Transforming St Johns Maternity with artwork enhancements

Spaces have been transformed at St John’s Maternity ward in Livingston to give a warm and welcoming environment using artwork enhancements.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com
Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com1

Staunch Industries applied my designs to a range of surfaces from tables, artworks, window manifestations, wall vinyl and fabrics. My role involved research, consultation with different user groups, development of concepts the decorative artworks.

Through the consultation period I identified key themes and considered colours, shapes, imagery and the user experience.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com
Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com
Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

I would like to thank the new parents who spoke to me on the ward, maternity staff and parents who had used the service recently who met with me at KidsnKiz and Lothian Maternity Voice.  For me the consultation is really important to help me get a deeper understanding of how the space is to be used and to identify colours and imagery that would help create a positive experience. 

I believe it is important to create spaces that help alleviate the anxiety of a hospital visit. Thanks to Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity for funding this project.

Process

The designs concept taken forward combined positive and meaningful nature based elements such as flowers, seeds, leaves, strong resilient pinecone, dandelion wishes, aromatherapy plants to echo new beginnings and the positive journey of giving birth.  

The designs on the ground floor have a sense of movement to echo the ebb and flow of giving birth. The first floor is a more homely, cosy environment with growing flora and fauna.

Consultation quotes

Like the lavender, nice and calming, triggers a response linked to aromatherapy

Kidz n Kin parent/CARER

Small flowers with grasses to give movement

Maternity Voices

I like the flowy feel, like the textures and suggestion of nature

Kidz n Kin parent/carer

Initial ideas after consultation

From the consultation I had lots of ideas and worked on concepts. Here are some of the initial ideas. 

These concepts were developed further to create the final designs for the different areas of St Johns Maternity ward.

Picture – Chris Watt Photography 07887554193 info@chriswatt.com www.chriswatt.com

I have a vision of the world full of colourful creative interventions to bring more joy to the spaces we play, live, work and travel through.  My aim is to uplift and connect people and highlight the positives by creating artworks that capture a sense of place which creates a sense of belonging.  I love to do this with my use of playfully applying colour and pattern.

If you would like to know more about my work and see samples you can see more on my website 

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Launch of new Dundee Delights collection by Louise Kirby

Dundee Delights is a new illustrated greeting cards collection by designer and illustrator Louise Kirby.  Launching on Friday 13th October by giving a fresh and positive image of the city.   Louise will place free cards around the city hoping that the finders will send them to friends and family locally and to the far corners of the globe.  Louise would love to hear of where they end up be it an Aunty in Australia who loved days at the ferry beach as a child, an old school or university friend in another city that you want to hello to, or invite your granny in Lochee for a coffee and cake.  To share where they end up either email Louise Kirby on hello@louisekirby.com or #DundeeDelights on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Louise Kirby Dundee Delights greetings cards celebrate some of the delicious delicacies and iconic places in and around Dundee.  Her designs have a fresh approach to the city whilst retaining the hand drawn qualities.  Designs include Broughty Ferry Beach + Castle, The Dundee Penguins, Dundee cakes, Frank Gehry’s Maggies Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts and The McManus.  This collection is in the World Favourite Colour of Marrs Green and sunshine yellow to capture the positive direction the city is heading.  Dundee, the UK’s only UNESCO City of Design. 

The Dundee Delights collection is available to buy from her Etsy online shop, the Dundee Contemporary Art shop, Pretty Fly in Broughty Ferry and coming soon to Visit Scotland (located in the city square) and directly from Louise Kirby at the WASPS Open Studios on 28th & 29th October 2017, Makers for Maggies on 2nd December 2017.

Designs include:

Broughty Ferry Beach + Castle

Patterned sand looking over to Broughty Ferry castle with a happy sun shiny Dundee cake sky, evoking memories of days at the beach.

The Dundee Penguins

The characterful 5 bronze penguins by sculptor Angela Hunter that make people smile as they walk past and sometimes they have been known to adorn clothes and hats.

9 Dundee Cakes in the Bakers Shop –  available in sunshine yellow + marrs green

Local delicacy of the Dundee Cake, with the lovely pattern of the almonds on top.

Frank Gehry’s Maggies Centre

Maggies Centre designed by world renowned architect Frank Gehry here in the city which I believe is evidence of how good design changes peoples’ lives providing a place of calm, support, nurture and tranquility created within a purposeful space. Externally, I enjoy the shape and movement of the roof which I feel echoes the local landscape.

