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e m p l o y m e n t t o d a t e
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stephen ellison (june 2020- present):
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stephen makes bespoke, hand printed linen products for the home, exclusively made to order.
based in east london, and trained in the traditional process of silk-screen printing at the royal college of art, stephen set up his own eponymous label in the first covid lockdown in april 2020.
frustrated at not being able to visit his native english lake district or visit art galleries during this time, he decided to create a collection of abstract designs on paper, inspired by nature.
informed by the interaction of colour and shape, his design methods focus on the translation of drawing and surface pattern through hand printed processes.
born of a lifelong love of drawing, painting, collage, and birdwatching, stephen uses a combination of these approaches in his work.
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university college colchester (september 2020-): course leader ba (hons) fashion & textiles
stephen ensures the smooth running, organisation and operation of the ba fashion and textiles degree programme.
teaching both textile processes modules and theory-based modules including essay writing, study skills & personal development planning, and critical studies.
stephen encourages the students to focus on their abilities as learners and to take responsibility for their own skills development, helping to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of historical and contemporary theories of art, further enhancing the critical and theoretical underpinning of their practice.
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p r e v i o u s e m p l o y m e n t
debenhams ltd, london (march 2013- may 2020): homeware print designer
custodian for the print direction of debenhams key own-brand scandinavian influenced statement design for life as well as responsible for other own brand products. previously responsible for print output for john rocha, matthew williamson, abigail ahern.
creates original, commercially successful printed textile designs for the homeware and lifestyle market. develops exclusive products that meet brand style, price and quality criteria.
builds seasonal collections through identification of future key trends and translating these into appropriate design for the debenhams customer.
leads strategic direction for design and buying teams, challenging briefs to ensure design is both commercially and visually appealing. used to presenting to senior stakeholders, resulting in approvals to proceed.
works with design manager to prioritise and plan workload, and collaborates with all levels of buying to deliver identified requirements.
acts as a role model for the design team, contributing to a positive ethos and high work ethic.
responsible for purchasing original artwork from visiting print studios.
working to tight deadlines, approves strike-offs and fabrics and prepares packs for suppliers.
production experience includes overseas supplier and factory trips and numerous trade show visits, such as maison objet (paris), london design fair, heimtex (frankfurt).
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gather no moss, hackney, london (april 2011- march 2013): digital printed textile designer
responsible for creating original printed textiles designs for the womenswear fashion market.
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exhibited at indigo (paris), direction (new york) and pitti filati (florence).
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style council, new york, us (october 2010- february 2011): digital printed textile designer
accountable for creating original printed textiles designs for the womenswear fashion market.
westcott design, london (october 2002- june 2008): cad print designer
responsible for creating original printed textiles designs for the womenswear fashion market.
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exhibited at indigo (paris), direction (new york) and pitti filati (florence)
h & m stockholm, sweden (march- october 2002): cad print designer
working for the hennes brand, designed original printed textiles for the womenswear market. responsible for identifying trends, selecting suitable colourways, and sending design information to overseas suppliers.
david lee design, london (sept 2001- march 2002): printed textile designer
creating original hand-printed textile designs, using screen-printed and batik techniques.
e x p e r i e n c e & s k i l l s
in-depth design experience within both homeware and fashion.
trend-aware and excellent aptitude for colour.
expert cad knowledge including adobe photoshop, illustrator, indesign
commercial awareness.
line management experience.
e d u c a t i o n
ma printed textiles: royal college of art, london (october 2007- july 2009)
ba (hons) printed textiles: loughborough university first class honours (october 1999- june 2002)
i n t e r e s t s
a keen supporter of the arts. specialist subjects include scandinavian mid-century and post-war british textile design.
a lifelong love of drawing, painting, collage, and birdwatching. stephen uses a combination of these approaches in current personal work.
r e f e r e n c e s a n d e x a m p l e s o f w o r k a v a i l a b l e o n r e q u e s t
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