Interviste con Zeinab Iranzadeh Ichme

I have an Associated degree in Graphic design and a BA in Fashion Design. After graduating from Graphic design, I immediately started working for some companies and I started working as a Freelance designer since 2011, as I moved forward, I had the opportunity to work with "XGABRIELX Productions" as a pattern designer. This helped me publish my first books on pattern design by Mode…information GmbH, which is an essential part of my journey.

I enjoy expressing my emotions over designing. I love the process of creating and expressing myself through it, that’s the main reason for choosing to be a designer.

My design process like any other starts with an idea, then I'll decide about how to express it, sometimes I have to go to the experimenting phase to can decide better about the final result. I could use almost anything regarding my inspiration to achieve my goal in the final step. There's no restriction, the journey could start from a simple sketch on a piece of paper and going through realistic painting mixing with digital modifications. But there’s an essential key to all of them and it's about enjoying all the steps.

First of all, I have to mention that there is no project until I feel good about it. It means the most exciting part would be the idea. So, if I feel awesome and great about any idea I start the design process, and then the feeling through the whole journey will be the same and as a consequence, I will have a good design that expresses my feelings to others. That is called an absolute pleasure.

In my childhood, my paintings and drawing comparing to other kids weren't good at all, and I remember that my mom was very worried about it! But I always enjoyed doing them and as my cultural background, I was surrounded by colorful surface patterns and motifs. Also, my father's job was not related to art, but he has a passion for art, and as I remember he always has done many craft and creative kinds of stuff and installation for my birthday or for decorating my childhood room. As a result, all of them accompanied by my positive feelings about them shaped me as a designer.

As I changed my point of view I try to not to have any plan! All I'm trying is going with the flow and paying more attention to how I feel when I want to start a new project.

I think when you achieve something then next step you want something more, by the moment it would be about an expansion of my designs based on new fascinating ideas and having my own shop to sell surface pattern designs for the home sector as well as fashion.

I think each one needs to go on his/her path and experience a lot of things to find their own way, cause I believe each one could be a unique one.

I get up early and I meditate every morning or even during the day. I do some exercise, cause it also helps me a lot to can free my mind and being more concentrate on my ideas and new projects, besides I'm training myself to enjoy little things in my daily life because the good feeling is something essential for my day. I try to pay attention to my feelings during the day, so if I feel bored or any other feeling related to it, whatever that I'm doing I will try to stop it, at least for that moment.

I update myself with all the trends information, but it doesn't mean that the trend by itself could catch the control of my new project. I mix the trends with my personal style or even an idea. This process by itself depends on my projects, but still, there are some projects that they are totally free of them.

In a good design, you must pay attention to every aspect related to design functionality and usage. But I think the most powerful and important part would be the idea.

It's not about simplicity or being complicated. I think a good design it’s made by the harmony between the designing process part which starts from an idea and it ends with the final result.

It totally depends on how I feel about it. I evaluate my feeling about a finished project with the feeling that I had when I got my idea, if they are the same or even stronger (obviously in positive aspects), it would be an absolute yes.

There are many of them published in my own books. I like the most of my floral patterns as well as animals that I created them inspired by my cultural heritage motifs. They are pieces that every time I take a look at them, I can get a good vibe from them.

william morris, Yayoi kusama, henri Gillet, Alexander McQueen, Viktor and Rolf...

I lived in many countries and currently, I’m living abroad, but definitely

I think my cultural heritage and background play an important role when it comes to design, I'm an Iranian freelancer artist and as you see my different artworks at least you can find some cultural aspects on them. The repetition, the bold and sharp colors, as well as symmetry and a mix of geometric lines with organic ones...etc, those are some aspect that you can find in historical motifs and designs of my country.

Nowadays, regarding our environment, I think, first of all, I have to pay even more attention in terms of creating a new project. I have to create a piece that transmits positivity, happiness, and a lot of good feelings to others, a piece full of joy that could distract them, even a second from all the things that they are surrounded by.

