The Creative Connection

Your Experts Are:

Cindy Cloward and Jina Barney – Riley Blake Designs
Kathy Miller – Michael Miller Fabrics
Lilla Rogers – Lilla Rogers Studio
Evie Ashworth– Design Director, Robert Kaufman Fabrics

Your Roundtable Participants Include:
Heather Bailey – Licensed textile designer with Free Spirit Fabrics
Suzy Ultman – Licensed textile designer with Robert Kaufman Fabrics
Patty Young – MODKID, LLC and licensed textile designer with Michael Miller Fabrics

 

Presenting Your Pitch:

1. All materials must be created in an electronic format and submitted to Brandy Shay –  brandy@thecreativeconnectionevent.com – by September 5th. This presentation will then be forwarded to each of the Experts and Roundtable Participants to review and have with them during your presentation.
2. You may bring to the Pitch a printed copy of your materials for each Expert and Roundtable Participant to strengthen your presentation.

Pitch Contents:

1. An Introduction to “you” that will include a brief and concise biography. As a guideline for your Introduction, you may use Form #1 below.
2. Brief and concise overviews of three print collections. As a guideline, you may use Form #2 below.
3. Include the following:
   1. Prints should be created in patterns that are appropriate for licensing. For each collection, patterns should include a mix of all-over prints, coordinating prints, and a “focal” print that tells the main story.
   2. Each collection should contain 3-10 prints, 8 ½” x 11” in size. Prints should be loose and not in a portfolio.

REMEMBER: You only have 3 minutes, which equals approximately 400 words. Keep your pitch concise and focused.

 

Form #1 for Introduction:

Using one page for your written introduction, please include the following information in the order listed:

1. Date
2. Full name
3. Company name, if applicable
4. Contact information
5. Biography – 150-175 words

Guidelines for Writing Your Biography

Your biography establishes your credibility as a fabric designer. What is your professional expertise, education, life experience, or other compelling qualification that makes you the best person to be a textile designer? And, please let us know if you have a social media presence; for example, are you on Twitter and/or Facebook? If so, how many people follow you on Twitter, and how many fans or friends do you have on Facebook?

Your written biography should be no longer than two paragraphs, or 150-175 words.

In the pitch, your introduction should be no longer than 50-75 words. That equals two to three sentences. Whittle down what’s most important for the pitch and practice reciting it.

Form #2 for Collection Overviews:

Using one single-spaced page for your written Overview, include the following information:

1. Brief and concise descriptions of each of the three fabric collections, which should include: number of patterns in each collection, and number of colorways per collection. (150-175 words)
2. Brief and concise explanation of how your collections are different from those currently on the market, who your target market is, and why your collections meet an underserved or unmet niche in the marketplace. (150-175 words)

In the pitch, your overview will be 300-350 words. Practice delivering the overview aloud, along with your introduction, to keep within the three-minute time limit. Shorten if necessary.

 

Winners: