This year we are excited to be reviewing our souvenir range. We are looking at ways to update the range and maybe make new products. Helping us with this is volunteer Isobel Smith. We knew we needed some help from someone with experience in developing ideas/products for commercial designs so we asked our friends in the Textile Department at Birmingham City University if they knew of any recent graduates who would be interested in the opportunity to work with us and move this range forward. That’s how we found Isobel and we’re really pleased to have her help and expertise.

I’m Isobel Smith and I am currently Volunteering with Craftspace to help develop Shelanu’s new Birmingham Souvenir collection. As a 2019 Textile Design Graduate I have been able to offer my design skills to help research, Design and launch the new range of products. I am currently gathering market and product research to help design and create mockups for the new collection. Staying inspired by the previous collection I want to celebrate Birmingham’s diversity and the city’s industrial heritage and creativity within the new products. By getting involved with the Shelanu members weekly zoom meetings I can get their opinions on the project and hearing their feedback has been really helpful for me, as I can see what direction they want the collection to go down.