February 02, 2015
DESIGNER + ILLUSTRATOR SARA HINGLE
Sara Hingle has been working for many years as a successful illustrator - mainly for magazines such as Frankie - but a brief from a wallpaper company tipped her towards setting up and launching her own range. “Over the past few years more and more illustration briefs were taking on the form of repeat pattern design,” she says. “I found myself really enjoying the challenge of working outside my usual scope of editorial illustration and creating patterns seemed like the perfect blend of design and illustration.” These Walls was the result, and it will make its debut at Life Instyle later this month. Sara, who grew up in Perth, WA, studied design at Curtin University with a major in graphic design and minor in illustration. She is now based in Queensland.
Which five words best describe you? Little, dedicated, creative, dreamer, indecisive.
How did you get your career start and what path have you taken since? I would say that my career really began when I moved east from Perth and started working at a publishing company as an editorial designer. It was there that I learnt the ropes of good design fundamentals (thanks Gra!), met some great friends and began illustrating for a bunch of mags, including Frankie magazine when it was launched. When I started my family, I continued to work on briefs from my home studio. When I worked with some friends for their wallpaper brand St Vitus London and more recently for Frankie press on their diaries, the world of pattern drew me in, and with my urge to work to my own brief and brand, These Walls was created.
What’s the best lesson you’ve learnt along the way? Be nice, be true and that the most productive time of the day is well before the kookaburras are up. A lot of creatives like the dark and I do too, just the a.m. variety.
What’s your proudest career achievement? I am optimistic that the best is yet to come. But to date, I would say receiving my first wallpaper sample book for St Vitus in the mail was a good day. A lot of hard work and big-time learning went into the first collection - coinciding with not a lot of sleep as I’d just had my first baby - and to see and feel the paper, printed so beautifully using traditional methods was a real treat.
What’s been your best decision? My two little boys. Nothing could have prepared me for what I would experience, learn and love since having Josh and Thom.
Who inspires you? My Mum on a daily basis for her endless selflessness. And every creative person who is doing what they love and is driven to pursue their dreams and goals; there are so many but every story in its unique way is so inspiring. I could honestly read any interview on this great blog and be inspired by each and every one.
What are you passionate about? My family, my business and reaching the best balance I possibly can between the two.
Which person, living or dead, would you most like to meet? Salvador Dali.
What dream do you still want to fulfil? There are so many - I did tell you I was a dreamer! But at the forefront, would be to see These Walls grow into a business that I can be proud of; it's still very early days. A real holiday this year - on a plane - would be nice. And one day, I'd love to embark on a European gallery hopping trip with my Mum.
What are you reading? A lot of children's books it would seem. And when the time comes for me to unwind, sleep calls - I like to beat those kookaburras to the punch.
images courtesy of these walls and amelia fullarton; top image: bek sheppard (styling) and reuben gates (photography)