Dundee Contemporary Arts

Creative and cultural hub in Dundee with the curved face of different surfaces which is invites you in to the space which houses 2 cinemas, print studio, galleries and a bar and a restaurant.

The McManus

Dundee’s art gallery and museum in the fantastic gothic revival architecture, I love dramatic staircase and the detail in the architecture.  So many stories lye within this building I particularly love the ceramics, Dundee and the World exhibitions and the Tay whale.

Vote for the Oak

I am delighted to be commissioned by The Woodlands Trust Scotland to help draw attention to an oak tree in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park to help it win European Tree of the Year. Continue reading

Peek at the V&A Dundee Hoarding

comic

Just back back from my holiday so I missed the reveal of the winner of the V&A Dundee Hoarding Design, I was itching to find out as I was in competition against them for the tender.  I drove past to get a peek.  Here’s a few snapshots.

comic 2comic 3comic 1

Well done to  comic illustrator Will Morris and graphic designer David Mackenzie for their ‘adventures in design’ comic idea.  I may not have won but I see it as a positive experience being able to showcase my work to both V&A Dundee and V&A London panel.
close up

I was delighted to be put forward by a panel, as one of ten designers chosen to tender to design the V&A Dundee hoardings.

With a clear brief, prestigious project, large scale, Dundee links and tight deadline it really got my creative juices flowing. Continue reading

Hallyburton Collection Autumn/Winter 2014

Patterned Fields Swirl 72dpi webHere’s my new images for next years 2014 Autumn/Winter Hallyburton Collection.  All inspired by where I live on a country estate in the heart of Perthshire, Scotland.  I’m surrounded by an abundance of inspiration on my doorstep!

Louise Kirby Woodland Wandering 72 dpi

Mood a circleMood c circleMood b circle

Mood d circle

Mood e circle

Mood f circle

I’m continually inspired by the changing seasons and fascinated at the harmonisation of the flora and fauna blending together.  You often find me exploring knee deep amongst the grasses and dotted wild flowers, wandering through the woods of dappled trees and patchwork fields – I hope my designs capture the essence my surroundings.

Elemets brush 72dpi web

Pheasant Footprint brush 72dpi web

This new Autumn/Winter 2014 Hallyburton Collection uses a palette of greens and a hint of warm chestnut.  Some of my artworks include my fascination of pheasants as I follow their footprints around the estate, textured of stacked logs and expressive dotty marks of nature’s elements.

tree rings repeat merged 72dpi web

I create sophisticated patterned artworks for your products using my signature style of a lovely organic movement using repetitive marks and textures in delicious colours.

Stacked logs stripe 72dpi web

Patterned artworks collections can be licensed or I can be commissioned to create something bespoke for your products.

Patterned Fields Green 72dpi web

 

Cards – Winter in Dundee

Winter in Dundee 1It’s that season again…….. I’m going to mention the Christmas word!  I’ve created an artwork called Winter in Dundee and made it into some cards which would make perfect Christmas cards!

Snowflake Dundee Blue web

They are A5, locally printed and blank inside for your own message.  Available to buy directly from me, please email me on hello@louisekirby.com or pop into the DCA shop in Dundee to get them.  They are priced £2.45 each.

I will be taking part in the Wasps Artists Christmas Sale on 30th November if you want to get some there, where I will be offering a special offer of  3 for £5.00.  For more info on the Artist Christmas Sale please click here.

They artwork has my signature style  using rhythmic mark making and merging patterns to represent the creativity happening in Dundee.

Winter in Dundee

Pecha Kucha Flyer

PKN 7 flyer 2Final Flyer for the upcoming Pecha Kucha in Dundee!  Thanks to Lyall for the graphics!

 A sample below of an earlier edition.a5 pecha kucha flyer final merged 72dpi webI’ve designed the latest flyer for the Pecha Kucha Vol 7.  In my illustration I really wanted to capture the creativity going on in Dundee using  my signature style.  Using pattern to represent the different creatives, cultural organisations and events happening in Dundee that blend and merge together to create such a rich tapestry of the city, using the iconic silhouette of The Law as a backdrop.  This event also links into the revealing of which city is to be crowned City of Culture 2017.

I’m a huge fan of Pecha Kucha nights organised by Creative Dundee, they are so inspiring!  They’ve always have a great mix of creatives on the line up from people I know to things that I didn’t realise was happening in Dundee and surrounding areas.  it’s a great concept, 20 slides and 20 seconds – it’s gives a fast snapshot!  I did one back in May 2012, a bit scary standing up in front of 200 people!  You can see my one here.

