Brighton has absolutely everything you could want, a great place to get inspired and spend your summer by the sea!
Hi Francesca – can you tell us a bit about your work and influences?
My exotic retro collection is full of exciting pictorial stories inspired by the 1950’s love genre of American film. I intended to create a collection that reflects on our relationships with clothes and how they make us feel through imagery, colour and cloth. As current vacations remain on hold due to coronavirus, tropical holidays have become the subject of fantasy during lockdown. Therefore my collection of dreamy scenic prints transport the customer to far-flung destinations. The mix of placement and repeat “destination-ready” prints evoke an escapist mood and a “wish I was there” element, which is a key trend currently. The versatility of the collection offers the possibility for a variety of product development. The illustrations can also be extended into pictorial wall art for interior, graphic art for books or used in stationary design such as notebooks.
How have you found your course and time at Brighton?
I am a Brighton girl through and through so having the opportunity to study in my hometown was perfect for me. Brighton has absolutely everything you could want, a great place to get inspired and spend your summer by the sea! The course itself is also fantastic, it offers the opportunity to discover your speciality within design, experience work in the creative industry and gives you time to understand and nurture your unique talent. The first three years allow you to grow and learn, final year is where you step into your own and independently prosper. Completing a degree during a pandemic proved extremely hard, I am proud of all of us for succeeding and am very grateful to be graduating as the industry is starting to transition back to normality again. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at university and have made friends for life.
How did you choose your course – why did you choose to study Textiles?
I have always been a very creative person, I excelled in textiles above other studies throughout my education and after receiving a distinction at art foundation it drove me to continue my passion at degree level. The benefit of this particular course is that business studies is combined as well as a year in industry so you graduate knowing you can continue on into the working world with extra knowledge and advantage. My year in industry confirmed to me that I wanted to pursue a career in PR, I plan to continue with illustration and print design on the side selling through my Etsy shop FrancescaPrint.
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan to start a new adventure in London soon pursuing a creative career in Fashion PR. I’m keen to explore a variety of roles which allow me to connect with new people and experience different ways of working. I am excited to have an established brand myself one day too selling my own designs. It is a great feeling to know that we are only at the start of our careers, I can’t wait to see what the future holds!
You can preview my latest collection at the Brighton Graduate show today, at New designers online from the 30th June – 10th July or come to view it in person at the Fishing Quarter Gallery in Brighton from the 3rd – 7th July!
Instagram: @francescahalesprints
Find out more about BA(Hons) Textile Design with Business Studies
