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Founder Focus – Topic 2: Eliza’s Background

Founder Focus: Meet Eliza

Topic 2: Eliza’s Background

 

Printing_SM_PC_16

 

What is your background in terms of education and work experience?

I graduated from Heriot Watt University – School of Textiles, Galashiels after studying ‘Design for Textiles’, specialising in print. I had some training in fashion prior to that, because I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer. I studied fashion business for a year when I first moved to Scotland and then applied to Heriot Watt University for their fashion and textiles course. After the first year, I decided that I loved textile design much more to be swayed into that direction and asked to be moved to their textile design course for the second year onwards.

I got asked to do the odd commission work during my studies at Galashiels, I also applied to a number of design studios for various design-related work placements and ended up working at a few of them, in London and Yorkshire. I then proceeded to do my placement with Timorous Beasties in Glasgow shortly after graduation, whilst working as a freelance designer for a design studio based in Northern Ireland. I had a stint of freelance work with Timorous Beasties shortly after doing my placement as well, where I helped out with some of the digital drawings and artwork editing during a busy time for them.

I then got accepted for a job with a major interior company as a part of their interior design and visual merchandising team, whilst still doing the very occasional designing of my own work in my spare time.

 

How well did your college experience prepare you for this job?

As great as the universities are in training you in the world of design or anything else, I would say that no matter how good of an academic education you get, nothing will ever quite prepare you for the harsh reality of the real world experience! Where you have to work with and around quite challenging situations and limitations. This is especially the case when it comes to running your own business.

So, the most helpful aspect of my background in preparing me for my career in this field, has to be the work experiences I have had with all these design studios and commission work I got while I was still studying; and after. I am forever grateful to these places, the people and the bosses I have had in my journey, because they are the ones who have informed the decisions I made along the way, to where I am at today.

 

What initiated the spark in you to start your own business?

There were limited opportunities for a textile design job out there during the time I finished my studies. For those instances I got interviewed for, feedback was often that my style and ideas were too niche for their typical customers.

Disheartened but not beaten, I dusted myself off and saw that there were many designers with distinctive styles out there in which I highly admire and respect that made it on their own. This is in spite of everyone else thinking that they were too ’niche’ when they first started.

This just shows that there is a gap in the market for distinctive designs it just takes a lot of time, hard work, dedication and perseverance. People like to be different, but yet there is also a lot of fear of being different – because people like to be unique, but they also want to fit in (such a contradiction, I know). So it takes time to convince people you’ve got something great for them and that being different is something to be embraced and celebrated rather than feared. I think having a genuine passion for what you do is also really important in keeping the focus on what you want and need to do, and in communicating that to others.

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Founder Focus – Topic 1: About Eliza’s Career Field

Founder Focus: Meet Eliza

Topic 1: About Eliza’s Career Field

 

Colour and inks hand-blending in the studio

 

How did you get started in this business?

I got started in this business shortly after I got made redundant from my full time job with one of a major interior company; that was at the height of redundancy happening everywhere.

I had always planned on starting my own design studio, but at the time that it happened, I did not think I was ready for it. After some soul searching, where I started designing on my own accord, along with some cold hard calculations looking at how long I would last with monies I’d saved up so far (my start-up pot) and redundancy pay, I thought I should take the plunge – “it was a now or never moment!” It was time for change, as they say “The Times They Are A-Changin”.

 

When did your interest in interior design first aroused?

My interest in interior design first aroused when I got my first house; I worked for a few years prior to starting university and then enrolled as a mature student. This is the first opportunity to do whatever I wanted to; a place of which I could call my own.

My interest in interior design then bloomed as I started doing my work placements at the many different design studios, ranging from fashion to interiors. This is when I discovered that although I still really love designing textiles for fashion and I am suitably able to do them both (fashion and interiors), my temperament and pace is much better suited to designing textiles for interiors. This went hand in hand with my increased interest in interior design as a whole.

 

What do you feel unique about your career field?

I feel that you can have a childlike curiosity and inquisitiveness and still be serious and taken seriously in what you do; and that they both actually work hand in hand, despite it seeming contradictory. Also, the people are much more fun and nicer to be around working with whilst still being professionals.

You don’t get that kind of luxury in many other career fields.

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The Bespoke Colour Process

As some of you might be aware of, we hand-blend all our colours in house in order to create all of our bespoke wallpaper colours. How do we do it I hear you ask?