I think the most beneficial part for me, as a designer, would be helping me, even more, to maintain my current level of creativity in terms of every aspect of work quality and it pushes me into a higher level of the creative process.

The inspiration comes from an emblematic photograph by Bernie Boston taken during an anti-war demonstration in 1967, showing a young man placing flowers in the barrels of riot policeman’s rifles. 1967 was also the year of the Summer of Love, flowers were omnipresent symbols of love and peace, worn in the hair and painted on faces and bodies. I took my inspiration from the flowers as a symbol to express the idea that even with all today’s negative emotions, there are more beauties to see.

Nowadays there is a lot of negativity in the world where they got different subjects. The flowers, as a natural element, gives us more positive energy, and encourages us to be peaceful, love each other as well as respect each other. That's why I decided to incorporate them even more in everyday life.

Making samples and pieces for the home sector as well as the fashion.

Around a month, cause this design its one of the pieces of a bigger fabric collection with the same concept.

It was just an inspiration that came to my mind and I felt good about it, at that moment there's no hesitation to bring it into life.

I only have done the sample printing for myself and I need to think more about it, but I will be open to any kind of offer.

It could be the main idea and concept, accompanied by other designs aspects such a composition, colors…etc and the way those aspects are interacting between themselves.

Absolutely unaffected.

The home sector as well as fashion.

It's the message and the feeling transmitted by design itself.

The name also comes from the source of inspiration and it was a slogan used during the 1960s.

Sketchbook, pencil, color pencil, markers, Adobe Photoshop

The way that design represents itself through the main idea. The contrast of the darkest part represents the negative subjects in the world but the whole design composition has more bright and vivid colors, which represent the positivity that will conquer finally and will grow even more with newborn flowers.

I did it without any collaboration.

As I used adobe Photoshop, it gave me the ability to modify colors, layers, repeating style, and the composition easier and quicker. If not, doing all those processes by hand could be very time-consuming.

The first part of research began through searching among the floral tendency of 1960-1970 trough the history lectures to understand and going even more deeply into those years conditions and then comparing the situation with today’s world. The second part comes from the SS 2020 Fashion theme and color trend which I found a common theme that was the symbol of my inspiration.

The challenge came in the early stages when I wanted to decide about how to express my emotions and transmit my idea through the piece.

Honestly, they reach me through my personal website and their Email encouraged me to submit for the competition.

Through the challenges that I had for expressing myself and my emotions, I needed to analyze many things and break down even the smallest part of the design to get clarity of what I wanted to show and the best way to achieve that.

In my childhood, my paintings and drawing comparing to other kids weren't good at all, and I remember that my mom was very worried about it! But I always enjoyed doing them and as my cultural background, I was surrounded by colorful surface patterns and motifs. Also, my father's job was not related to art, but he has a passion for art, and as I remember he always has done many craft and creative kinds of stuff and installation for my birthday or for decorating my childhood room. Finally, the serious part took place with my enrolment into the Art school.

I have an Associated degree in Graphic design and a BA in Fashion Design. After graduating from Graphic design, I immediately started working for some companies and I started working as a Freelance designer since 2011.

I enjoy expressing my emotions over designing, then always there is a motivation. As I enjoy the process of creating and expressing myself through the design process, that’s the main reason for choosing to be a designer.

I chose it completely by myself.

It varies, it could be a design for a mural painting, a single motif, or even a fashion collection.

I really don’t care about the age range, I think each designer is a unique one and each one has its own ability to create own desired world, considering to who wants to be and what wants to express.

First of all, I think every good designer could be a great designer, it's the same road and the difference it could be the path that each one chooses to continue. As a result, a good designer at some point may be distracted trough some conditions while a great designer is someone who tries to be focused and it's open-minded in terms of growth and expansion in his/her art career.

It's not about simplicity or being complicated. I think a good design it’s made by the harmony between the designing process part which starts from an idea and it ends with the final result.

There are no rules, each design that corresponds to its functionality, fulfills its purpose, respects the client's need, could be a good one.

Starting a new Illustration project.

