Designer Interview - by Marie-Nicole

What is your name? Marie-Nicole (Nic, for short).

What is your design company called? by marie-nicole

What do you make? Beautiful products for everyday living that add to the atmosphere of our lives… extending art into all aspects of living, not just to hang on our walls. Items such as tote bags, eco-sacks, kitchen linen, tableware, brooches and more… some of these are screen printed with my motifs designs.

What’s special about your goodies? Everything I make is done in short runs, in order to minimise waste, and it gives each piece it’s own unique character. My screen printing is all done using a traditional fine art method, with hand sketched designs, and I hand-cut my stencils then print using both eco-friendly materials and methods.

The base fabric I use for most of my works is 100% linen. Flax is an amazing plant that needs a lot less water to grow than cotton and has its own natural pest resistant qualities. Linen is one of the most sustainable fibres to produce, plus it is available in such a wide range of textures and weaves.

Other items I use to embellish some of my works are salvaged items like vintage buttons, ribbons and threads from liquidated stock, off cuts, scraps and misprints; nothing goes to waste here.

What’s your favourite design? It’s really difficult to pick a favourite; my work is always evolving, which is what I believe art is all about. One, which has had a great response, is my LIVE Consciously Tote, not because of its beauty (I would not call it beautiful) but what it represents.

There is so much that takes place several steps back in the production of goods that we are often not aware of, but these are having a devastating affect on the lives of others, which is why I wanted to bring focus to this. It represents the ethos behind my work, not only am I wanting to embellish our everyday lives, but I want to do it a way that is ethical and sustainable.

What inspires your designs? So many things - activities of everyday life, often to do with the simple pleasures in life, a beautiful piece of fabric, nature, ironwork, architecture, a conversation, emotions and feelings from within. When working on my ironwork series, I would just sit and sketch in a way that replicated what I was feeling at that time. These designs are complex and at times chaotic but always have a sense of rhythm and repetition, which is often much like the thoughts that flow through my mind and the activities of my life.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? For a long time I wanted to be a lawyer (I always did like a good debate), but was cured of that during my work experience. Sketching, sewing and photography have been a part of my life since a very young age so I knew I wanted to work in a creative industry but not until I was in my early 20’s did it occur to me that I could actually earn a living doing what I love.

If you would be anywhere right now, where would it be? Ideally, working in my studio on a very large property, possibly a vineyard or olive grove in France, Italy or even Spain. I love the culture and lifestyle of these countries. But I am also happy to settle for the countryside of South Eastern NSW.

What’s your biggest designer dream? To continue to grow and evolve the skills required to meet my end goal - creating one-off pieces of upholstered furniture… functional works of art that add to the atmosphere of a home. Selling these pieces in three main cities of the world Paris, London and New York City.