Well, think of it like a human version of the Dulux colour matching service, in a way.

Colour Swatches

We see the colour sample of what you want to achieve and we blend it with our industry expertise, plenty of heartfelt sensitivity and, a good eye for colour to give you the perfect colour that you deserve!

Colour and inks hand-blending in the studio

So, if a client comes to us saying, “I would love to have your ‘Black Keys’ design wallpaper in hot pink or duck egg blue on plain ground” (colours that we do not have as part of our main collection). We would ask you for a sample of this said hot pink or duck egg blue colour you have in mind and then go on our merry way to blend this for you, by hand.

We will use the example of us blending for our ‘Dance!’ wallpaper in reflex blue on black ground. This is what it would look like in the mixing pot:

Hand-blended ink

We then do some tests until we get the closest (almost accurate) match to it.

Colour samplingOnce we are happy with the results, this is the time for us to do what we call a ‘strike-off’ to ascertain that it’s all good for the final printing with the actual pattern of the design and its repeat. We do this to confirm the colour accuracy, ink consistency and that the artwork on the screens we are printing from is all ready to go as well.

See ‘strike off’ as the equivalent to a dry rehearsal for a play or show.

Example of a strike-off

As you could see, because the inks are hand-blended using our expertise and savviness, we can cater to any colour request you have in mind. We can even do a glow in the dark one for you, should you fancy a highly atmospheric room with a contemporary glow to it! (Tip: ideal for a trendy den idea or if you’re refurbishing a bar or club – our wallpaper are fire tested with a European fire certificate and suitable for commercial use)

With it being hand-blended, this means that it is done with so much more care and detail. And due to its hand-crafted nature, each one is unique – this is even though you decide to order from the same design and collection as the next person. Then again, if you want to be even more unique, you can ask for your own colour to be specially blended for you.

Or if you want to go all out with uniqueness, we can do a complete bespoke design service specific to your brief! How is that for all out bespoke?

We are happy to hear from you, so feel free to contact us to discuss about your unique project.

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Mix Magazine – Issue 34, December 2013

We’re so delighted and honoured to have our Black Keys, White on Black hand-printed wallpaper featured in Mix Magazine, which is the colour, design and trend magazine that brings you accurate information about colour trends, materials and products in quarterly instalments. Where our houndstooth check wallpaper featured as one of the ones who gives monochrome 60’s style Bridget Riley op art look a nod.

I remembered this magazine from back when I was still training, where this was one of THE trend-forecasting publications we were encouraged to look at and use as reference for a lot of our projects back in university. And now we’re in it! Oh the delight!

Mix Magazine - Issue 34, December 2013
Mix Magazine – Issue 34, December 2013
Mix Magazine, p.27 - Issue 34, December 2013
Mix Magazine, p.27 – Issue 34, December 2013
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DETAIL Magazine (Germany, English Edition) – December 2013 Issue

DETAIL Magazine (Germany, English Edition) – December 2013 Issue

 

We’re so pleased to have made our debut impression on the German press through DETAIL magazine and architectural digest. Many thanks to DETAIL for this.

Here’s what it looks like:

 

DETAIL Magazine (Germany) - December 2013
DETAIL Magazine (Germany) – December 2013

 

Find the featured wallpaper in our shop.

We would like to thank the many intriguing individuals, professionals and businesses that we’ve met and have given us such great interests in our designs and most importantly, their invaluable feedback and support during our time on our first show at 100% Design.

 

Much design love,
Eliza

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Deco Mag – November 2013

Deco Mag – November 2013 Shopping Guide

Here’s another of our stuff kindly being featured (again!) by the lovely Deco Mag! A snippet of what they’ve kindly written about us (click on text to read the full article on their website):

“The design studio’s signature patterns are inspired by modern urban life and are an intriguing combination of the graphic and slightly surreal.”

Melamine Coated Mixed Coasters
” there’s nothing twee about the work of Edinburgh’s Moody Monday..”

 

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London Evening Standard – 100% Design, September 2013

Firstly, I would like to start by saying what a great honour it is to have met the highly respected and notable design journo, that is Barbara Chandler during our 100% Design journey in September 2013. She popped by our stand, directed me all over the stand for the best lighting (she seems to really know what she wants!) and snap-snap she went!

