Rachael Taylor Studio in 2016!

WOW what a year! We’re taking a moment to reflect on 2016 & all of the amazing things that happened in the Rachael Taylor studio last year. It was a jam-packed, roller coaster of a year & we just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for following & supporting us!

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January

Rachael’s work travelled yet again at the beginning of 2016 with a trip to Printsource, New York, where her work was shown with the Lilla Rogers Studio.

Rachael began work on a giftware range for fitness brand Fit For Keeps to be released in August.

Also in January, Rachael began planning a collaborative furniture design project with the talented Jess & Jules.

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February

February saw the launch of Rachael’s Alphabet Hearts collection, bringing the studio into the personalised industry!

It was also an exciting month for Rachael’s British licensing as her umbrella collection for Soake launched at Spring Fair.

Rachael also supported small UK charity PostPals by sending lots of ‘smiles’ (packs of goodies)’ this month. The charity is dedicated to making seriously ill children & their siblings smile by the sending of cards, letters, little gifts, support & friendship.

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March

March began with Rachael planning her garden renovation design, including the design for an outdoor studio. Research for the design meant getting to read lots of books about beautiful plants & flowers, which then ultimately inspired Rachael in her design work. The plans were crucial for the studio as well, as it will eventually be home to Rachael’s new outdoor drawing cabin where she can literally sit amongst the flowers & get creative.

Rachael partnered with world-leading printer manufacturers Roland DG & her designs were used on their incredible printers at trade show FESPA in Amsterdam.

Rachael & Jess & Jules finished their collaboration on a set of bespoke drawers, with several more pieces still in the pipeline.

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April

Rachael had the chance to design colouring pages for Mollie Makes Colouring book 2, with her ‘Confetti Lace’ & ‘April Showers’ designs being featured.

Rachael’s fresh & contemporary stationery range for Top Flight was released.

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May

May was an exciting month as Rachael celebrated 8 years of her studio. May also happened to be the 1st year anniversary for Holly our PR & Marketing Assistant & the 4 year anniversary for our Studio Manager Kelly!

Surtex, New York in May also saw more work added to Rachael’s portfolio than ever before.

In May Rachael expanded her greetings range for Mpix to include adorable kids party invites.

May was also a charitable month as Rachael, Kelly & the Make it in Design team ran the Colour Obstacle Rush, which you can read more about here.

Rachael & Make it in Design launched the first ever Sketch Doodle Draw free event in Liverpool, where she got the chance to meets lots of students from her e-course, students from a local school, as well as many new people from her local creative community.

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June

June saw Rachael become a member of the ACID Advisory Council with Rachael’s personal aim to challenge the education system to educate students on copyright & intellectual property knowledge.

Rachael officially began blogging about The Rachael Taylor Home Renovation Project, in which she takes you room by room as she plans & designs each renovation of her home.

In June, Rachael’s bespoke design sideboard, lamp & two letterpress side tables were delivered by Jess & Jules after working together on the designs.

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July

In July, Make it in Design exhibited at New Designers for the first time, having worked hard on planning the stand design. Rachael got to meet so many of her lovely students & really get to meet the Make it in Design community.

At New Designers, Rachael also spoke at The Design Trust Start Up Day with a talk on ’20 things you need to know to become a professional surface pattern designer’ as well as a Q&A with Ella Doran, who is one of her design idols!

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August

August saw the launch of Rachael’s giftware range for Fit For Keeps, a positive fitness brand.

In August The Make it in Design Summer School ran for it’s third year & saw even more amazing design shared within the community.

Rachael’s licensing range for DENY Designs expanded even more to include many products such as the bed in a bag, bath mats & comforters.

Rachael visited Printsource, New York in August to provide two talks on the surface pattern industry in their Future Cafe.

Here is Rachael with Printsource, New York Producer Massimo Iacoboni on day 1 of the show:

Rachael & Make it Design ran their second Sketch Doodle Draw free event in New York, Central Park.

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September

In September Rachael worked with Roland DG UK on a fashion competition for which Rachael was the judge.

September saw the release of MOYO issue 9, which has so far had nearly 5000 impressions, with all issues now at over 3.2 million impressions, having reached readers around the world.

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October

October was kicked off with an amazing & inspiring trip to Helsinki, in which Rachael & the Make it in Design team got to tour the Marimekko factory.

Helsinki was also the spot for another Sketch Doodle Draw, as the event went global!

Rachael’s range for Demdaco expanded in October last year, with designs still in the works so watch this space!

Rachael began work on photography for a new personalised print range with some colourful props.

Rachael & the Make it in Design team had their annual big meeting to plan 2017 – wow are there some amazing things ahead!

After the meeting, Rachael & the Make it in Design team attended the Roland DG UK Designer Day in which Rachael assisted in wrapping a car with one of her designs! This inspiring day really showed Rachael & everyone who attended that the possibilities are endless with surface pattern design. Rachael also worked with Beth & videography team Broken Physics on some promotional videos for her e-course.

