front windows every few weeks as well and all the internal displays and events. 

I distinctly remember installing a homewares window from the latest catalogue and looking across at the Elizabeth St Store where they had unveiled the latest cover issue of Marie Claire Lifestyle as a huge image in the main window. I thought to myself, "that's what I want to do next. Work in magazines!?" 

I had no idea how that was going to happen nor did I really even know what a stylist was at that point. 

That next year, I was working at a boutique home and lifestyle store, Empire Homewares responsible for styling and merchandising the store along with conceptualising windows and their installation. From there, I was spotted by the Food Editor for Inside Out Magazine, Sue Farlie Cunningham who put me in touch with the Editor, Karen McKartney. I started as their on staff stylist on a trial basis and was catapulted into this phenomenal industry where again, I have never looked back.    

Daniel & Emma story for Inside Out

Collectors feature for Inside Out

What are you looking forward to at the moment?  

Getting back to NYC and my gorgeous wee apartment. I have only recently moved there from Melbourne so I really haven't had time to settle in. Winter is on it's way out and we're all looking forward to a bit of sunshine and warmth. Travelling so much means I don't really get much time to sit in one place so when I am back in Manhattan I literally hunker down and enjoy time with friends and uncovering new parts of the city.    

What are the best things about New York so far?  

The fact that you can shop till 9 pm most night and have everything delivered to your apartment that evening (even on Sundays!) Perfect for a bit of last minute prop hunting.  

Commercial work for Aura Bed Linen. 

What's on your design wishlist right now?  

At present, I'm wanting to install one of these mural wallpapers from Surface View. Particularly images from the archives of the National Gallery of London. I should like to cover one of the walls in the living room. Kind of the 'new' feature wall one could say. http://glenproebstel.com/archive/ideal-curation/   

Ok, I love a good recommendation. Tell us something we should totally know about:

If you haven't had a chance to check this new online magazine out, you should head to http://thequintessentialmagazine.com.au/ - full of inspiring images and a stunning way to approach industrial style. One may not envisage having their entire home full of one kind of style but it's all in the mix really and how you can include elements of various styles and genres into your space, defining your own personal style.   

What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?  

In five years time (and somehow it may even be sooner) it's all about collaborating with photographers and creatives around the globe. It's important to me to continue to evolve and expand, both professionally and personally working in differing cultures and circumstances forces me to push boundaries and challenge myself. 

I feel on some level that I shall be making some sort of transition into video or film....watch this space?!

Glen, can we please spend an afternoon eating tapas and drinking wine?

Aside from interiors and design, what else do you love or love to do?  

I love beautiful things. I appreciate how amazing human beings are and how we all like to create and birth beautiful objects into this world. 

From textile designers in the back streets of Melbourne through to local chocolate makers in Brooklyn there has never been a more prolific time for creatives to be visible. 

Social media has enabled the many to have a voice influencing the way that larger corporations or multi-nationals 'dictated' how we should live. There's a revolution happening, so get on board!

Credit where it's due - all photographs taken by Sharyn Cairns

Interview with Neal from Present & Correct

Present & Correct have been one of my favouritefavourite brands for a few years now. Neal and Mark (Mark's from NZ!) are curators of the coolest stationery - including genuine vintage office ephemera like old Hello tags, plastic desk calendars, wall prints... These guys have seriously good taste. 

Until a few months ago, Present & Correct only existed online. But the first Present & Correct store has just opened in London - photos below - and I wish I could dorothy my ankles together and go there right now. Let's do a Fancy field trip.

Anywhoodle, I had an email chatathon with Neal and asked him a few questions...

The new Present & Correct store in London

Who's behind Present & Correct?

It is mainly me, Neal Whittington and also Mark Smith (he's a Kiwi - from Waihi Beach) helps out a great deal with packing, workshopping, ideas and washing up when I'm feeling lazy.  

How did Present & Correct come about?

The origin is really simple in that I just wanted to be able to make stationery and share stationery which I love and have collected. It is something i have always done and having worked in design agencies for 6 years I wanted to be doing it for myself all the time! It was an itch which I scratched. 

The name came from my final project at college, which was a concept for a gift wrapping store. I bought the domain then and always had it in my mind that I would do something with it. 

Present & Correct was a real dream, just to create something for myself which made me happy, as well as other people hopefully!  

Shelves of delight

Your styling is spot on – do you have double lives as designers/in the creative industries? 

We both work/worked in branding and studied graphic design so there is definitely a background and lots of years working for various clients. I guess we just like arranging things and showing off our work and other peoples in the nicest way possible. It gives everything personality and makes them even more precious, whilst also putting the objects into a context which can be missed with online stores.  

Seriously good styling

  

I'm a freak for office sundries. What's your favourite item in the shop at the moment? 

Im in love with the 1970s german stamp sets which we picked up in Berlin. A set of 16 wooden stamps, in solid colours, all of which print a single geometric shape. So simple and so attractive!   

"In our mythical rubber stamp awards this vintage box set takes gold."

What brands/designers in the broader design world excite and inspire you lately? 

There are so many people doing amazing things! We are both obsessed with Jaime Hayon and also Peter Nencini. Esther Stewart is making some really wonderful work inspired by packaging nets. Lo Siento, Hey & Happy are graphic design agencies who are producing really fun stuff. Omar Sosa does some lovely styling and of course Carl Kleiner who is genius. And finally Raw Color in the Netherlands are prolific in their colourful, witty products and graphics. I can't get enough of them. Oh and Karel Martens. Amazing!! I could go on forever and i am addicted to look for things on the internet. You will see on the P&C blog that I like a bit of mid century illustration/design - that provides an enormous amount of inspiration too. As well as every day ephemera like old labels, food wrappers and postal items.   

I love a good recommendation – tell us something we should know about...

I love recommendations too! So here are a few books worth checking out: The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out Of A Window And Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson. It's brilliant. Also Own Label which showcase 1970s packaging from Sainsburys - it sounds dull but it is choc full of lovely graphics.  Usefulness In Small Things is also a great celebration of good, everyday design from around the world.          

And it is imperative that you all know about Mel & Kim and the back catalogue of Stock Aitken & Waterman.   

Boyfriends are boring.

What's next for Present & Correct? 

I always have a list of things I want to make and thats always pinned on the wall to spur me on. 

I would love to finally do a newspaper this year, sharing ideas, fun cut outs and ephemera in printed format. A new pencil case in on the list and also some fun envelopes. The shop is an ongoing joy, online and the bricks and mortar. So it will be fun to do window displays and I am always seeking new products on trips. Another idea is a P&C breakfast cereal, in the shape of paperclips. 

Present & Correct is like Willy Wonka's factory and I'm Augustus Gloop.

Shop online here.