Pecha Kucha Volume 7 will take place on Thursday 21st November at the Bonar Hall in Dundee from 7pm – 10pm.  This is a ticketed event and tickets are available from Eventbright please click here.

If you like my artwork is available for licence or I can create something bespoke for you.

Vision for V&A Dundee

Vision V&A LouiseI’ve created some Patterned Artworks for my vision of what Dundee will look like when the V&A Dundee is built on the River Tay.  In my illustration I really wanted to capture the creativity going on in Dundee using  my signature style.  Using pattern as a metaphor to show the energy and creativity that weaves, blends and merges together with all the different creative people, cultural organisations and events happening in Dundee.

My Patterned Artworks have a natural flow that echo natures organic ability to sit in harmony to its surroundings and I see the V&A Dundee fitting into Dundees’ changing landscape very well.

Wool Delaine Louise Kirby small for web

This image is digitally printed on wool to create a wall hanging.  The Patterned Artworks could be printed on a multitude of products from tea towels, ceramics, cushions, scarves, prints, mugs, notepads… the list is endless!  I would love to be commissioned to create Patterned Artworks for the V&A Dundee.

My wall hanging will be on show at the Wasps Artists Open Weekend on the 19th & 20th October outside my studio on level 4, studio 404.  You can find out more about the Open Studio weekend on my previous blog.

Coming soon new collection

Patterned Field Plate coming soonI have been working on a new collection for Autumn Winter 2014 using my signature style of lovely organic movement using repetitive marks and textures in delicious colours.

This A/W 2014 Hallyburton Collection is inspired by the abundance of inspiration on my doorstep where I live on a Perthshire country estate.  I’m continually inspired by the changing seasons and fascinated at the harmonisation of the flora and fauna blending together.  I’m often found exploring knee deep amongst the grasses and dotted wild flowers, wandering through the woods of dappled trees and patchwork fields.  I hope my designs perfectly capture the essence of my surroundings.

This new Autumn/Winter 2014 Hallyburton Collection uses a palette of greens and a hint of warm chestnut.  Pattern artworks include my fascination of pheasants as I follows their footprints, textured of stacked logs and expressive dotty marks of the nature’s elements.

Collections can be licensed or I can be commissioned to create something bespoke for your products.

Full collection to be revealed soon.  If you would like to be emailed a copy of my new collection or sent a hardcopy in the post please email me with your details. hello@louisekirby.com

 

Lets go on a journey together…

land rover web imageI was lucky to be selected to take part in the coaching with Cultural Enterprise Office with Lynn O’Neill.  I really enjoyed the bespoke personal service and allowing myself the time to develop.  I was encourage to think BIG, so I wanted to showcase my patterned artworks on a product that would dispel the myth that my artwork was only for scarves.  So I started an self initiated project, for my all time favourite car the Land Rover Defender.

I think the brand really matched the essence of what I’m about and my love of the great outdoors.  I wanted to use my patterned artwork and signature style of delicious colours, patterns, and expressive mark making with a rhythmic flow capturing the essence wilderness of the landscape to create sophisticated, natural and beautiful designs suitable for Land Rover Defender.

land rover section by louise kirby

So I set about creating some hand painted paper designs using imagery of the landscape, fields of pattern and animals.  My visualisation was that I see the Land Rover Defenders as something that can go anywhere with no obstacle and I wanted to capture this in my artworks by merging and blending a variety of terrains into one another to give the feeling that Land Rovers can go anywhere, with spontaneous marks the emphasise the thrill, and adventure of the Land Rover Experience through the rugged British countryside.

I could imagine my patterned artworks on  – exterior bodywork, spare wheel covers, interior upholstery, promotional leaflets, collectable toys, and water bottles to hoods.

From there I needed to visualise the artwork on a product, so without getting my hands on the real thing I tried putting my designs on simple line drawings.  Here are some of my samples.

Land Rover Repeat in Product web

land rover red in product webI searched for the biggest model I could afford and got this lovely toy and set about applying my design idea on the product.  I also made a hand printed silk wheel cover too!  I loved the little model so took it to the park to do a wee photo shoot. Here are some of the photos from that day.

Land Rover web

Land Rover View webLand Rover water web

Land Rover Grass web

I hope you like my creation; do you imagine driving about with my design on it?

I’d love to go on an adventure with Land Rover where I bring the creativity and they bring the wheels!

wheel commission louise kirby web