‘The Joy of Making’ by Lily Crichton is the current window display at not just a shop and the first of two winning entries from our Window Display Competition.
Designed and made by Central Saint Martin’s graduate, Lily studied BA Textiles where she found her passion aligned with print and surface design.
Lily’s practice revolves around a bold and graphic approach to screen printing, innovative colour exploration and material narratives. Lily is a true hands-on maker who uses screen printing techniques as a vehicle for creating printed surfaces primarily for interior and exteriors usage.
Have a read of what Lily has to say about her work and practice below!
Hi Lily! Congrats on your current window display, and thank you for taking the time to chat with us.
What was the inspiration behind the window display design?
When looking at the brief, I noticed great emphasis on using the display to support independent makers and highlight the importance of ethical and conscious buying – values I deeply support. I felt this theme greatly aligned with my graduate project Places of the Process, which explored appreciating the process of making objects. Hence, I used it as a springboard for inspiration to celebrate the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making some of the beautiful products sold in-store, with striking graphics of tools and shapes that evoke the joyful, handcrafted labour of making rather than a mass-produced item.
What was the process of designing the window display like?
A lot of the designing was done before I got the commission, as you had to create three ideas once shortlisted. In the beginning I did lots of secondary research, trying to think through the eyes of a commercial visual merchandiser, considering what would make a successful design in terms of practicality—like allowing light into the shop, making it double-sided—while also creating something visually exciting and reflective of my style. It was interesting to try hit that balance, but it gave me lots of parameters to work with, which I felt inspired me rather than restricted me.
I use collage and paper models to develop my ideas through making quite a lot in my work. So I displayed the three ideas via paper models during the pitch alongside my digital visualisations, which I felt the judges appreciated for their tactility and consideration of scale. They also expressed they could see my commitment to the project by making them by hand, which I took as a real positive.
What would you like the viewers to take away from your work?
I’d like viewers to take away a genuine sense of joy and appreciation for the work that goes into making crafted objects. There are real people with passions for what they do behind the products shown in-store, and I’d like to humanise them during this time of mass consumption, while maintaining a fun, playful lens.
Have you ever worked on a project like this before?
I have previously displayed my work in a shop window, but never to the extent or level of control I had over this project. Working on a self-motivated project while being fresh out of university was something very new to me, but I had a very supportive circle encouraging me to take on such a rewarding challenge. Plus, it showed me an aspect of design I would love to explore further!
How was your experience and what was your favourite part of this project?
Overall, I loved the experience from start to finish. Seeing a fleeting idea resolved into a shop window was something I didn’t expect to happen to me, so it was massively rewarding putting it all together with help from the not just a shop team, as they were incredibly supportive and friendly.
My favourite part was probably the hands-on chaos of physically making the shapes for the window. Once all the paint and cardboard arrived, it was really fun to get stuck into — being covered in paint is something I’ve greatly missed.
What was the application process like when applying for this opportunity?
The application process was simple, just a small online form and portfolio submission. Originally, I wasn’t going to apply, but I kept looking at the brief again and again, so I thought I had nothing to lose by putting myself out there, and luckily, it paid off. Once shortlisted, there was a second round, which meant I had to do a small pitch to a panel, and my voice kept shaking throughout it, but I thought it was really good practice for an industry setting.
Lily’s display will be in not just a shop until 5th June, so come along and check it out for yourself! The shop is open Tuesday to Thursday 11 – 3 pm.