A year of Lockdowns!
Can't believe it's been a full year of lockdowns! This time last year it was announced that we were heading into our first lockdown and I decided to help keep our team connected by having a live briefing each week on a Monday, and to dress up in the theme of our brief. I've put together a selection of photos from these briefings to remind me of our challenging year. It's been fun as well as hard at times to stay motivated without the international shows to visit, and we are keeping our fingers crossed for our first show in Amsterdam in September 2021, Evolution Surface Design & Print Show, looking forward to meeting up with our customers and fellow creatives again! www.evolutionfair.com Take care, stay safe everyone!...
Happy New Year 2021
Creativity has been a boon at this difficult time, spreading positivity & beauty, dreams of what we hope for, as well as nostalgia for the best of what has passed. As we all decide the things that are most important to us for the future, what we choose to surround ourselves with is a big part of that. For the Spring Online Blueprint Surface Design and Print Show we have provided a Trend Section with thoughts, moodboards and colour palettes, which is exclusive to the customers registering on the site. www.blueprintshows.com This lovely uplifting image was photographed in Yorkshire by Hilary Take care, stay safe everyone...
We’re Open !
We have a number of different accounts on social media and, whilst updating everything else regularly, I completely lost track of our blog! As I write this we are still in lockdown with Covid-19 precautions, but the group is still running as normal, connected via the internet and working from home. We are sending out our weekly portfolio selections to customers (do ask to be added to the list if you're not already on it and would like to be!), there is the online library of our work and we welcome any new commissions or projects for individuals or the group as a whole. We took part in the Spring 2020 shows, but since then events have been cancelled. The next one on the calendar is Evolution Amsterdam in September, but we will of course have to see whether travel restrictions are lifted for us to take part. If it's on we will be there!!! Please get in touch if there is anything you would like to see or simply for a chat about work in these difficult times. Take care, stay safe, warm regards, Louise and all at Rafale Design...
2018/2019 Show Schedule so far!
As a new season in our design calendar kicks off, I thought I’d share our initial travel plans for the year. It’s looking like an exciting year of trains, planes and automobiles for me in particular and Jane has created this fun illustration complete with my little yellow car! So far this is how the year is taking shape, but watch this space for additional dates. Looking forward to meeting everyone and showing off our new designs! : 2018 September - Birmingham (Autumn Fair) London (Top Drawer) October - San Francisco (BLUEPRINT AUTUMN SHOW) November/December - New York/London (Trend Shop) 2019 January - London - (Top Drawer) Paris - (MAISON ET OBJET) Frankfurt - (CHRISTMASWORLD/PAPERWORLD/CREATIVEWORLD) February - Birmingham (SPRING FAIR) May - New York (BLUEPRINT SUMMER SHOW) June - Amsterdam (EVOLUTION) We do not show within the exhibitions of all the shows, so please get in touch if you would like to arrange a presentation or a chat, we’d love to hear from you!...
Rafale Easter designs in-store at Paperchase
Spring is in the air! The first of our Easter collection designs have arrived in store at Paperchase. Beautiful work by Helen with a vintage theme in surface pattern and greeting cards...
Becky’s Critters on Show at Frankfurt
Pleased to spot a couple of our Festive Critters character tags on the Vivid Heritage Trend display at Christmasworld. We've enjoyed seeing all trend areas at the Frankfurt shows this year and the displays throughout the halls. Next stop Spring Fair, Birmingham and then London Design week....
Creativeworld Frankfurt
Always love to see all the trends in techniques and colours at Creativeworld Frankfurt. Love this collage of experiments in their Trend area. Feeling inspired and ready for our Mark Making Day 2018 on 28th February!...
European Show Trail 2018
On the Spring 2018 European Show Trends trail! So far Top Drawer and Maison&Objet, with Creativeworld, Christmasworld, Paperworld, Spring Fair and London Design Week to look forward to! Enjoying meeting up with customers, fellow creatives along the way and seeking out the new trends...
Maison&Objet 2018
Inspired by skill, innovative use of materials as well as traditional techniques at Maison&Objet 2018. Individual artists and craftspeople showing and selling their work, large companies demonstrating the quality and skill involved in the creative process. To mention a few, from top left clockwise : Craftsman at work on furniture & lighting stand (www.preggogroup.com) – Bea Yato (bea@yato.fr) - artist handpainting ceramics on Vista Alegre Atlantis booth (www.vistaalegre.com) – Laurence Lehel papier mache sculptures (www.laurencelehel.fr) – Amnon Lipkin Textile Art – Stephanie Calemard wax woven lampshades (www.petites-series-entre-illuminees.com) ...
New York Trend Shopping
Checking out the stores and markets in Manhattan this week looking at the current and emerging Christmas trends ready for our portfolio trend boards....