Launching the brand new MOYO Directory!

It is hard to believe that it is two years since Beth Kempton & I released The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design into the world! Since then, we have helped thousands of budding designers develop their pattern designs skills, build their brand & monetise their designs. They have had some incredible successes - winning national design contests, landing multiple clients, launching their own labels, being featured in industry books & magazines & so on. But then we realised there was something missing... a go-to place for potential clients to find surface pattern designers just like them. So we created the MOYO Directory - the online home of surface pattern designers. Over the coming months we will be heavily promoting this to the key players in industry - buyers, studios, trade show organisers etc - to help bring even more attention to the work of the featured designers.

(Image shows Rachael's MOYO Directory profile)

And we would love to have YOU join our directory! Are you a surface pattern designer, illustrator, graphic designer, mixed media artist or other kind of artist or designer? Then this is for you! The MOYO Directory is a visually striking, easy to navigate, highly customisable directory, which allows you to create your own profile, upload unlimited portfolio images & receive direct enquiries from potential clients etc. Ultimately it will be a fantastic place to showcase your designs, attract work & get noticed even more. It will be a fantastic complement to your existing website, and we aim to make it the most popular designer directory available. Access it anywhere – on your PC, tablet or phone – to find designers on the go.

The MOYO Directory is a one-stop-shop for companies looking to hire talent or find freelancers so you need to part of it! Showcase your work, share your social media links & network with other designers – all for less than the cost of a single advert on any leading design blog. Let it complement your existing website, or if your website isn’t ready yet, your personal profile & portfolio area will be the perfect substitute. We aim for the MOYO Directory to become the go-to resource for companies seeking designers to work with, either freelance or for licensing/selling designs. Features of the MOYO Directory:

• Quickly and easily customise your own MOYO profile
• Upload unlimited portfolio albums
• Get great value marketing for your business
• Complement or replace your existing website
• Find other designers near you

It’s very easy to get going in just a few simple steps:

(1) Visit www.moyodirectory.com

(2) Watch the short introductory video

(3) Sign up

(4) Create your profile

(Image shows Suzanne Washington’s MOYO Directory profile)

(5) Upload your portfolio images – you can have as many albums and upload as many images as you like

(Image shows Jessica Swift’s MOYO profile)

(6) Share your unique URL on social media, on your blog and in your newsletter mailings etc (Hint: There is an option to search by ‘Most Loved’ so be sure to get all your followers to your profile!)

And it’s not just for surface pattern designers – you can be listed as a illustrator, mixed media artist, graphic designer etc, and really stand out from others in your field.

What are you waiting for? Check it out and sign up now!

MOYO / / 1 Million Readers!

We are so excited to share the news that our free design magazine MOYO has been viewed by over 1 MILLION people! As we are busy working behind the scenes on our anniversary issue (due out in late August), we just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who has helped make MOYO - the world's first magazine dedicated to surface pattern design - such a roaring success! We look forward to bringing you more inspiration, business advice and opportunities to showcase your design work over the coming months. In the meantime, if you have missed any of our previous issues, check them out here:

 

Issue 1

Issue 2

Issue 3: The Fabric Issue!

Issue 4: The Paper Issue!

If you are interested in ‘The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (the e-course)’ we are thrilled to announce we are running a new series (starting on August 19th 2013) Register here. Also, don’t miss out on our next run of Module 2 ‘Creating Your Professional identity’ which is running 19th August 2013! Brought to you by Rachael Taylor and Beth Kempton.

Rachael on Twitter: @rachtdesign Beth on Twitter: @DoWhatYouLoveXx

You can also read some magic words from some our past students who have gone on to achieve some amazing things!

Print & Pattern Design Scholarship Winners Announced!

The standard of entries for our second Print & Pattern Design Scholarship was so high that we decided to give away TWO full scholarships, each worth nearly $1000. And the winners are... GAVIN RUTHERFORD and GENINE DELAHAYE (Check out their work in Issue 3 of MOYO!)

Congratulations both of you! We will be in touch with details of your prize - a place on all three modules of The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. We cannot wait to see what you create, and watch how the course helps you take your careers to the next level. Huge thanks to Marie Perkins of Print & Pattern for supporting this scholarship and finalising our winners!

MOYO Magazine Issue 3 is here!

