Project Recap: Lea Rutledge Textiles

One of my favorite parts of my job is the chance to explore and learn about fields and styles outside of my own. Some days I’m designing a moody brand for an home renovation blogger, and the next it’s a mid-century modern-inspired brand full of bold, bright color. As a creative, it’s a dream to get to breathe in all these different sources, all while curating my own style — be it in my design work, my home, or my wardrobe.

One field I’m particularly drawn to and inspired by is the world of interior design. I could pour over antique stores, magazines, and Instagram accounts for hours. I love the way a tangible use of color and pattern can create an environment that evokes a certain mood for those within it. There are so many parallels between the goals of brand design and interiors in the way we use visual elements to speak to the viewer.

In the past year or so, I’ve gone a little deeper into this fascination and learned more about textile design in particular. It’s an incredibly creative discipline that really combines fine art, interior design, graphic design, and… geometry? It’s a beautiful mash-up of technical skill and wild dreaming, and I just adore the process.

And while poking around in this new world and learning tidbits here and there, I had the joy of meeting Lea Rutledge, an incredibly talented textile designer based in Massachusetts. From our first phone call, I knew this was a dream project!

We dove in to both brand strategy and a new visual identity for her brand, and I just soaked up every insight and detail from Lea’s knowledge of the industry, love of art history and current trends, and the influence of the idyllic setting in which her family lives.

This project filled me creatively and on a deep soul level! I hope you enjoy a few highlights of the final product below.