Julie Pople is the mum in the mother-daughter duo that heads up Ink Dish’s design team. With college graduations popping up this time of year, she was asked to put together a bio and top ten list about being a designer.

Julie with some of her designs in a Kuala Lumpur department store

Julie graduated from Liverpool Art College (now John Moores University) in 1971 with a degree in Textile Design. After working in a textile design studio in Bolton , she left to train as an art teacher. She turned to ceramic design in the early 1980s working initially in the UK Potteries, then later concentrating on the Limoges porcelain industry. After a stint as an in-house designer for Royal Stafford, she became head of design for the European arm of PT Sango, one of the world’s largest tableware manufacturers. In 2003 she established her own business Julie Pople Designs www.juliepopledesigns.com  which has enjoyed considerable success in markets throughout the world. In 2008 she partnered with Ink Dish www.inkdish.com a business focusing on the manufacture and sale of fine art tableware

Top Ten Tips on being a Designer

1.    Be true to your design ideals but be sensitive to the commercial concerns of your customers
2.    Self-doubt goes with the territory, but don’t underestimate your value
3.    Keep up to date with the latest design software, in my case that’s Adobe Photoshop
4.    Communicate – keep as many channels open as possible. My latest is an ftp site
5.    Travel! British designers are highly regarded abroad
6.    Keep your portfolio of designs fresh – don’t be afraid to ‘retire’ designs
7.    Look for inspiration when you travel. Visit galleries, boutiques, and study the ever changing world of the consumer
8.    Keep in touch with fellow designers. A network of support is vital in what is often a lonely job
9.    Don’t wait for inspiration to strike – establish a regular work routine
10.   Keep going till everyone else drops out!