About me
I work with print and colour to create design concepts and set lifestyle trends within home, gifting, stationary, apparel and nursery categories to maximise branded opportunities or demonstrate manufacturing capabilities through my design consultancy service.
This includes thoughtful strategy and product conceptualisation applied through my experience in print design and colour application; setting aspirational tones in a creative and inspirational way and maintaining core branded values.
I have extensive experience in design management across premium lifestyle brands. Previously Licensing Design Manager for Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin, Scion and Zoffany.
I am a highly motivated, dynamic and creative individual with a passion for applying colour theory, driving design projects in maximising opportunities and growing brands globally.
Retail representatives of brands:
Liberty London
John Lewis
Next
Lakeland
Amara
Wayfair
TKMaxx
Uniqlo
H&M
Anthropologie
Bloomingdales
Macy’s
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Nordstrom
Bed Bath n’ table
David Jones
Projects
- Bloom & Wild Collaboration with Morris & Co.I have worked in collaboration with online florist Bloom & Wild to revive the prints of the renowned 19th century collective for a limited-edition range of printed boxes, letterbox flowers and hand tied bouquets. The collection was created with great care and consideration as I am hugely aware of the responsibility that comes with the Morris & Co. legacy, and strive to uphold the aesthetic and ethos in everything I do. I have worked with designs from the incredible archives to include the origi
- H&M x Morris & Co.I worked in collaboration with H&M to design a unique collection for Morris & Co. launching globally, in store and online for autumn 2019. The H&M collection included a wide range of strong tailored coats, jackets and trousers, romantic dresses and blouses, cosy knits and coordinating separates. Silhouettes were longer yet lean, with wool blends, velvet and fluid fabrics, and details such as tie-necks, voluminous sleeves, knife pleats and ruffles. The Morris & Co. prints used throughout the H&
- Morris & Co. x SelamatI have worked collaboratively with Selamat’s design department to successfully launch a capsule furniture collection for Morris & Co. x Selamat at Highpoint Market USA. I worked with the skilled design team during the product development phase to apply design trends across product categories whilst capturing the Morris & Co. brand identity. The collection was inspired by the Morris & Co. archive; valuing simplicity, craftsmanship and sustainable home décor, heavily inspired by flora and fauna
- Scion HaberdasheryIntroducing Scion, an upbeat brand for everyone, with zesty colours, clean Scandi-inspired designs and fresh ideas for modern living. This collection of haberdashery fabrics was created for John Lewis and Partners to include a combination of characters, geometrics and co-ordinating patterns.
- Morris & Co. Faulton UmbrellasWilliam Morris, the single most influential designer of the 19th Century, was renowned for his prints throughout the world. Today, these designs are brought to us by Morris & Co. branding which guarantees the authenticity of those enduring designs. This range of umbrellas has been produced exclusively by Fulton, using only the highest quality materials and engineering standards before being individually hand finished.
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Work history
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Design ConsultantApril Sharman
Loughborough, United KingdomFreelance
Scope of work:
• Market research, supporting ongoing product and competitor research.
• Trend analysis to ensure opportunities for placement and further growth are maximised.
• Colour Theory, I am a highly reputable textiles and CAD colourist, with a sensitive approach towards applying colour to deliver the desired atmosphere successfully.
• Product portfolio analysis and licensing strategy to ensure clarity on new ranges.
• Product visualisation and forward vision for design products.
• Brand strategy, ensuring clear objectives, prioritisation and timelines are met
• Wallpaper proofing and production
• Mood Board
• Manufacturing liaison
• Brand presentation
• attending meetings/design briefings with major customers as required.
• Manage the sign-off process for all design development, finished product and print production
• Supporting with product presentations, look-books and mood boards demonstrating new developments
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Design Manager - LicensingStyle Library
- Loughborough, United KingdomFull Time
A highly motivated, dynamic and creative individual responsible for leading creative licensing team through design projects with key partners across an established and impressive brand portfolio including Sanderson, Morris & Co., Harlequin, Scion, Zoffany and Anthology. Working with market leading category specialists in the UK, Europe, Asia, the USA and Australasia, to extend the licensing business, in developing aspirational lifestyle products, which can in turn be supported by a global network of retailers. offering a wide range of original and authentic interior products, targeted at the mid to upper end of the premium interiors market.
Responsibilities
• Responsible for the management of design projects and the forward vision for licensed products across the Group brands.
• International travel, working closely with key partners and external agencies.
