Tommy Heidebrecht

Textile Design Collaboration Project

Hayley Popolo

Textile Design Collaboration Project

The Technical Side of Textile Design

The purpose of this project is to present examples of developments I undertook during my time as a textile print designer and CAD designer. In this role, I spent approximately 50% of my time preserving the artistic integrity of the original artworks acquired, throughout the entire product development cycle. The main objective was to ensure each finalized artwork was well-prepared to be handed off. The other aspect involved problem solving in order to navigate the myriad practical constraints of the global supply chain, including limitations on printing size, color palettes, budgetary considerations, timelines, dye specifications, among others.

One Single Repeat and Two Different Color Separations

For this artwork, I created a single repeat with two different color separations. From my experience I have learned that the perfect production file is one with very clean artwork that also allows the mill the ability to further reduce the colors if needed.

Repeats, Recolor, Rework and Color Separations

During the development stage, I modified artwork and motifs, experimenting with different layouts, scales, styles, and colorways before settling on the final version for strike-off. This process was both creatively and technically demanding. At times, the final version remains similar to the original artwork, while at other times, it may require a completely new interpretation.

One Design, Multiple Layouts

The print purchase budget varies depending on the project. Sometimes, I would face a very limited budget for a particular season or the preexisting design needs to be modified for the upcoming collection. In such scenarios, I need to maximize the use of one or two purchased artworks, creating multiple layouts to fulfill development requirements.

Build A Print Story

Building a compelling print story for delivery is a creative endeavor. For each delivery, I received a brief or mood board from the creative director. I partnered closely with the director to construct the print story using a variety of design layouts and elements to bring everything together.

Creating Mock ups

Creating mock ups or mappings serves as a visual draft in how the print will look and lay on the physical garment after production. For each print, a mock up was created for the creative director, buyer, etc can get a sense of how the finished product will look.