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The designers finding beauty in nature's darker side
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Designers Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons of Timorous Beasties have built their careers on subversive textile and wallpaper designs that explore nature’s darker aspects and offer social commentary on modern life.
- Their work challenges traditional wallpaper motifs by focusing on decay, animal interactions, and overlooked details, embedding hidden stories and historical references within their patterns.
- The duo’s Glasgow toile design, for example, incorporates local landmarks and social issues, reflecting a grittier side of city life rarely seen in conventional textiles.
- Their unique approach has led to collaborations with notable clients including Kate Bush, the UK Supreme Court, Johnnie Walker, Nike, and the Royal Bank of Scotland, showcasing their wide-ranging influence.
- Despite relying on traditional hand-printing methods, McAuley and Simmons embrace digital technologies and see them as valuable tools for emerging designers to innovate and distribute their work.
