Top tips for creating a presentation that will knock the Art Director’s socks off…

This is a guest blog post by Margo Tantau, VP of Creative at MidwestCBK

Margo has co-written our brand new course, MATS: Creating Collections for Home Décor, with Lilla Rogers. She will also be speaking at MATS: The Global Art Gathering, our LIVE event in Brighton UK this June.

So what could I share with you that could take your work from good to fabulous (and even more commercial)? Well, I’ve been creating and selling Home Décor products for years, and my very favorite thing to do is to help grow the careers of creative people. So to that end… I have a few pointers and things for you to think about.

Vase shapes by Louise Gelderblom

Here are just a few things that I look for in a presentation:

1. Does the art translate successfully into fresh creative product ideas?
2. Does the artist have a knack for thinking 3-dimensionally?
3. Are they showing me that they are paying attention to the market?
4. Do I see product that works together to create a solid collection?
5. Have they used their artwork in thoughtful ways, showing that they understand the benefits and limitations of certain substrates and materials, such as fabric, ceramic, wood, metal or glass?
6. Is it fun? Innovative? Head-turning? And most of all, is it unique? Does it show the artist’s own voice?

This may sound a little daunting, but I promise you, with just a bit of coaching and practice, these things are entirely possible for YOU.

You can learn how to present a presentation that speaks to all of these things, and truly makes you stand out in the market.

Showing variation in design placement on product (designed by Jaime Hayon)

Here’s a quick fun exercise to stretch your product muscles – find some time to try it this week:

• Look through your own creative stash and find a drawing, a doodle, a bit of collage, a painting, or a pattern or two that you have made. Pick something that you really like.
• Now, draw 3 simple vase shapes. And I mean simple… just an outline. These vases are your product templates.
• Look at the artwork you have chosen, then consider the vases. How could you translate that artwork on to those vases in three different ways?
• Here’s what you will NOT do. You will not just slap the same thing on all three vases, because… that’s boring!
• You WILL pull out parts of a pattern, or take a flower from a doodle for example and thoughtfully place them it on one vase, then choose other sections of your art for the other vases. You should end up with a set of three vases which stand on their own but are related in the way they tie in with each other.
• Are you perplexed? Don’t stress too much, it’s fun. Think of it like creating a menu. You are pulling out delicious-sounding individual courses, which are tempting on their own, but when served up together create something even more special.
• Now try it again, and again, and keep practicing.
• And please post it on social media! I want to see what you have done. You can tag me on Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram or Facebook as @mtantau. This is not meant to be super glossy or perfect, it’s a first-start into playing with the idea of your art as product. Product! See? You can do it.

Has this sparked your imagination? There are literally thousands of product possibilities in Home Décor. The brand new Make Art That Sells class ‘Creating Collections for Home Décor’,  which I have created with Lilla Rogers, will open the door to this lucrative market for you.

Can’t wait to see your product ideas

Margo

xo