interview :: ola - confessions of a design geek

This article was published 12 years

East London based designer maker Katy Goutefangea launched new surface pattern design brand, Ola, at Pulse London in May. I’m a big fan of Katy’s work, so I was eager to find out more…

What’s the most important thing to know about you?

Ola is about creating well made, timeless everyday objects. The aesthetic is as important as the way an item feels, and how well it works. The brand has become as much a celebration of quality, materials and manufacture as it is of pattern.

Tell me a bit about your new brand Ola.

Ola is about everyday items that have been designed and developed with patience – objects that people will enjoy using. I like the idea that time has been devoted to the production of even small, relatively simple items. Especially in an age when so many things are quickly mass produced. The key product in the first collection is the layflat notebook. The notebook features a specialist binding that allows the book to rest open fully, meaning both pages can be used simultaneously. I was adamant about this feature and it was surprisingly difficult to realise. Most books are hot glued at the spine for speed, which results in difficulty using them and pages that fall out – the ola notebook is sewn, so it should last a lifetime.

What inspired the pattern that features across the collection?

Each item is a quiet celebration of pattern and the culmination of a lot of research – work by other artists, such as Sol LeWitt, Anni Albers and Donald Judd, images I’ve found or photographs I’ve taken. For instance the first collection features the Wave print, which was inspired by a photograph I took of the rooftop of a nearby building.

What does the future hold for Ola?

New collections and more stationery! I’m currently developing a range of linen diaries for 2015 that feature Wave patterned endpapers. They’re being produced by an amazingly skilled bookbinder in South London. They’ll launch at designjunction in September.

Describe your design process from initial idea to final product.

Creating each product is a two-part process, firstly the print design and then the development of the product. The print design takes place in the studio and involves lots of sketching, cutting and creativeness. The product development is a much lengthier process. It takes lots of time because I haven’t just found a producer of something and then printed a pattern onto it. I’ve needed to source makers who use the processes I’m interested in and work with them to develop the products. This means testing materials, ironing out problems and lots of sampling before coming to the finished result. It takes longer but I really believe it’s worth it – and it means each of the products is unique to the brand.

What’s your favourite part of the process?

I love materials and process so visiting the manufacturers features pretty highly on the list.

Tell me about a really good day in the life of Ola and a really bad day.

I’m lucky enough to be doing what I love so rarely have very bad days! The most frustrating days are probably those spent working on pricing. Making products in small quantities and in the UK is expensive, and so its tricky to come to a price point that can sit anywhere near larger brands.

What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?

When I first started out I very much felt the pressure of time. Over the last few years I’ve learnt to relax and really enjoy the creative process, sometimes it takes moving away from something you’re doing and looking back at it to be able to see it clearly.