Our third (and biggest ever) issue of MOYO Magazine. Issue 3 is out now! You can see it here. It includes:

• Amy Butler on the business of design
• Talking fashion and fabric with Josephine Kimberling
• Behind the scenes at the Home Show 2013
• A BRAND NEW DIY column from Lil Blue Boo
• Announcement of the winner of our Print & Pattern Scholarship
• ...and much more!

Please help us spread the word about this free magazine by sharing it on Facebook and Tweeting about it (@surfacepatternd #moyomagazine). Please also feel free to blog about it or share it in your newsletter and inspire even more people to dive into the exciting world of surface pattern design!

Get your free copy HERE!

Zoe Attwell

Zoe Attwell is a wonderful graduate of 'The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design (the e-course)' & is a surface pattern designer based in London. She has worked in Graphic Design for newspapers from London to New York for many years but found that colour & pattern were what truly inspired her. This lead her to the e-course which she found "invaluable" for it's "amazing community that has been created with fellow designers". The course "inspired me and provided me with a solid base of knowledge from which to build upon". Since the e-course Zoe has been going from strength to strength having been featured in Issue 1 of MOYO Magazine & on the Print & Pattern blog!
You can visit Zoe's beautifully designed website, read her blog or contact her by email.

Happy Christmas & New Year!

The team at Rachael Taylor Designs would like to wish you all a wonderful Christmas & we hope that you all enjoy a fabulous New Year!

We will be taking a break from the studio for the festive period & will return on the 3rd of January. For our last post of 2012 we would like to share with you some highlights of the year! We designed so many new products this year, attended Top Drawer London, created our brand new, bespoke online store & launched 'MOYO' Magazine with our amazing MOYO dream team (we now have two successful issues!)

Recently we signed with the prestigious Lilla Rogers studio & have already received lots of wonderful licensing! We have also been blown away by the success stories coming from our students & graduates of The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design! It seems that there is a real buzz about our e-course talent, the #ABSPD team is so proud & truly grateful!

In 2013 you can look forward to even more colourful products including more aprons, tea towels, bespoke lighting & brand new digital & screen printed cushions. Watch this space!

Enjoy & have a wonderful time whatever you are doing!

Kelly & Rachael

Brand new aprons!

Brand new tea towels!

New phone cases!

 

We expanded our international licensed collections 

We launched lots of new licensed products!

Our stand at Top Drawer London!

Team Rachael Taylor designs at Top Drawer London!

Designer Charity Doodle Wall!

Amazing new lifestyle photography by navyblur!

Brand new online store!

Launch of 'MOYO' Magazine Issue 1, the world's first online magazine dedicated to the wonderful world of surface pattern design.

Issue 2 of 'MOYO' Magazine!

We would like to thank you all so much for following the blog and supporting the work we do! A special THANK YOU goes to Hannah Byatt (guest blogger) & our freelance team members: navyblur, happy4pr, the MintWorks, Louise Gale & last but not least the fabulous Beth Nicholls! We also have a wonderful team at MOYO magazine. THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Monica Lee - Smart Creative Women

Monica Lee is an artist & textile designer who runs a web show in which she interviews creative women to find out more about how they keep their business successful yet creative. She likes to "hear stories" & "spread stories". Her hope "is for you to be able to hear how women today are carving our a place for themselves using their very best resource, their creativity and realise that you can do it aswell!" Monica also recently interviewed Rachael & Beth (who work together on the e-course) & you can read their interviews by clicking on the links.

Monica is now a member of our fantastic 'MOYO' team & you can read her fantastic 'Selling Salon' article which gives you advice on how to sell your work. 

You can visit Monica on her website, blog or on the Smart Creative Women website. Enjoy, love Kelly.

Khristian A. Howell - Cover Girl & Consultant!

Khristian A. Howell is a colour & pattern expert who designs for a wide selection of products & clients. Khristian explains that 'she is embarking on a colour revolution' & believes 'in living a life that is colourful, balanced and inspired'.

You can read more about this fantastic lady in Issue 2 of 'MOYO' in which Khristian is the cover girl! There is an in depth interview into how Khristian builds collections, uses colour & creating patterns.

Khristian has recently started Artist Consultancy in which 'you and Khristian will assess your current situation and goals to help carve out a plan of action for moving forward'. Khristian will through running a creative business to attending your first trade show. Sounds amazing!
If you are interested in a consultancy find out more information by clicking here.
You can visit Khristian's website, Facebook, follow her on Twitter or buy her products on her shop.