PAULA RIMMER
My clients include B&Q, Monsoon, M&S, Littlewoods, Asda, Mothercare, Tesco, Virgin Vie, Debenhams and Next. I have designed collections of bed linen, vases, cushions, rugs, curtains and bathroom textiles for their S/S and A/W 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 & 2010 ranges.
Design Experience
Print designer (part-time) Marks & Spencer; London - February 2007 - July 2007 and December 2007 – May 2009. I worked in house and at home for M&S Lingerie 3 days a week as the print designer for their sleepwear & lingerie brands. I was print designer for their LIMITED, Adored, Autograph and PER UNA brands.
Designer (part-time) Next; Leicester - April 2005 - August 2005. I worked in house for Next Home 3 days a week designing hard & soft living room accessories, bathroom textiles and beach towels.
Designer, Debenhams; London - December 2002 - April 2005 February 04 - April 05 - Designer, bed & bath world (soft products). This included all of core and ‘Designers at Debenhams’ bed linen (John Rocha, Jasper Conran & Julien Mcdonald) and bath shop for core and Designers. My responsibilities were to clearly identify the most important trends, colours & new developments within these areas and then to design the key product ranges. I always worked closely with my buying & merchandising team through all aspects of the critical path - from my initial trend research & presentation, trade show visits to departmental strategy, designing the ranges, briefing & working with suppliers, approving samples, traveling to the Far East & Europe and final range reviews. I worked directly with John Rocha, Jasper Conran & Julien Mcdonald & their teams at every stage to ensure their brand identities were maintained whilst creating a strong, commercial range.
December 02 - February 04 - Designer, living department (hard & soft products). This encompassed Jeff Banks Home, candles, vases & flowers, Jane Packer, outdoor & Christmas & Designers departments. I designed both pattern and shape for candles & candle-holders, bowls, vases, cushions, throws, frames, mirrors, curtains, upholstery, Christmas decorations & picnic ware. Again, trend research & translation was an essential part of my role as Designer.
Freelance designer; London - June 2001 – November 2002. Julius Mellors, London - I worked on many ranges of mugs, resin products and textiles for their client Marks and Spencer. Hallmark cards; Bradford - I designed ideas for the range of Laurence Llewelyn Bowen cards, bags and gift-wrap that was launched at the Autumn Fair in 2001. The Continuity Company; London - I was commissioned to design a number of tableware ranges for the largest buyer of tableware in the world. Debenhams; London - I worked there on a regular basis as part of the small, freelance in house design team. I designed bed-linen & accessories for the core, Designers & Fine Linens brands. Also, I designed ranges for candles, vases, tableware & table linens, drinking, home accessories & living, Jane Asher and cook-shop.
Design Coordinator, Fast Forward Resources; London - July 1999 – June 2001. Fast Forward resources supplied home-wares to Marks and Spencer. I was responsible for organizing & directing the in house & freelance hard product design teams. This involved keeping up to date with current trends, directional shopping, creating inspirational boards, designing initial pattern, colour and shape ideas and attending key trade fairs. I worked with the M&S home-ware teams to develop the M&S brand, seasonal promotions and any core line replacements. Always, I worked closely with FFR’s merchandising and technical teams to develop products that gave unique selling features. I liaised directly with European and Far Eastern suppliers – from the initial briefing and artwork stage through to any revisions and customer approval. I went on many trips to the Far East & Europe. I also coordinated the design aspect of the new Debenhams side of the business. In addition, I was responsible for the initial design concepts presented to Debenhams in March 2001.
Freelance Designer, Studio 52; London - 1998. I produced print designs for men’s, women’s & childrenswear and home furnishings, trading under my company name ‘Studio 52’. I purchased a stand in "Indigo", Paris twice that year. Also, I organised a solo sales trip to Como in Italy & I had a New York agent. I sold work to Tie Rack, Agnes B, Daniel Hechter Scarves, Gordana London, The Limited, Mast Industries, Etam, Mantero, Ratti and Kookai. I gained invaluable experience in creative marketing, organising exhibitions, working on commission and the day to day running of a small business. Additionally, I exhibited my paintings, hand made cards, hand printed scarves, ties, cushions, bags and hangings in 8 art galleries and exhibitions.
Freelance Designer, London - February 1996 - 1997. I freelanced for fashion & furnishing textile design studios - Jennings and Kenley (London), Edmond Taylor (London), Group Four (New York) and Le Plongeon (London). Work of interest - an abstract, wintry London cityscape of mine featured in the window of Debenhams’ Oxford Street store to promote London Fashion Week in October 1997 and Tie Rack commissioned me to design the official Ryder Cup ties in 1997.
Designer, Gather no Moss; London - September 1994 - February 1996. The studio specialised in a young and quirky collection for fashion fabrics. My work sold to companies including Monsoon, M & S, Esprit and Hennes.
Education BA (Hons) Textiles/Fashion - grade 2.1. Winchester School of Art. Graduated 1994.
BTEC National Diploma in Design. CCTA, S. Wales. 1991. Passed with distinction.
2 A Levels. Gorseinon Tertiary College, S. Wales. Art - grade A, English - grade B.
11 GCSE's – including Maths, English, Chemistry, Biology, Art, Textiles, French and Ceramics. Tre-gib Secondary School, South Wales.
Interests. I bought my first house 7 years ago and spend a lot of my free time decorating, gardening and searching antique shops for bargains. I also enjoy yoga, socialising, running, reading, camping, cooking and walking.
