“I would describe my practice as well planned spontaneity. I always start with a considered palette and story allowing me to design freely and play with mark making, texture and composition. ”
When faced with a design brief, I don’t look for the new; I look back, and guide myself with the inspiration that I’m constantly collecting through everyday life. A very visual person, I will snap until my camera roll is overloaded with images of lines, patterns, colour, composition formed by the environment of my boring everyday life. It could be the smallest detail in one of these images that can influence the direction of an entire project.
The creative process is inspired through capturing the essence and spirit of the theme, rather then a literal interpretation. This allows the natural progression and organic development of ideas and workflow, constantly influenced by new discoveries and happy accidents.
Born and raised in sunny North Queensland, Cassie spent her childhood working outside with her Dad, beginning a life-long love and appreciation of the Australian landscape, as well as a passion for the vibrant colours that are native to a life in the tropics.
Cassie studied and worked in the Interior Design industry before falling into a brand manager position for Brisbane womenswear label Ra Ra Superstar, where her love of textiles was born.
Through a BA in Textile Design at RMIT majoring in screen printing and a keen focus on fashion based print, Cassie is passionate about the industry she now calls home. She now works across designing prints for a variety of applications including recent collaborations with Kuwaii, Verner, Country Road, Linen House, Milk & Sugar and Ark Clothing Company. Commissions are balanced with the designing and making of her print focused lifestyle label Variety Hour which launched in December 2015, the range includes a colourful fun mix of homewares, clothing and artwork with the pattern as the focus.
Cassie’s work reflects her love of colour and nature, using hand generated media such as collage and loose ink mark making, looking at ways to incorporate the digital sphere without losing a design’s original integrity and handwriting.
In her spare time she loves being a homebody and getting back to her Maltese routes, by cooking up a storm in the kitchen, putting on big feast and hanging out with her family, friends and their accompanying cats.