One of the problems for recent graduates and up and coming designers is getting their work in front of people so they can actually sell their ideas. But a couple of friends have just set up a website showcasing the work of artists and creators with a view to changing all that.
Elizabeth Bush and Jodie Prince have set up Art Rookie, a new onlines sales platform for designer to upload their work on to a variety of objects. Then Elizabeth and Jodie will produce it, package and post it. That leaves the creators busy to focus on the creative side of their work and not have to come down to earth and worry about queuing up in the post office when they could be screenprinting a new set of cushions.
It’s one of those simple but clever ideas and Elizabeth and Jodie encourage visitors to sign up to the site so that not only do you keep up with the new designs, but it helps build a community of like-minded people, which should, in turn, create a wider sales platform.
Everything is made in the UK and only after an order has been placed so no-one is spending money they don’t have trying to get a bunch of stock together with the pressure of trying to sell it afterwards.
Elizabeth is a graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design who began her career as a freelance designer, selling hand-painted silk prints to international fashion houses and high-street suppliers. She set up her own label Elizabeth Kate in 2011 and opened a shop in the West End.
Jodie’s background is in fashion and photography and she has worked as a stylist for Burberry, Sony Music and Syco (yes him!). In 2011 she styled on the X-Factor live shows, leading her to style the eventual winners, Little Mix and the X-Factor Live Tour. But despite (or maybe because of) that she prefers being behind the camera.
There are lots of great designs on the site and they sent me over a couple of things so that I could play at photographing them. There’s masses of stuff and it’s well priced too. If you sign up to the site you get money off your first purchase…. pop over and have a browse.
One tip: there’s so much stuff there that you probably shouldn’t start at page 1 and go numerically or you’ll never get to the end. Start at the back, or dive into the middle, if everyone does that then everyone will be seen.
