Meet Meg, one of the Surface Pattern designers at Boxclever Press talks about her work

Meet Meg - Senior Designer at Boxclever Press

September 25, 2018 Abbie Bartlett

Meg is our designer of all things beautiful. Here's a little look at life as a designer; the highs, the lows, the inspiration and the journey...

How many years have you been working for Boxclever Press?

Nearly two years.

When you are asked to design a new product, what is the first thing you do?

Usually, the first thing I do is a mood board or at least absorb myself into researching trends and find images/techniques/colour palettes that really inspire me. Even if the final design doesn’t end up looking like the mood board I find that for me the best thing to do is just make a start and see where it takes you.

Where do you look for inspiration?

Design blogs, fashion, trend websites/blogs, homeware, social media, shops, galleries. Everywhere!
It sometimes depends on the product; for example when I started the food Journal and fridge list designs I looked at food bloggers.

Which product are you are most proud of?

That’s really hard because every time I design something new it is the best feeling holding that final product in your hand!
If I had to choose I would probably have to say the 2018 Everyday Diary as that was the first diary I ever designed and it was a learning curve but I absolutely loved the challenge of applying my surface pattern background designing a whole diary.

What made you decide to become a designer?

I can’t really remember a time when I didn’t want to do a creative job (work experience at hairdresser’s reinforced that dream!) I just never really thought I could actually make a career out of it.
I had a wonderful Art teacher at school who was really supportive and guided me in the right direction. My parents also told me to go for it, so I did!

What is your personal favourite colour palette?

I do love a mushy pea green! (Or as Sarah (Sadler) would say ‘Meg loves a mucky colour’).
I really like the palette for the Academic Block Wall Chart; I think it is really pretty and I love the fresh red colour pop of the text.

As someone who has lots of deadlines, which product do you use to stay well planned and organised?

My Everyday diary of course! I live for writing lists so the notes section for every week is a Godsend.
And a Wall Chart keeps me in check with deadlines. You can’t ignore the deadline it if it is staring you in the face every day!

What inspiration is behind the new 2019 Everyday Range?

I had quite a good idea in my head of where I wanted to take this range so it was quite an organic process when we were developing the designs. I knew I wanted to keep it fresh and bright, I was desperate to have some foil on there somewhere!! I love Scandi design so that was definitely an influence, I just got my sketchbook out and started drawing shapes and experimented with line work and pattern.

We wanted it to be an item of stationery that you could carry around with you which would aid you in day-to-day life and also look beautiful.

We meticulously chose every detail of this diary – the two ribbon page markers, the pocket, the pen holder. Every page layout design was chosen with care.

What is your favourite feature?

The 'To-do' pages we have on the Desk Calendar - bloomin’ love a list! (saddo).

What advice do you have for any budding designers out there?

If you go around shops stroking lovely stationery and wondering how it was made then design is probably the job for you!
I love learning new things and there is always something new to learn. May it be from your fellow designers or something you have read online or in a book. Have your ears and eyes open and be ready to take it all in.

I would say if you are right at the start of your journey then create at least one thing every day, even if it’s just a doodle, that doodle could end up being transformed into something wonderful.

And don’t be too hard on yourself if a design doesn’t quite go your way, just learn from it and move on.

Just go for it!