Linescapes
By Kate Marsden
Now anyone who knows me will be aware that I’m rather keen on drawing buildings… this week we’re meeting someone else who is at least as keen as I am, if not more so! Read on to meet Amalia of Linescapes whose illustrations grace a whole range of products.
Tell us a little about you. What do you do?
My name is Amalia and I run a brand called Linescapes. I specialise in creating products featuring illustrations of iconic buildings. I also undertake private commissions.
What does a typical day involve?
The first thing I do is go for a walk with my whippet Mylo. Then I have breakfast and reply to emails. Afterwards, I work on commissions, or develop new designs and products. In the afternoons I organise and deliver any orders I may have.
Where do you work? What is your studio space like? What do you enjoy doing when you're not working?
My studio is in the spare room. Well, it is 80% studio, 20% spare room. I have a 3m long floating desk for my iMac and printer and a little space for my husband when he works from home. I try to keep the studio tidy but it's hard... I have lots of storage drawers and wall cabinets where I store all my materials and stock.
What do you consider to be the main challenges facing designer makers at the moment?
Competition, and shop chains driving wholesale prices low. Also navigating social media is quite a challenge, and something everyone should learn, as it is becoming increasingly important for promotion and marketing.
What ambitions do you have for your business over the next few years?
I want to focus more on my private commissions and target more galleries and museums.
Do you have any tips for fellow designer makers/small business owners who are reading this and may be just starting out?
Don't run, just walk and make sure you know what you are doing when committing to do things. I made a lot of mistakes when starting out because I wanted to sell quickly without thinking about costs, prices, T&Cs, etc.
Please share any favourite independent shops/galleries and tell us why you like them.
Pen to Paper in Brighton's Sydney street. They have a wonderful array of stationery.
Present and Correct: heaven for stationary buffs like me.
Had you realised the Just A Card campaign message suggests cards as an example of a small purchase - we're about encouraging all sales as they keep businesses afloat?
No, I thought it was about cards only but this is great. I like the fact that you are using cards to entice people to buy from independent shops and designers.
How important is the Just A Card campaign message to you and your business?
Very, not just to promote my own products but also to encourage people to buy from independent designers and shops.
Where did you hear about the campaign and which Social Media platforms do you use most frequently? What do you think people can do to support Just A Card, and how will you be doing so?
A friend of mine, Jo Angell, talked about the campaign on social media and I joined in. I primarily use Facebook and Instagram. I'm going to download the logo and add it to my website and social media as well as sharing any relevant posts.