#1. So, Maj, what’s your favourite word?

Proper.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

My kids.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

Love it. But I waste far too much time on it.

#4. Is that even possible? Asking for a friend. Kindles or books?

Books. 100%.

#5.  100% agree. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

Underfunding, a lack of opportunities and a lack of signposting, especially in Essex. We want people to be able to discover what’s going on locally from a creative point of view and get involved.

#6.  Totes. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A fashion designer which Lisa and I did actually when we made streetwear.

#7. What led you to your current career?

We sidelined really from using our artwork in streetwear to using it on flat surfaces including wall coverings.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

Proper naughty.

#9. Now can you make it rhyme?

I love so and so  but he’s a proper name-dropper.

#10. Bosh. What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop pissing about and get on it with.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

I have to say Lisa for putting up with me as her business partner for 17 years and not killing me in the process.

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?

In our previous lives in streetwear, we were stocked in Japan, Europe, independent, trendy shops in the UK, and at that time, we probably felt we’d made it. Then the recession came along. Nowadays, I’d say it was the time Emma St Roas, the tattooed rockabilly blogger from Frock It, branded herself for life with our branding, the butterfly skull tattoo. What happened next was that she went to one of our favourite rock’n’roll haunts, Hotel Pelirocco,  and saw our wallpaper in the bar area. What are the chances eh.

#13. Indeed. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

Our friends and family for always being there, patiently waiting for overnight success.

#14. Next year, Maj, next year. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

While you’re waiting for your espresso to brew, check your social media.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

More public art on a larger scale.We’re seeing art being used in different ways;  holographs/projections and it feels art is becoming part of the actual space. It may be on a temporary basis but that’s also ok; it then becomes ephemeral. And while it is in situ, it can also change.  For special projects, we can even supply our wall coverings with magnets – it means in a retail space, an environment can change really rapidly. No chance for anything to get boring nowadays.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Lisa and I were at my mum’s place in Spain with Lisa’s other half and four kids (her two boys and my two girls), looking up at blue skies from the local village’s mountaintop pool.

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

Our work ‘New Forest’ is part of the Colour in Romford project where we had the chance to design a street art mural for the town. This led to a collaboration with The Leather Satchel Company, which we’d been dreaming of for a long time.

#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

James Dean. I’d stare into his eyes. He wouldn’t have to speak.

#19. We’re hearing you. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Dynamic.

#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?

Sure.

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?

@100happydays.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

This time next year.

#23. Creme de menthe, creme de menthe. What’s been the best part of your day?

Cakes and drinks at the Retailery, putting a face to the name. Plus it’s always great to meet another creative Essex bird.

#24. Likewise. Finally, anything to plug?

Come down to the Retailery, run by arts charity Made Public, to see our wallpaper in the new bar area. Have a cocktail, buy one of our limited edition prints. In that order.

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#1. So, what’s your favourite word?

Creativity.

#2. What gets you up in the morning?

I look forward to breakfast – it’s my number one thought in the morning! That and caffeine.

#3. What do you truly, honestly think of social media?

I think it’s great for having a platform to share what you do, both visually and text-based, but I sometimes have to take it with a pinch of salt. Certain interior design shots can be very tweaked and artificial. I prefer the authentic route.

#4. Us too. Kindles or books?

Both- kindles for fiction, books for design.

#5. Roger that. What do you think is the biggest challenge to your industry right now?

I think it’s trying to keep up with the big companies with their design teams and big budgets. They release their collections a year in advance and I haven’t got the womanpower to turn things around that quickly. I do what I can with the resources I have.

#6. Small is beautiful as they say. What did you want to be when you were growing up?

I wanted to be a teacher, which I was for the best part of 10 years. Actually, I was always creative as a child, rearranging my bedroom on a weekly basis. I loved the creative side of teaching, seeing how children were so uninhibited when expressing themselves.

#7. What led you to your current career?

I left teaching and wanted a lifestyle where work  fitted and balanced with home life. I realised the best way to do that was to create my own business. When we moved counties and into a new house, I took on the renovation and struggled to find soft furnishings to suit our (male-heavy) family. Lots of the fabrics were too floral and feminine. I decided to do an online courses to see how fabric was designed.  I put in lots of hours! The outcome is gender-neutral, family-friendly fabric designs.

#8. Can you use your favourite word in a sentence?

The best thing about design is its creative problem-solving.

#9. Now can you make it rhyme?

Creativity leads to positivity.

#10. What advice would you give to your younger self?

That you don’t know what you’re capable of until you have a go at something. I practised and had the right level motivation, and with that, most things are possible.

#11. What’s the best thing anyone’s ever done for you?

All my family have been very supportive of my creative journey and I couldn’t have done this without their support.

#12. Tell us, what’s been your ‘career-defining’ moment?

I recently put on a launch event at The Makery in Bath. I was really nervous about giving a talk but I really enjoyed explaining the process of getting to where I am and the inspiration behind the designs. People were so interested. It was a real highlight for me!

#13. If you won a big award of some kind, who would you thank?

My design heroes who have constantly been an inspiration to me through reading their books and admiring their work. Specifically, people who design for everyday living.

#14. Can you give us a timesaver of the day?

I don’t mix my creative design time and my business time so I can fully immerse myself without having to constantly switch hats.

#15. Where do you see your industry in 24 months?

Customers are becoming even more eco-friendly and aware of the provenance of what they’re buying. They really respect the environment. My customers have fed back how much they appreciate this aspect of my work, including the use of eco-friendly inks.

#16. Where were you 24 months ago?

Moving counties and houses. I’d never drawn on the computer so my journey with digital design was just starting.

#17. What’s an interesting fact about your company?

That my collection is based on my life growing up in Cornwall. It seems everyone has a connection with the coast/living by the sea- it conjures up positive memories and emotions. My designs seem to spark that in other people.

#18. If you could have a 24-minute Skype chat with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Orla Kiely – she is a design queen in my eyes.

#19. What’s one word you’d want people to describe you with?

Happy.

#20. Would you mind taking a selfie for us?

Here you go.

#21. What’s your favourite Twitter handle or social media campaign?

Made by Helga, really creative, quirky and fun. Never fails to make me smile.

#22. What’s one quote that defines your work ethic?

Design the life you want.

#23. What’s been the best part of your day?

Preparing sample packs to send to companies who have made requests. I love that task!

#24. Finally, anything to plug?

Please check out my new collection of soft furnishing and fabric by the metre.

The post 24 questions with textile designer Helen Baker first appeared on 24 fingers.

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