So it's been about a month since we chose the winners of our International Design Contest via UK blog, Print & Pattern, and we're still glowing from the results. Honestly, we just loved the global interest and interaction. And we love knowing that there is a person and a story behind every single submission.
In light of that, we asked the artists of the winning designs to share a little bit about themselves, so we can share with you. Because we know we're not alone in our admiration and intrigue. May these stories also encourage and inspire you in your own ventures — creative or otherwise!
Luciana Mazzocco & Maxine Stinton / Love / First Place Winner
Italian by blood, Brazilian by birth, I fell in love with London and its creative vibe. A Design MA later (and with lots of stories to tell), I met my creative match - Maxine Stinton - and together started Luma Creative. We like ideas, regularly stalk the Print & Pattern blog, and love socks (so your sock competition was perfect). We are very happy that our sock design was chosen as the winner and love the idea of people wearing their hearts on their heels! Thank you!
Alex Savakis / Submarines / Second Place Winner
I'm a freelance lettering artist, one of those anonymous artists who creates lettering designs with a brush and pen, and a hobby letterpress printer. For now, most of my work appears on greeting cards, and I believe that a ruling pen is the answer to interesting line art. Turn-ons: chocolate, coffee, ice cream, guacamole and chips, "Breaking Bad", "Damages", "Caprica", "Big Love", "US of Tara", and "Nurse Jackie". Turn offs: anyone who doesn't use a turn signal or decides to make a right turn from the left lane. My partner and I live in Pasadena, where we're slaves to Jimmy, our dog boy.
Andrew Pepper / Bunnies / Third Place Winner
I'm a product designer living in the middle of England, practicing Tae Kwon Do and knitting madly (it's a strange combination of hobbies for a guy, I know). But I saw this competition after surfing on a grey, wet afternoon, and after a bit of PC play, I won third prize! It’s nice to know that thousands of miles from home, someone will be wearing my socks!
Judeth Yap / Icy Pop
I am 33 years old and spent my entire life here in the Philippines, in the tropical island of Cebu. I am a shy person, but on the weekends, I love to go to the mall, watch movies, food trip, and window shop. I always surf the net, looking at different graphic blogs, because I enjoy seeing great designs and exploring new graphic techniques to enhance my designing skills.
Kim Bene / Airplane
I’m an artist and designer living in St. Louis, Missouri. With a fondness for simplicity, I enjoy creating art that is cheerful, graphic and fun. I’m happy to be included in this contest. Some of my illustrations can be seen in the Illustrator's Gallery here.
Lindsey FreeStone / Clover
With a background in Textiles, I recently started working as a part-time freelance designer, mainly for giftware, stationery and tableware. I've only just started, so placing as runner-up in the Design-a-Sock Competition is very exciting for me (and my family). I love creating anything and everything, from scrapbooking to logos to cards to sewing and, now, to socks. I wish I could spend every day making and designing things, but like most, there are always bills to be paid, so I have a part-time office job too.
Natalee Alaimo / Dino, Paris, Skulls
By day, I am an underwear and nightwear designer working for a supplier in London. In my spare time, I love to draw, and I have a bit of an obsession with print. In fact, I'm a bit of a magpie for anything with a lovely pattern on it! I live in a flat with my little house bunny Babypeach, where I spend my evenings doodling and designing while she runs around me like a mad thing. I keep a blog of new prints, travels, and random drawings of giraffes, etc. You can check it out here.
Sonia Robin / Eyes
I'd like to think of myself as a fun-loving designer. I started as a fashion designer in Paris and now work in pattern and textile design, a medium which is more expressive for me. I started my own company, atelier Paul Jean, doing textile design for fashion and interior, plus I do graphic design for boutiques, providing visual concepts, from business cards to shop fronts to packaging. I also work on accessories and, since this competition, I have started to sleep with my socks on... although I still walk bare-foot in the woods. :)
Tara Carone / Animal Dots
I am an illustration major at Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I absolutely love making patterns and hope to go in to surface design after school.
Allison Cole / Arrows
Allison Cole lives and works out of a former tinsel factory in Providence, Rhode Island. She spends her days illustrating for clients such as Target, Body & Soul, Tiny Showcase and Alternative Comics; and creating artwork, sewn goods and stationery for her online shop. Visit her online.
Rose Noble / Antlers
I am the mother of three beautiful children and married to the sweetest man alive. I am one lucky lady, obsessed with color, lines, mid-century design, anything old, and the little things in life. I’ve been happily creating art and design in the quaint town of Galena Illinois.
