Tracy Kendall

"Tracy Kendall creates new and innovative wallpapers using hand techniques and modern technology to expand the vocalulary of possiblity for wall covering. The wallpapers are all starting points, often from elements aleady within a room or space, and convey a strong design concept, one which interacts with an interior's identity, but without dominating it" (www.tracykendall.com)

Tracy Kendall was a visiting lecturer at Stockport College. Before the lecture I wasn't exactly looking forward to it because 'Wallpaper Design' doesn't sound like the most exciting lecture in the world. However, I went in with an open mind and actually enjoyed it. She started by explaining about her fine art background, where she studied at Manchester before working at the Royal College textile department as a technical support technician.

In 1996, Tracy designed her first wallpaper for her Kitchen which consisted of a large cutlery set. Since this Tracy has dedicated her design life to wallpaper and create hundreds of design including flowers, books stacks, feathers and abstract art just to name a few. She also mentioned on a number of occasions her fascination with sequins which she tends to use quite often on her wallpapers.

Tracy also creates three-dimensional wallpaper which is used by a stitch and cut technique. This is quite an unusual way to create wallpaper, as most people tend to hang pictures on the wall. However I think its a unique decoration for a room and would add warmth and comfort to maybe a living room.

Tracy also explained how her inspiration is like any other designer as she gets her initials ideas from resources such as books, magazines, internet, photographs, exhibitions, newspapers and photographs. I find it interesting that no matter what sort of design course or area of design you are working in, everyone seems to use the same resources to create designs in different mediums.

On the whole, I found Tracy Kendall's lecture very interesting because of the unusual methods, techniques and materials she uses to create her wallpapers. This just goes to show that in design you can literally create anything out whatever you like. It has opened my eyes to try and look out for unusual things and try and incorporate them into my own work.