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November

The Dream Plan Do Planner from The Design Trust was launched, which includes four inspiring quote designs by Rachael.

Make it in Design celebrated it’s 5th Birthday with #worldpatternday as we celebrated having reached 65 countries & taught over 7000 students!

In November Rachael took over Lilla Rogers’ Instagram feed with a peek into a day in her life.

Rachael was excitingly commissioned to create a design for snowflake sculpture, which would be part of Liverpool city centre’s Snowflake Trail. The RT team worked hard alongside Roland DG UK to produce 100’s of vinyl stickers for the design. You can read more about the process in Rachael’s ‘The Snowflake Diaries’ blog series.

The Rachael Taylor studio team had their annual meeting to plan ahead for an amazing 2017 & celebrated with a festive meal.

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December

In December the Snowflake Trail was officially launched with Rachael’s snowflake design ‘Snowy Celebration’ placed in Liverpool’s city centre. Rachael was excitingly interviewed by BBC Radio Merseyside & interviewed for TV with her little boy Blayke on the launch night!

December also saw the launch of The Make it in Design Winter School, the newest design school offering briefs on A/W 17/18 trends.

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Updated portfolio

2016 saw even more design work added to Rachael’s ever expanding portfolio. If you are a client or company interested in licensing or commissioning our art work, then check out our private archive or get in touch us for more information on how to get access. From florals & organics to geometrics & character designs, Rachael is sure to have a design that you will love!

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Make it in Design & The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design e-course

Throughout the year Rachael & the Make it in Design team have been working on continually streamlining her e-course with the latest updated software & new step-by-step video tutorials. It was a mammoth task but we are pleased to say they launched to a great response, with amazing feedback. You can read all of the e-courses testimonials here.

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Press

2016 was a year of even more press for Rachael as she was featured on/in: Print & Pattern / Style at Home / Design Crumbs / Top 50 Interior Blog Posts of 2016 / Art Buyer Magazine / MOYO issue 9

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Social media

Rachael’s studio Instagram account passed 3000 followers – @rachaeltstudio / Rachael’s personal Instagram account passed 5000 followers – @rachaeltaylor_ / Rachael’s personal Twitter account passed 6000 followers – @rachael_taylor / Rachael’s studio Facebook passed 4000 likes – @RachaelTaylorStudio

Rachael’s Instagram #2016bestnine:

(…) on behalf of my little studio team I’d like to THANK YOU once again for the continued support & thank you to my amazing team along with the lovely people who help to look after my sister company Make it in Design. Juggling motherhood around my business has been tricky & demanding at time & I’m learning & trying to improve & grow every day. I wouldn’t change a thing though (other that I need to let myself take more time out). I’m so grateful for everything & I never ever take it for granted.”

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Links

Printsource New York / Fit For Keeps range / Jess & Jules collaboration / Alphabet Hearts / Soake range / PostPals / FESPA – Roland DG collaboration / Mollie Makes Colouring 2 / Top Flight range / 8 years celebration / Surtex New York / Mpix range / Color Obstacle Rush / Sketch Doodle Draw – Liverpool / Acid Advisory Council / The Rachael Taylor Renovation Project / Make it in Design – New Designers / The Design Trust Start Up Day / The Make it in Design Summer School / DENY Designs range / Rachael in NYC / Sketch Doodle Draw – New York / Roland DG fashion competition / MOYO Magazine issue 9 / Helsinki trip & Marimekko factory tour / Sketch Doodle Draw – Helsinki / Demdaco range / personalised print range / Roland DG UK Designer Day / Dream Plan Do planner / Make it in Design 5th birthday – #worldpatternday / Lilla Rogers artist ambush / Snowflake Trail art commission / The Snowflake Diaries / The Make it in Design Winter School

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2017

2017 will see many more exciting designs, projects & collaborations, here’s a little peek into what to expect:

The Lilla Rogers Art Menagerie – Rachael has designed many new pieces – find out more here.

Personalised prints – Rachael will release a full range of personalised prints for all around the home.

Charity projects – Rachael really wants to get involved in more charity work this year & continue helping those in need.

Surtex & NYC trip – Rachael will be at the show on the Lilla’s Rogers stand alongside her new portfolio. She also has some very exciting adventures lined up during her stay in NYC!

Garden & home renovations – Rachael’s renovations to her home will continue – you can read all about what has happened so far here.

Rachael will really be working hard on her brand & design skills this year & continuing to learn & grow as a designer. She has just confirmed her place on Sophie Robinson’s & Daniel Hopwood’s Interior Design Masterclass. Watch out 2017!

Thank you again for coming on this journey with us!

The Rachael Taylor studio team xoxoxo