TATTY DEVINE X ALISON HARDCASTLE

Tell us a bit about Alison Hardcastle...
We’re a design studio and independent stationery company based in Yorkshire supplying bold, colourful and playful greetings cards, paper goods and prints. Launched in 2005 by Alison who is the illustrator and creative director,  she’s now joined by a small team who manage the production and orders, graphic design and promotions.

Tell us about the inspiration behind the Tatty Devine collaboration.
You can probably tell by looking at our designs that we love colour, bold print and pattern and a bit of it. I've long been an admirer of Tatty Devine and always loved their similar design ethos so a chance to team up was amazing! The colour pallet, simple shapes, and fun designs provided excellent inspiration and work so well with our own illustrative style and type.

 

Who or what inspires you?
Colour is always a huge influence on my designs. I love seeing different combinations of colour and most recently I was very inspired by the Hella Jongerius exhibition ‘Breathing Colour’ at The Design Museum. I also can’t help noticing patterns out of the corner of my eye wherever I go so they’re the two most important and influential parts of our designs. I also love a great pun or a clever bit of design. I always love the ‘I wish I’d thought of that’ moment as a designer - it means that someone has created something which has made me think which is the best thing you can do as a designer.

 

What's your favourite thing about Christmas?
I have to say that after the build up towards Christmas (which starts in summer for us when the first wave of Christmas orders go out) I do love to shut the studio door on the last day of my daughters school term and know that I’m going to be able to switch off and snuggle down with my family for a week at least! So probably peace and quiet (and twinkly lights!!) are my favourite thing at Christmas as life is so hectic the rest of the time!

What's on your Christmas list this year?
I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to think much about my Christmas list (unlike my eldest daughter who has presented me with a very in depth list!) but a Donna Wilson blanket and a good book would be marvelous! A Void watch and Tatty Devine Honey Bee necklace wouldn’t go amiss either!!