Vivienne Westwood The advent of punk marked a sea change in British fashion and the culture of the nation. The freedom to make music inspired Vivienne Swire, a British designer, to use clothing in order to shock and make a statement. She moved to London aged 17; like Tatty Devine, her early creations were sold in a London market. Her move into punk, and the clothing that made her famous, was inspired by Malcolm McLaren who became her muse. Vivienne Westwood may have been famous for her revolutionary approach to design, yet many of the elements she used were inspired by traditional British clothing. She was interested in the use of Scottish tartans and based some of her designs on traditional styles used in the Industrial Revolution. She has been awarded an OBE and DBE and famously neglected to wear underwear when she met the Queen. James Dyson Before James Dyson, nobody knew much about industrial design. But in an era where Apple’s inely-tuned designs make headlines, it’s easy to see how Dyson was the godfather of the move towards attractive, functional devices. Dyson’s design talents came from his schooling at the Royal College of Art, yet he quickly realised he had a knack for solving problems. The original Dyson bagless vacuum cleaner retailed for a fourigure sum, and the designer only sold it himself in desperation when he could not involve an existing manufacturer; they wanted to continue to sell vacuum bags. Ironically, the Dyson vacuum cleaner caught on precisely because of its bagless design – the one aspect of the device that manufacturers hated. Buyers, in contrast, loved it. The funds generated from the original design allowed Dyson to create additional products and launch his own design awards. Making It As a Designer There are no shortage of success stories in British design. From vacuum cleaners to haute couture, the common thread in all of these stories is a determination to make it big and a big dollop of self-belief. So how can today’s British designers break into the mainstream? It’s unboudtedly easier to get started in business nowadays, since the internet has democratised and demystiied the process of setting up on your own. However, competition is ierce as a result. Successful startups watch the pennies in the early days, economising on non-essentials and ploughing money into developing great products. If you fancy forging a career in design: • Familiarise yourself with inbound marketing and social media so you can do as much as possible yourself. Moz and Social Media Examiner are fantastic resources for beginners and pros.
• Connect with other designers online and oline; use sites like Meetups to organise get-togethers and networking events so you can bounce ideas of others. • Instead of creating a website, consider using a design marketplace for faster results and more traic. Doozey is a great marketplace for British designers; everyone has to be pre-approved so buyers enjoy a very high standard of goods. Perhaps the main ticket to design success is the desire to express themselves via any available outlet, regardless of eventual proits or fame. If you put your best foot forward, create quality work and believe in your own creativity, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be the next big thing in British design.