Jessica Hogarth is the founder of Jessica Hogarth Designs, a specialist in surface patterns and textile designs, working from North Yorkshire. Jessica attended Leeds College of Art, studying Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design. By May 2011 Jessica was ready to start her own surface pattern company and in 2013 moved to her own studio in Whitby. Her work has been featured in Pattern Observer, the Print Pattern blog, Homes & Gardens and Homemaker. So we are proud to bring you the Designer Insights of Jessica Hogarth.
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1) In your own words describe your unique style and creative aesthetic?
My style is quirky yet sophisticated; a mixture of nostalgic hand drawn imagery and eye catching colour. I like my work to tell a story whilst being commercially appealing.
2) When starting a new project, what is your creative process?
I always spend time either looking online or getting out and about just taking in new things. It’s easy to be influenced by work I’ve done before, and whilst I want to retain my look it’s important to open myself up to new techniques and ways of putting designs together.
3) Out of the creative people you have worked with, who is it that you respect and admire the most?
There’s many people I admire, but, I developed a range for the RNLI last year and worked alongside someone in the team there to create the artwork for the collection. I was the one doing all of the designing, but I was so pleased with the final collection, she really helped me to bring it all together and make sure virtually the same design worked on each of the respective products. It has been a really successful range. The person I am talking about was ridiculously busy with other projects at the time but she always seemed to know the right thing to do.
4) When looking for inspiration is there a particular thing you do to get inspired?
Try to chill out and take time to go through my ideas and source new inspirational imagery. Music is a big part of my day so I try to listen to something I can concentrate to but is still interesting.
5) What has brought you to this point in your career? And what is your advice for people looking to follow in your footsteps?
Lots of hard work but also being passionate about what I do. I’d advise anyone wanting to run their own business to utilise the internet as much as possible. Online marketing is free. Also, try to have a unique look. It’s a competitive world; you need to make sure you offer something different.
