Let’s Go Back To School!!!
The Summer of Creativity is one of our favorite annual events in the Lab! In past years we have covered a variety of topics from social media, to branding, to nurturing our creative spirit. We use this special time together to positively impact our creative lives and businesses, foster community here in the Lab, and have fun!!
For this year’s theme, we are heading “back to school” and will explore a new topic each week that relates surface pattern design to a different school subject like math, history, and science. And we’ll be doing so together, as a group-study, through a dedicated forum and live events.
The course will run for 6 weeks, from Monday, July 11th-Friday August 19th, 2022. WGSN access is included as part of this class on a first-come first-served basis, with 290 spots available–so be sure to read our welcome email on July 11th and sign up early!
Our Schedule
Each MONDAY we’ll announce our “class” for the week and a new video will be added to the Summer of Creativity course. These videos will introduce the subject as it relates to textile design, and a creative exercise or worksheet will be provided to help you connect to the subject and get started creating motifs and brainstorming pattern ideas. We will also be providing a short trend report, or what we’re calling a “study guide” on an inspiring trend that relates to our school subject for the week. You are then encouraged to begin designing a pattern for this trend based on the creative work that you started on the worksheet.
On TUESDAY a resource guide will be provided for further research and inspiration, including a Pinterest board and a list of books, websites, and inspiring artists currently relating to this field.
WEDNESDAY will be a work day, and weeks 2 and 4 will include a live guest expert presentation at 1 pm Eastern. We are so thrilled to welcome presenters Tracy Schifeling for Math week, and Kathryn Sanders of Western Sensibility for Science week!
THURSDAY: Workday and art critique. Please join us at 1 pm Eastern for our weekly live art critique. This is a great time to get feedback on your work for the week.
FRIDAY: Community coloring hour. This is a time to come together as a group to chit-chat, reflect on the week, and continue working on your design. Depending on the week we may also work through a creative exercise together, watch a short video, or explore another trend that relates to this week’s school subject.
Our Topics Include
Week 1: History – We’ll explore the origins of various pattern styles throughout history and across cultures. We will also look at the important topic of inspiration vs. appropriation and how to work with historical pattern references in an ethical way.
Week 2: Math – We’ll be exploring geometry, the golden ratio, Turing patterns, and more. On Wednesday, July 20th at 1 pm Eastern, we will be hearing from Tracy Schifeling, a pattern designer and data scientist who will share her knowledge about the math behind repeating patterns.
Week 3: Language Arts – This week we will take a look at using text effectively in prints and graphics, creative typography, and textile design jargon.
Week 4: Science – We’ll dive into topics including fiber composition, natural dyes, and the latest innovations in textile technology. Our guest presentation with Western Sensibility on Wednesday, August 3rd at 1 pm Eastern will focus on sustainability in the textile industry and eco-friendly printing practices.
Week 5: Electives – Choose your own direction this week from a range of subjects including gym, performing arts, home economics, and more.
Week 6: Study Hall – This week is all about wrapping up loose ends and polishing the work you have created in the course. You will have the option to either choose another elective subject or revisit your favorite week and develop a collection of patterns that builds on the first design you created.
How to Sign Up!
Summer of Creativity starts July 11th and is a part of our Textile Design Lab online community. By joining our community, you’ll have access to this course, in addition to all of our Textile Design Lab courses, tutorials, and community events such as our weekly live art critique, guest expert presentations, and more. Find more information here. If you are already a Textile Design Lab member you can register for the course here.
