Petals & Plumage

Graduate Showcase Project

A vibrant collection of maximalist homewares featuring bold colour, painterly motifs and joyful designs.

Petals & Plumage is a vibrant assortment of patterns intended for a spring/summer collection of digitally printed and sublimated homewares celebrating the flora and fauna of South East Queensland. The range includes coordinated designs for bedding, cushions, throws and decorative textiles. Visually, it embraces a maximalist aesthetic: bold, layered and full of energy. The collection reflects a design ethos grounded in storytelling, emotional connection and the belief that colour and pattern can bring happiness and self-expression into the home. It responds to a growing interest in bold, personality-filled interiors and aims to evoke joy, warmth and individuality through design.

This project builds upon my previous work, A Moreton Bay Story, which explored personal memories and connections to the Moreton Bay area through a single wall hanging. Petals & Plumage extends this narrative to celebrate the wider South East Queensland region, translating its vibrant natural environment into a cohesive collection of designs. Whereas the earlier project was a handcrafted wall hanging created for personal reflection, this collection was developed with a broader audience in mind. It was designed for functional and cheerful homewares that resonate with those who share an appreciation for bold interiors, nature and storytelling through design.

The design process began with sketches and hand-painted gouache and watercolour motifs. A series of croquis were created to explore composition and refine the direction of the collection, with selected designs repainted, developed and finalised digitally. A bright palette of magenta, chartreuse, teal, lilac and golden yellow, balanced with lush greens, sky blue and white, was chosen to capture the warmth and energy of Queensland.

The final designs were digitally printed and sublimated across a range of fabrics, including cotton poplin, microfibre and polyester canvas. The bedding was originally intended for cotton sateen; however, due to availability, it was printed on cotton poplin. While the colour reproduction on poplin was beautiful, its matte surface reduced the vibrancy compared to the rest of the collection. To maintain consistency and depth of colour, the quilt cover was reproduced on microfibre, with the reverse kept as cotton for breathability.

The pillowcase was kept as the cotton poplin to maintain a soft, comfortable surface suitable for direct contact with the skin. In a commercial context, bedding would typically be produced entirely in either the microfibre or cotton for uniformity, but for the purposes of this project a mix of textiles was suitable. This approach avoided unnecessary reprinting and material waste while maintaining strong visual and functional outcomes.

Designed for colourful, contemporary interiors, Petals & Plumage aims to bring happiness, warmth and creativity into everyday spaces.  The collection transforms personal inspiration and hand-painted artwork into homewares that celebrate colour, storytelling and a love of expressive design.