To enter the design et al International Product Design Awards 2013 contact us here

Zoffany have been shortlisted in both the Fabric and Wallcovering categories of the design et al International Product Design Awards 2013 with their stunning new collection , Quartz.

Here their Design Director, Liz Cann, takes five minutes to talk to us about design direction and up coming projects …

Name:

Liz Cann

Position with company:

Design Director

What direction do you feel design is moving towards in general terms?

Pattern is being used as a highlight feature in rooms both for walls and upholstery. Customers are mixing unusual combinations of pattern & colour together to create interior schemes that are less tailored and more individual in style. Designs, such as ikats are very popular as they are so versatile and work equally well in rich vibrant colours or soft muted colours. Plain fabrics woven in fabulous yarns are being increasingly sought for both upholstery and curtains.

What are the key influencing elements at present?

Colour is becoming increasingly important and this is becoming the starting point for many of our collections. Digital printing for wallpapers & fabrics is leading to larger, scale and more intricate designs that cannot be produced by conventional screen printing.

What sort of projects are you working on at the moment?

Beautiful prints hand painted either in our studio or by artists that will be printed digitally.

A designer’s work is so diverse – how do you manage to hold down a career and a life?

It’s hard work but it helps that its an enjoyable job with lovely people.

Name 5 key essentials for 2013 and beyond.

Colour, excellence of design, innovation, price, & customer service have always been important.

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to design schemes, what would it be?

To look for ways to improve a design but also to know when to stop tinkering as spontaneity can easily be lost.

How important do you feel Design Awards are as recognition of designers talents and achievements?

Unlike fashion designers,most designers in the interior design field are not household names so anything that raises the profile of our industry is very important.

What are your aims and goals for the next twelve months?

To cope with every single ongoing project we have at the office and develop yoyo designs and make it well know worldwide.

The car you drive?

Audi A4

Your favourite place to travel to in the world?

Cornwall, my mother was born there.

Your favourite hotel/ restaurant/ bar?

Kit Kemps haymarket Hotel

The place that gives you the most energy?

Scotland

And the place that enables you to totally relax?

My back garden

Your favourite food and drink?

Grilled fish and Chablis

Anything else interesting?

I’ve been working as a textile designer for 35 years so have seen many changes in design – mostly for the better.

Click here to view more collections from Zoffany