Of the brief encounter we had chatting briefly whilst she was directing me to get the best lighting for her shots. I got the impression that she’s one heck of a woman! At the fine age that she is right now, she’s still very much active in her chosen field – oozing passion for contemporary design and photo-journalism. Have quite the eye for it too I might add! Her decisiveness is also one to admire. She’s still very much busy buzzing around the London Design Festival with an exhibition of her own, also giving talks at the V&A during this period. I recalled her rushing away to get to that talk after her visit to our stand. Yet, with all that stripes to her badge, she still comes across a very down to earth and approachable person. Shortly speaking, she’s one cool cookie and what an admirable woman!

Secondly, I would like to thank this fabulous woman for including us in her ‘Best in Show – The pick of the fabulous London Design Festival’ as one of the must-have products from this year’s festival. And I am certainly delighted that she thinks highly of our debut collection! Here’s a preview of it:

London Evening Standard, September 2013

London Evening Standard, September 2013

The electronic version of the complete publication can be found here.

Find the featured wallpaper in our shop.

We would like to thank the many intriguing individuals, professionals and businesses that we’ve met and have given us such great interests in our designs and most importantly, their invaluable feedback and support during our time on our first show at 100% Design.

 

Much design love,
Eliza

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Patternbooth – September 2013

Patternbooth Blog – 100% Design, September 2013.

 

What Cara from Patternbooth has to say about us on our 100% Design journey in September 2013.

You can find the featured hand-printed wallpaper in our shop.

 

Patternbooth Blog Post on 100% Design, Sept'13
Patternbooth Blog Post on 100% Design, Sept’13

 

We would like to thank the many intriguing individuals, professionals and businesses that we’ve met and have given us such great interests in our designs and most importantly, their invaluable feedback and support during our time on our first show at 100% Design.

 

Much design love,
Eliza

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Start Up Hub Finalist Exhibition, Manchester

Start Up Hub Finalist Exhibition, Manchester

 

We’re proud to say that we have made it as one of the 12 finalist in the Start Up Hub competition for top start-up businesses in the UK, sponsored by Fujitsu and BVCA. As the other start up businesses that made it to the finals are not only so varied in terms of what their business offers, but they seem like businesses with a solid proposition. Which is of course reassuring for us to know that we’re up against quality candidates and that we’re one of them! The finalists gets a chance to exhibit and present their business in front of thousands of delegates, the nation’s media and business leaders from across the country.

 

Start Up Hub finalist award handed by the sponsors
Start Up Hub finalist award handed by the sponsors

 

It’s been a very busy few months for us with a couple of main exhibits to attend and participate in, among many other things we’ve been busy doing. One main exhibition being 100% Design at Earls Court, London, the other being Start Up Hub, Manchester at the Conservative Conference with the two exhibitions being only a week apart.

 

Start Up Hub group picture with fellow finalists, sponsors and organiser
Start Up Hub group picture with fellow finalists, sponsors and organiser

 

To read our interview with Fujitsu, click on the link below:
http://blog.uk.fujitsu.com/smes/start-up-stars-moody-monday/

 

More images from this event:

Moody Monday stand with Start Up Hub @ Manchester
Moody Monday stand with Start Up Hub @ Manchester

 

Vote for your favourite start up @ Start Up Hub stand
Vote for your favourite start up @ Start Up Hub stand

 

Our stand right across from the Beebs'
Our stand right across from the Beebs’

 

We’d like to thank our kind and generous sponsors and organisers who had invested their time and money into helping the start up finalists in this event.

=eliza=

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100% Design 2013 – Earls Court, London

100% Design 2013 – Earls Court, London

 

What an exciting week for us, London and the world of design in general! As there are so much going on in London Design Festival, with various shows scattered all around the capital, one of them being 100% Design at Earls Court where we exhibited in our first trade show.

We’re now glad to be back too. Just in case you missed the show, here are some pictures for you:

The building and setting up of Moody Monday stand @ 100% Design - Emerging Brands
The building and setting up of Moody Monday stand @ 100% Design – Emerging Brands
Moody Monday stand @ 100% Design - Emerging Brands
Moody Monday stand @ 100% Design – Emerging Brands

 

Find the featured wallpapers and home accessories in our shop.

We would like to thank the many intriguing individuals, professionals and businesses that we’ve met and have given us such great interests in our designs and most importantly, their invaluable feedback and support during our time on our first show at 100% Design.

 

Much design love,
Eliza