PATTERNITY is a London based online platform consisting of pattern research, an award winning creative studio, the world’s leading online pattern image archive and also acts as an events and education hub. Liv Taylor is Head of Research at Patternity, university lecturer and a freelance designer and after her fantastic lecture at CCAD we managed to grab a quick chat with her about how she got into this incredible line of work and gave us some advice on how to follow in her footsteps!
LIV TAYLOR:
I had worked in Art Direction and Graphic Design previously, but had always archived visual imagery that interested me and documented articles and ideas. I shared some of my previous work and research with co-founders Anna and Grace who asked me to work with them for one day a week. This quickly turned into a full time job.
Students should find ways to document and talk about their interests alongside their work; whether it’s making a book about your favourite city, drawing your favourite animals, or creating an Instagram account documenting your beer mat collection. When applying for jobs and working with collaborators, it’s always shared interests and ideologies outside of the ‘work’ that create the best connections, and having tangible ways to share these things is really important. PATTERNITY was founded upon simple shared interest, and I think that being able to articulate the things that inspire you is very valuable.
Image Courtesy of Patternity.org