Claire was recently invited to talk to Gallery Magazine, Jersey. Here is an excerpt of the interview talking about Claire Gaudion's collaborative partnerships, design development and production techniques:

Gallery: Claire your beautiful work first came to our attention thanks to a feature in Guernsey Gallery in 2013, a great deal has happened to you since then, perhaps you can talk us through what you’re doing now?

We have been fortunate enough to work on a number of brand collaborations too. Collaborating with other creative businesses is an exciting way to develop new products and showcase designs to a broader market. These partnerships include design collaborations for lampshades and wallpaper with Mockbee & Co. (UK), resin mosaic wall coverings and uv printed tiles with Gemanco Design (Italy), rugs with Rug-maker (UK) and a new furniture range with Galapagos Furniture (UK), due to launch soon this year and showcase at Decorex International trade show in London in September. We are also collaborating with a London gallery, DEBUT Contemporary to create a new collection of textile accessories, cushions and throws, which includes new silk wool woven designs together with a range of printed cushions featuring the contemporary Art of a selection of DEBUT Contemporary’s international artists.

We now also offer bespoke commissions for textiles and rugs, as well as other products such as wallpapers and wall mosaics with my collaborative partners.

Gallery: How would you describe your designs?

My designs are contemporary with a sophisticated use of colour, pattern and weave. Geometric and abstract prints are complemented by the interlacing of colours and patterns in woven designs. From the hand-crafted design stage through to heritage and modern manufacturing, high-quality and longevity are signatures of our collections.

Gallery: Do you ever have to make compromises in your designs when working with large manufacturers?

The design process needs to consider the manufacturing possibilities before you get to a stage of making compromises. Working closely with a range of mills and manufacturers - some working with heritage shuttle looms, others state-of-the-art modern printing or weaving technology - and knowing their capabilities and limitations, I can determine how designs need to be created to make them possible. Rather than making compromises, it is more about understanding the production process and knowing what is possible so this can inform designs from the beginning.

You design for both printed and woven textiles, how do the techniques differ?

Designing printed and woven textiles, I experiment with new design ideas by interlacing coloured threads and exploring weave structures at the loom, which inspires digital pattern designs, and vice versa. The techniques then used to create the designs following this initial development stage are very different. Digital print designs are then worked on using CAD software, whilst woven designs are handcrafted on paper then sampled on the loom.

The end-use of the fabrics also informs my design decisions throughout the process - the tactile quality and functionality of the cloth, the textures, weight and drape of the fabrics, the scale of the design patterns, the use of colour, and whether for fashion or interiors.

Interiors like fashion follow trends, is there anything in particular we should be looking out for this year?

It is exciting to see new room schemes and colours illustrated in magazines, and by trend forecasters, and these can offer useful advice on how to combine colours and textures. But, interiors are very personal spaces and should be a reflection of the people who are living there, rather than dictated by trends. Choose colours and textures that you love, and enjoy being surrounded by.

Read the full interview online at: http://www.gallery.je/creativity-looming