Joëlle Paulson
WINNER: QEST Award for Innovation
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As a contemporary designer-maker Joëlle aims to reinterpret the traditional craft of lacemaking and make it relevant to our modern lives.
Joëlle has always loved lace and lacemaking. The intricate patterns, sewn, twisted, woven or knotted with one, two, or many threads to create beautifully complex fabrics, fascinate her. Lacemaking is a slow process, though hands may move speedily, and for her is a reflective, contemplative activity. In a fast paced world, she values those crafts that require time and patience, and which link her spiritually to those who have shared the same craft through the centuries.
During her recent MA in Design, lace remained at the forefront of Joëlle’s work, weaving its way into most of her project ideas. Her practice evolved into exploring new ways to use lace in design, bridging traditional and modern. Challenging notions of lace as delicate and fragile, her main ambition was to create furniture and furnishings. Lace made with rope instead of thread has strength and an extra dimension, a new “3D-ness” not present in fine fabric laces. The resulting pieces remain intricate, casting dramatic shadows in their environments.
Joëlle strives to be sustainable, favouring natural fibres and recycled/recyclable materials. She creates her own patterns but also likes breathing new life into vintage ones, reimagining lace beyond the traditional adornment into objects designed to be used, enjoyed and cherished in everyday living.
IG: @j._paulson
WINNER: QEST Award for Innovation
Awarded by Louise Rains, Project Manager, and Katherine Dunleavy, Education and Partnerships Manager.
“We enjoyed how Joëlle has reinterpreted the traditional craft of lacemaking to create contemporary interior furnishings. By using custom 3D-printed tools, Joëlle has been able to create lace from thicker threads and on a larger scale, challenging notions of lace as delicate and fragile, and enabling the lace to be interacted with in new ways. Furthermore, Joëlle is conscientious about her choice of materials, favouring the recycled and recyclable. Joëlle is a worthy recipient of the QEST Award for Innovation, and we look forward to seeing what's next for this talented emerging maker!”
From this award Joëlle will receive £250 towards tools and materials.
