I met Tamasyn Gambell at Tent in September and immediately loved her midcentury-inspired geometric prints. I had to find out a bit more about what makes her tick – we talked tightropes, constructivism and exciting secrets!
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
I run an exciting company designing and screen-printing homeware products. There are only three of us and we do it all, from designing to printing!
When you were five years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? And now?!
I wanted to be a tightrope walker in the circus! Now I am happy running my business, getting to design and make, and doing what I love!
What inspires your designs?
An eclectic mix of vintage posters, packaging and ceramics, the art deco, bauhaus and constructivist movements and architecture generally.
Talk me through your design process – how do you get from initial idea to final product?
I do a lot of visual research and create mood boards, then it’s a matter of playing around with shapes and repeats in a sketchbook and on my Mac. I print out a few designs, which my assistant Jess and I transfer onto screens. Then we do a lot of experimentation on the print table, mixing different colours and compositions. Once we are happy with the designs and colours we make the final screens in full repeat and try them out. The fabric is then printed, baked and taken to either our cushion or lampshade manufacturer where samples are made up and the final decisions are made.
What do you do to overcome creative block?
I leave the studio! I go for a cycle around London or take myself to a gallery. London is a great place to re-inspire you as there is always so much going on, whether it’s a new building being built or an exhibition to see.
Describe a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Tamasyn Gambell.
A really good day is when we have a new design on screen and it prints beautifully and looks exactly as I had pictured it would. There’s a real excitement when you lift the last colour’s screen off the fabric and the repeat, colour mix and composition all work. I still get a huge buzz!
A bad day is when the screens don’t expose properly, the phone keeps ringing and a print goes wrong and we have to start again. Printing can be very frustrating – if you smudge the ink or make even a tiny mistake, you have to start all over again!
What did it mean to you to be part of the London Design Festival?
It was really exciting! I really like exhibiting at Tent as there are so many ideas in the one building. It’s a very diverse show and attracts a really interesting crowd.
What are you most excited about?
My new prints on show for the first time! I launched them at Tent this year.
Did you get to see much apart from your own stand?! What was the best thing you saw?
You never get to see too much but highlights would be Donya Coward’s “vegetarian taxidermy” creations, and Sort’s 10 day workshop installation at Fortnum and Mason, where they were printing stationary on their vintage letter presses in-house.
What is good design?
Design that is considered and thought through – something that’s unique and beautifully crafted.
What are you most proud of
Making a living doing what I love!
What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?
Recognise what your style is and develop it. Stick to what you are passionate about and do best. Don’t compromise yourself in order to be commercial.
Tell me a secret.
I’m having a baby in February!
And finally, what’s your favourite colour?
Red
Portrait by Adam Hollier.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: felicity dessewfy
- interview :: goodweave
- interview :: psalt design
- interview :: peter opsvik & lars beller fjetland