• Work with Licensing Director to continuously develop the licensed product offer in line with the licensing strategy.
• In addition to developing the branded offer, explore opportunities to develop non-branded collaborations utilising the Group archive.
• Support partners with the presentation of brands and design projects to their customers at major events
• Management of the licensing design team, ensuring clear objectives, prioritisation and timelines are adhered to.
• Maintain regular communication with brand design teams to ensure clarity on new ranges in development for forthcoming seasons.
• Work closely with international partners and their creative teams to ensure product is developed to suit individual requirements, reflecting the brand DNA and market postioning.
• Ensure appropriate time is allocated to the individual partners, reflecting the current and future potential and importance of revenue for the Group.
• Work closely with the Licensing Director and Licensing Manager to define strategic objectives for the future.
• Regular travel to trade fairs, researching global market trends supporting ongoing product and competitor research.
• Work with partners to review, evolve and extend the licensing product offer to ensure opportunities for placement and further growth are maximised.
• Manage the sign-off process for all design development and finished product.
• In depth knowledge and understanding of heritage brands and archive.
• Work alongside Licensing Director and Licensing Manager to demonstrate proactive approach to new product areas and categories
• Manage daily creative output and ensure team remain focused, motivated and supported.
• Work with Licensing Manager to ensure products launches are communicated to the wider business on a regular basis.
• Support Key Accounts team with product presentations, look-books and new developments, attending meetings/design briefings with major customers as required.
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Skills
- Design
- Design Leadership
- Design Management
- Design Pattern
- Design Processes
- Design Patterns
- Design Process
- Design Packages
- Design Production
- Design Layout
- Design Innovation
- Design Development
- Art Creating
- Art Design
- Art Direction
- Art Drawing
- Art Editing
- Art Assistance
- Creative
- Creative Branding
- Creative Concept
- Creative Consulting
- Creative Concepts
- Creative Campaigns
- Creative Art Direction
- Interpersonal Communication
- Interpersonal Skills
- Brief Interpretation
- Interior Decoration
- Interior Textiles
- Interiors
- Commercial Interior Design
- Commercial Interiors
- Interior Design
- Adobe
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe Create Suite
- Adobe Indesign
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe Suite
- Retail
- Retail Packaging
- Retail Design
- Fashion Retail
- Home Decor
- Homeware Design
- Colour
- Colour Analysis
- Colour Balance
- Colour Compositions
- Colour Correcting
- Colour Design
- Colour Fabric
- Colour Management
- Colour Schemes
- Colouring
- Colour Theory
- Colours
- Fabric Colour
- Colour Palette
- Colour Correction
- Colour Matching
- Pattern Development
- Print Pattern
- Repeat Pattern
- Surface Pattern
- Pattern Design
- Drawing
- Drawing Sketching
- Drawings
- Digital Drawing
- Hand Drawing
- Detailed Drawing
- CAD Drawings
- Illustration
- Abobe Illustrator
- Floral Illustration
- Digital Illustration
- Trend Analysis
- Trend Forecasting
- Trend Prediction
- Trend Research
- Trend Reporting
- Trend Spotting
- Analysing Trends
- Cultural Trends
- Consumer Trends
- Future Trends
- Leadership
- Creative Leadership
- Team Leadership
- Organisation
- Commercial
- Commercial Art
- Commercial Design
- Commercial Photography
- Commercial Styling
- Problem Solving
- Brand Activation
- Brand Analysis
- Brand Awareness
- Brand Concept
- Brand Creative Strategy
- Brand Consultancy
- Fabric
- Fabric Design
- Wallpaper Design
- Wallpapers
Education
global marketingFutureLearn
- United Kingdom
Understand the benefits of global marketing to businesses. Rapid globalisation and the advance of technology has created ‘born global’ organisations. From the moment businesses are established, they realise the importance of adopting a global focus and dedicate time and resources to expanding internationally.
A clear understanding of global marketing as well as the challenges and benefits for firms entering new markets. Examine the need for organisations to go global and how digital marketing technologies have accelerated this process. Reflect on personal experiences of global marketing.
Digital Skills: Social MediaFutureLearn
- United Kingdom
How to effectively use social media for business. Why social media is relevant for businesses today and how you can use it to establish and improve your brand.
The key steps in promoting your brand through social media, including setting campaign objectives, identifying the target audience and the right channels, creating engaging content and managing your presence to include examples of different social media channels, tips for using them and how to measure success and improve your campaigns.
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