British designer Faye Toogood is one of the five design stars launching leather hides with Bill Amberg’s new innovative digital printing method. Her artful design showcases rich patterns in the form of painterly brushstrokes and drawings, all inspired by her sketchpad.
In the above video, watch as Toogood methodcially draws, paints and shades the abstract details in her design. ‘I am always doodling, it helps me think and visualise things,' she says. ‘Random shapes and patterns often emerge on one side of my notebook whereas the other side is meticulously organised for project notes. From these sketches I developed shapes and added pigment test washes to these.’
Toogood explains that the intricacies in her design could only be bought to life by Amberg’s new high-quality printing technique – ‘previously printing on leather would’ve blurred out these finer details and made it look cartoon-ish and flat’. The distinct palette of peat brown, brick red, ochre yellow and flesh pink are close to Toogood as well – ‘I have been working a lot with these colours this year. It’s a very intuitive process for me and often derivative from the material I am working with at that moment.’
Find the leather range at Tom Dixon’s ELECTROANALOGUE showcase during London Design Festival; 15-23 September; The Coal Office, Arches, Coal Drops Yard, 3-10 Bagley Walk, N1C 4DH
Helen Johnson explores bodily distortion and ablution at Pilar Corrias
