Welcome to ‘10 QUESTIONS for…’ where over the next few weeks, I’ll be interviewing 10 designers from around the globe, and share with you their answers to 10 important and interesting questions related to their Surface Pattern Design career. I hope you find these interviews informative, fun, creative and inspiring.
It’s only fitting that I begin this small designer series - ‘10 Questions for…’ with the kind and beautiful (inside and out), creative and clever Rachael King.
Rachael is an Australian Surface Designer and Author who loves creating watercolour images for her fabric and greeting card designs. She is drawn to bright, saturated colour in mostly floral themes that reflect living in Queensland. Rachael is a keen learner, mentor and passionate advocate of artists in the Surface Design industry.
I first met Rachael King in about 2018 or 2019. Actually we were trying to remember when we first met just the other day, but it doesn’t matter. I feel like I’ve known her for years, she’s that type of person. One that makes you feel immediately relaxed and happy in her presence. We instantly connected. Whether it was because of our shared love of Art and Surface Pattern Design, our shared dream to make a difference in the Surface Pattern Design industry, our desire to form a creative friendship and build a peer support network, or our closeness in age. We connected, and are great supporters of each other and our growing creative careers.
Rachael is the self-published author of the outstanding design book Pattern Pulse - Exploring the Art of Australian Surface Designers , Published by Pattern Pulse Press 2020.
Pattern Pulse was created and completed during a global pandemic - amazing in itself - personally funded by Rachael and printed locally in Brisbane, Australia. Pattern Pulse is a huge advocate for the Australian Surface Pattern Design industry. We hear a lot of news of Surface Pattern Design coming from the northern hemisphere, USA and UK especially, so to have a book that features all Australian artists and designers and made in Australia is something Rachael can be extremely proud of. Rachael curated and designed a stunning book with an incredible collection of beautiful artwork from 100 of Australia’s Surface Pattern Designers. Trust me when I say it’s a feast for the eyes. Available to buy here. This is not a sponsored post either. I am just proud as punch for Rachael and to see what she achieved in bringing Pattern Pulse to life.
Oh and some inside news is that Pattern Pulse Volume Two is definitely under way in the planning stage!
I think Rachael is incredibly talented, and wise, as you’ll read from her responses to the 10 Questions below and as you’ll see from the beautiful examples of her work shown.
So grab a cuppa, sit back and happy reading. Enjoy the first interview in this series of ‘10 Questions for…’ Surface Pattern Designer interviews.
Bright Floral with seeds on black - Copyright Rachael King.
Q1. How long have you been actively pursuing or have established a career in art/design/art licensing?
Rachael: I studied a diploma of graphic design with a view to becoming a textile designer starting 2014 so I have now dedicated 8 years to my new career.
Q2. What are your favourite tools of the trade?
Rachael: I love my watercolours and thick Canson watercolour paper to paint my elements. After that I love Photoshop because it allows me to make beautiful patterns from my paintings.
Q3. What are some time saving tips you use in your workflow when designing?
Rachael: I will scan my images into the PC, clean them up and add them to Adobe CC libraries. It also means that I have a ready source of flowers, palettes, and elements for when I want to do some quick designing.
Q4. Who are your design idols, past or present and why? You can name 3. :)
Rachael: Paula Scher- she is the ultimate lady boss of dynamic graphic design, Cath Kidston – for introducing me to beautiful vintage prints in the 1990s and growing her business from a market stall up to a global empire, CFA Voysey- for his timeless fabric and wallpaper prints that are a constant inspiration to me.
Q5. What’s your favourite colour palette?
Rachael: Hot pink, millennial pink, navy and mustard!
Pink, navy, tan bedding set - Copyright Rachael King
Q6. How do you deal with rejection if a pitch you made to a client with your latest work doesn’t get picked up?
Rachael: It’s ok, they just weren’t the right people for my work!
Q7. What’s your proudest design achievement in your career to-date?
Rachael: My deal with Spotlight when I licensed 7 designs for fabric right at the beginning of my career. It was a very special moment in time.
Q8. How do you find clients to show your work too and how much does knowing your design aesthetic and ability impact on who you approach?
Rachael: I regularly research businesses through Instagram and when I think I find a match, I go through their feed and check out their website to make sure my aesthetic well and truly fits. It is important that I stay true to my style so I am always on the hunt to see who licenses work similar to mine.
Rachaels’ Intense Cerise floral print on a gorgeous dress made by Emily from @hethoandco. Material printed by @materialdifference.com.au Image courtesy of @hethoandco.
Q9. What is a typical and honest day in the life of @Rachaeldoesdesign look like?
Rachael: 7.30am start- emails, social media and plan my creative time. I might have a zoom call or client work to do and then I get to play with my paints and dream up new prints in the afternoon. I will finish work around 5pm and then it is family (and Netflix) time!
Q10. What are the top 2 things you wish you knew when starting out in your career, or what would be 2 pieces of advice you’d share with new designers to the industry?
Rachael: That you should do the work that comes naturally to you and not to change our style to fit the latest trends. You never know who is looking at your social media feed so keep making work and post regularly!
Rainbow Protea on cream - Copyright Rachael King
Bonus Question: What’s happening next for Rachael King?
Rachael: I will be making a big announcement in early March about something which is a dream come true for me. So follow @rachaeldoesdesign on instagram to find out more.
Thanks for answering those 10 Questions Rachael. We look forward to hearing your exciting news in March and I personally love your shortcut of saving motifs you have painted into Adobe CC libraries. Great time saving tip!
To find out more about Rachael King and her beautiful designs connect with her through the following channels:
www.instagram.com/rachaeldoesdesign
If you found Rachael’s answers to the ‘10 Questions for…’ interesting and wish to share any feedback, please leave a comment. Spread the word and share this blog article to new designers or even established creatives who you think may enjoy reading this interview. Next week we travel to the UK to hear from a very talented designer who once worked at Microsoft and is very successful on Spoonflower. Any guesses who?