Designer of the Week - Ruth Robson

Designer of the week : Ruth Robson

This week, we interviewed Ruth Robson. Based in Fenland in Cambridgeshire. She focuses mainly on handmade style and botanical design. We want you to discover more about her work process:

- What is your studio name and location?

Home is the small market town of March in Fenland, where I work under my own name Ruth Robson. It's beautiful here with vast skies and huge fields.  

- Which design school did you study at (if you did)?

No design school for me, school really killed my love for creating art for a long while. I took up surface design a few years ago when I started home educating my four children. There's nothing like inspiring learning by learning yourself. 

- When did you first start being interested in design?

I've always been interested in design. I remember as a child looking through my Mum’s ancient magazines, loving the old adverts and patterns that would appear in them. Packaging also has a strange hold over me, again I find myself very drawn to vintage packaging. I just love pattern wherever it can be found. 

- Describe your style for us in 10 words?

Bright, colourful, inspired by nature and childish things, ever evolving. 

- What / who are your major influences?

My surroundings and family inspire much of my work. I'll spot patterns in lots of places, especially in my garden or while out walking and these often appear as elements in my designs. 

- What are you working on at the moment?

Having spent much of the summer away from designing, I've been busy in my garden gathering inspiration. The patterns I've discovered whilst growing unusual vegetables and fruit has been wonderful. I'm planning on turning some of these found patterns into block prints and creating a range of kitchen garden inspired designs. 

- What do you hope to accomplish in the future?

I hope to really find myself and define my style. Exploring block printing further and using the things I love as inspiration. I'm looking forward to creating patterns that are very personal to me but that I hope others will enjoy too. The main thing I wish to accomplish is continued learning and experimentation. 

- What tips would you give new designers starting out?

Just do it. It doesn't matter if you think the work is good, it matters that you continue, experiment and have fun. 

Thanks Ruth for sharing your work and all your creative ideas.

You can buy Ruth’s designs from her Fashion Formula shop here