Regarding that, each one can his/hers, but for me, it's about paying attention to my feelings even I’m going to decide to start a new project.

william morris, Yayoi kusama, henri Gillet

In terms of Fabric design as well as fashion, I can mention the ETRO brand, because they mix different cultures and make their own unique pieces, I enjoy the harmony and the relation between their creations.

There are many of them published in my own books. I like the most of my floral patterns as well as animals that I created them inspired by my cultural heritage motifs. They are pieces that every time I take a look at them, I can get a good vibe from them.

I think each one needs to go on his/her path and experience a lot of things to find their own way, cause I believe each one could be a unique one.

Impossible to think about! Cause this is what makes me feel satisfied and happy.

It's an absolute Freedom and joy.

Obviously I always had my family support but also a great and unforgettable person, who has a significant role in where I'm standing nowadays “Rudy Gabriel”.

If you can enjoy what you do, lose yourself in the process, feel free, then you’ll be able to reach whatever you want.

There's no such thing called “obstacle”. For me, it's about a road that you always will keep going forward and enjoying your own unique trip, no matter what.

It depends and varies base on different design categories, but in general, definitely, the presentation part also has an important role. It's about doing the adequate way possible, cause if you are satisfied with your creation, then the presenting part would be about adding extra value to that.

There's no such an ultimate goal for me, cause I think when you achieve something then next step you want something more, by the moment it would be about an expansion of my designs based on new fascinating ideas and having my own shop to sell surface pattern designs for the home sector as well as fashion.

Innovation and quality.

In terms of Surface pattern design and regarding today's society, paying attention to the final result and ambient would be important. Also adding a design that could offer a refreshing look, help you to relax and gives you a good mood, it could be a helpful point to consider.

Actually I'm collaborating on designing a women’s collection, that's very exciting for me because after graduating, I can consider it as my first experience in the fashion industry.

I'm quite satisfied with all of them, each one took me one step forward, so they all are like puzzles that complete me as a designer.

I hope we can see more designs which could help to make a world a better place to live for all and I believe every design regarding its aspect could be a part of that.

It depends on the project, sometimes I need more time to make changes or even modifications the whole idea, it could vary between 2-3 days till a week. Cause each piece has to come out with my complete satisfaction.

I start it with an idea that comes to my mind and the rest it takes place. It's almost like an exciting journey.

Free your mind and everything will take place at the right time and moment.

I think it goes hand in hand, sometimes it depends on society and the aspects that it needs, sometimes not.

With the new technology, you can bring your idea easier, even it helps you to connect to people and express the idea even more, as a consequence the design could be something more vivid in life.

Sketchbook, different types of pencils including color pencils, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, markers, Adobe programs, Graphic tablet.

The good balance between them considering the design type could lead you to achieve a successful design project.

They are free to ask everything.

It gives me pleasure, pure joy, and appreciation.

I never had done any project under someone's influence. I learned from many people, but in terms of influence, I can tell that I'm unaffected.

Biography books, even not related to any artist or designer, made me think more and review my life focal points, cause I believe they helped me a lot even in terms of my personality changes and updates, which could have a direct effect on my way and design concepts.

Through the process of experimentation without hesitation.

Alexander McQueen

It's really exciting and also hard to explain my true feelings about it.

I don’t have any favorite color and all depends on my mood, I love all colors, I love nature. Also about food and season, I don’t have any favorites. About the brand, There are many of them, but I like the creative designs of Viktor and Rolf a lot.

I get up early and I meditate every morning or even during the day. I go to the gym to exercise, cause it also helps me a lot to can free my mind and being more concentrate on my ideas and new projects, besides I'm training myself to enjoy little things in my daily life because the good feeling is something essential for my day. As a consequence, all those things guide me to stay motivated.

I just live in the present.

Believe in yourself and you will find the best way that works for you.

I started being passionate about art since I was a kid. Then my strong desire pushed me to art and drawing classes. As a result, I started my serious art career as I entered Art high school. At that time, I realized that I wanna be an artist.

