Kate Brewer, founder of Look Like Love, profiles a different new designer every week. With the tagline “support, nurture, promote” echoing confessions of a design geek’s own “discover, champion and inspire” and a similar commitment to advocating for emerging talent, the parallels between Look Like Love and confessions of a design geek are clear. Watch out for her features every Thursday afternoon. This week’s designer? The hands-on designer/maker Kate Colin…
Staring at a blank sheet of paper is the starting point for virtually every designer at the beginning of a new creative project. It might turn into a to-do list, an action plan, or a series of marks, scribbles and sketches that marks the starting point of something new, but for designer-maker Kate Colin, it is the paper itself that is transformed into her creations – one-off hand-folded, pendant lights.
A recent Glasgow-based graduate, Kate manipulates the paper into a series of geometric, three-dimensional forms, experimenting with different colour combinations, and the effect they have with and without light. “When illuminated, the appearance of each shade radically transforms; forms, creases and angles become emphasised, while an intensity of colour is brilliantly revealed,” she explains.
Transforming a simple piece of paper into an intricate, sculptural and functional form is an art form in its own right, and Kate Colin is proving that there is no need to over-complicate her craft, letting the forms speak for themselves. With their very own personal touches, they reach far beyond the more commercial, throwaway products, having the ability to transform a room whether a light is glowing from inside or not.
As well as showcasing her work in a number of venues across Glasgow, this young designer also holds workshops, teaching others the techniques of paper-folding, extending the tactility of the art to the masses, which has proved a popular extension to her fledgling business, and allows her to build her range of designs further.
Kate currently sells a collection of ten forms, and each one is made to order in simple white, or in up to three colours from a palette of bright and muted tones. The weight of the paper she uses, (160g acid-free stock) allows detailing like contrast stitching to be expressed, and is robust enough to be hung in either a residential or commercial setting.
This year has been a busy one so far for Kate, having being selected as one of Crafts Council’s Hothouse 2016 emerging designers. Along with 40 other up-and-coming designers, she will receive invaluable tools and support to grow a sustainable and successful business. The Hothouse programme also provides a series of workshops, mentoring sessions and links with industry; something that is key at the early stages of a designer’s career.
Kate will be presenting her collection at this Summer’s New Designers: One Year On which has proved to be a successful alumni showcase for many emerging designers over the last few years.
Pieces from Kate Colin’s collection will be available to buy from Look Like Like in the next few weeks…
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- look like love :: sophie cobb
- look like love :: tom hutchinson
- look like love :: emma buckley
- look like love :: michael carroll
With thanks to Alan Braidwood for the photography used in this story.
