COURTNEY WINDHAM DESIGN

Courtney Windham
[2004, Illustration]

Based in Auburn, Alabama

Courtney’s RISD Craft Gallery

What are some of the most important practices for your creative process?

Collecting reference material is an important part of my process. I frequently take time to add inspiration and visual references to a book I keep on my desk in my work space. I photocopy images out of books, cut images out of magazines, collect items like logos, letterforms, sketches, color palettes and tape them into the pages of the book. I refer back to this collection every time I need some quick visual inspiration to stir up ideas. I also keep a few flat file drawers reserved for collecting paper, magazine pages, pages out of old books, recycled print outs, imagery from old calendars and more.

Keeping my work space interesting is important as well. In my office I have a wall dedicated to hanging current work or inspiration. This way I’m able to glance at recent pieces and evaluate their progress. Check out this video I created to show my process from collecting references to collaging to block printing.

How does your current creative practice tie into your time spent at RISD?

I earned a degree in Illustration from RISD. Studying illustration allowed me to develop a sharp eye for everything from composition to storytelling. Through the process of learning to draw, paint, collect research and develop concepts, I obtained a valuable foundation for design.

In 2009, I earned a masters degree in graphic design. I now teach web design, kinetic typography, package design and branding at Auburn University’s School of Industrial + Graphic Design in Auburn, Alabama. Skills learned from a foundation in illustration are always at play in my teaching and personal design work. In the past few years, I have developed a body of work that includes collage and block printing. These hand made processes help me to develop ideas for other design work like posters or animations.

Tell us about some of your main sources of inspiration.

Patterns in nature have been a big influence on my thinking and process of developing my collages and block prints. In fact, as a student at RISD I was highly influenced by the Nature Lab. I also grew up in a wooded area in Birmingham, Alabama. At an early age I was roaming around in nature discovering all types of shapes, patterns, and wild life.

In addition, wherever I travel I take photographs of patterns I see in a city or in nature. For example, I collect photos of patterns and shapes in architectural elements (ex: walls, brick, iron railing), landscapes (ex: leaves, plants, light), textiles or anything else I discover.

Is there a work/body of work that you are particularly excited about sharing with us at RISD Craft this year?

This is my first year to apply to RISD Craft and my first time exhibiting! I’m really excited to show my current body of work because it is an experiment in pattern design. The works I am creating are studies of line, shape and letterforms for the purpose of developing a series of patterns for textiles. Though these prints are intended to be the beginning of a process, they have become pieces of art in themselves. They can be enjoyed by others even if they are initial studies for further development in my process.

Any recent press, exhibitions, achievements or awards you’d like to share with us?

This past year I was featured in GDUSA Magazine’s Educator-to-Watch issue. It was an honor to be included among legends like Richard Wilde, Mary Scott, Phil Hamlett and Ellen Lupton. Over the last couple of years my design work has been published in a variety of design magazines and books. My posters, websites, collages and logos have been published online and in PRINT Magazine, HOW Magazine, Graphis Design Journal, several Creative Quarterly Journals and LogoLounge Volume 9. Also, this summer I received a competitive design fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. I’m looking forward to utilizing this grant to further my research in design.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Check out Bon Appetype Shop online at www.bonappetypeshop.com — This is my block printing website which includes a process video and examples of prints and patterns. For more of my professional design work take a look at my design portfolio on www.courtneywindhamdesign.com.

To see more of Courtney’s work, visit bonappetypeshop.com and courtneywindhamdesign.com.