Textile Design - DIS Copenhagen
Porcelain Textile
Reimagining Royal Copenhagen's porcelain collection in a textile medium
Scandinavian Textile Design
Over the course of 6 weeks during my study abroad semester in Copenhagen, Denmark, I learned about, and eventually designed and produced my own Scandinavian textiles and wallpapers. Inspired by Royal Copenhagen, a world-renowned porcelain dinnerware design house, I utilized the unique porcelain iconography to redesign the things and places I was engaging with in my new city.
The main goal of this intensive course was to redesign a specific space in our lives, for example our dorm room, a metro station, etc. I chose to redesign my residence hall lobby, a space that I interacted with every day and I felt could use a little love.
For this space I was going to be designing both a textile and a wallpaper. The two designs were supposed to be different yet remain in conversation with one another, creating a unified, beautiful space.
Right: Sølvgade Kollegium lobby
INK EXPERIMENTATION
We began the course by experimenting with a single blue ink and finding different ways to create pattern with layering, brushes, and repeats.
After a week of creating these very basic patterns, we created "textile pairs" of patterns that worked well together.
This project demonstrated how a space is not just made up of one singular pattern or design, you have to think about the entire collection of colors, shapes, and designs to make a space cohesive.
Designmuseum Danmark
As a class we took a trip to the Designmuseum Danmark, a shrine to Danish textile and furniture designers. This is where I first began to take stock of Danish porcelain designs and their influence in other mediums.
As I navigated my way throughout the exhibits, a began to draw sketches of my favorite sculptures, designs, and images that I could later reconstruct into a porcelain tapestry.
Initial Sketches
First Porcelain Wallpaper
For this porcelain wallpaper draft I combined elements from the museum with those I encountered in my day to day life. These ranged from flowers and fauna I drew in the King's Garden to my bike that I rode to my classes everyday.
Royal Copenhagen
Located on Amagertorv, one of Copenhagen's most luxurious shopping streets, Royal Copenhagen's flagship store does more than just display their porcelain collection - they tell a story. Porcelain designs have a unique ability to convey messages and imagery; using usually a single color, porcelain artisans use reduced and simplified lines, dots, and repeated patterns to design beautifully ornate pieces.
In my porcelain textile piece I wanted to replicate this simplified yet intricate design style. I carefully studied the countless plates, bowls, and porcelain sculptures displayed in the store to better understand the patterns and motifs used.
For the porcelain wallpaper, I incorporated more of the elements, icons, and things I was engaging with throughout my day to day to the previous design I had already drafted. Additionally, for both the wallpaper and the textile I designed them using blue ink, keeping with tradition to that classic porcelain color.
Right: Royal Copenhagen flagship store porcelain display wall
Favorite Pieces from Royal Copenhagen
Final Porcelain Textile
Regular
This design drew inspiration from Royal Copenhagen's store display wall, and is a simplified reconstruction of their porcelain plates.
Offset
All designs are hand drawn, then scanned and put in repeat.
Final Porcelain Textile - Pillow
Front
Back
Final Product
Final Porcelain Wallpaper
LObby - Pre REDESIGN