From many years ago I decided to be a freelance designer as a Graphic and Surface pattern designer. But my actual personal brand is built less than a year ago, as I recently finished my studies on Fashion design by Oct 2019.

It's an absolute Freedom and joy.

I like challenges, because I think they make you change the way of thinking, they let you change your view perspectives. So I enjoy both designing motifs and surface patterns for the fashion as well as home sector.

My first designs were based on Graphic Design sector (Logo, brochure..), but my first pieces as a motif and Surface pattern design was made for the client from Belgium, who afterward invited me to collaborate with other artists and publish my designs in a resource book for artists, Graphic designers, and stylists.

Color pencils, markers, watercolor, Adobe Photoshop, and Illustrator.

I think creativity doesn't care about a certain time or moment, at least mine doesn't work like that.

In a good design, you must pay attention to every aspect related to design functionality and usage. But I think the most powerful and important part would be the idea.

Hard to explain! A great sense of high positive vibration, mixing with joy and happiness.

OMG! Even harder to explain!! Like being out of this world!

I think there are no established rules, but the designs' ability to communicate and accomplish on its best way its role and purpose related to its sector and area could make a successful design.

The idea and the purpose of which design is made for.

I think if you train yourself to see positive things and aspects of anything even in those that in general they are “Marked” as a negative thing, you can always communicate and reach others with a big smile and encourage them to think and see things with another perspective. This transmits a good vibe to people and the environment even on the hardest times.

No rules for inspiration! They can come from everything and everywhere. But mine comes from any subject that makes me feel good even a small thing. So I can hear the sound of the bird, see a newborn plant, and get inspired.

Honestly, I'm not restricted to some sort of style, that’s why I experience different styles based to my idea, what and how I want to communicate and I highly trust to my intuition to choose the style for my designs and often I reach that part trough en experimenting process.

Currently, I live in Italy but I have lived in different places and each one has its effects on me and my designs. But I think still my cultural heritage and background play an important role when it comes to design, I'm an Iranian freelancer artist and as you see my different artworks at least you can find some cultural aspects on them. The repetition, the bold and sharp colors, as well as symmetry and a mix of geometric lines with organic ones...etc, those are some aspect that you can find in historical motifs and designs of my country.

My design process like any other starts with an idea, then I'll decide about how to express it, sometimes I have to go to the experimenting phase to can decide better about the final result. Then the real process starts.

Learn, experiment, having fun with the process, being updated, then follow your intuition for the best outcome.

For me the negative part does not exist, I call it as experimentation part that leads you to reach your goals based upon what you want and what you like the most. But being a designer MUST be your own 100% decision without being influenced sentimentally or forced by anyone.

Expressing my feelings in the best way.

It could be different based on the design area, but in general, the communication skill would be applied to all of them.

It could vary, but I could use almost anything regarding from inspiration process to the final results. There's no restriction, anything that could help me to express my idea even better it would be welcomed, also I don’t have any fear about trying new things and technics, so I’m quite open in the process.

If you are really passionate about something and you just don’t see it as a job to earn money from it, then you'll always find the best way to manage your time.

What is your next project?

All of them can have their own level of importance, cause each one brings you a new experience and they make you grow step by step. But the most important based on the level of adding and learning many things during the process was making the design for publication which leads me to be offered by a publisher to have my own design books.

As I changed my point of view I try to not to have any plan! All I'm trying is going with the flow and paying more attention to how I feel when I want to start a new project. As being an artist I think I'm still learning, so I definitely continue doing more experience and enjoy all the process, cause I think those things will lead you to go forward and they’ll bring you even more success.

I do them by myself.

They can reach me through my website.

Thank you for such a thoughtful observation! I wanted to capture the energy and symbolism of the original photograph while translating it into something that speaks to today's fashion and cultural aesthetics. I started by focusing on motifs like flowers and peace symbols, reinterpreting them in a way that felt fresh and relevant. From there, I worked with color and form to blend historical references with modern design sensibilities, creating a pattern that reflects both past values and present style trends. This process allowed me to explore how art and fashion can continue to carry powerful messages, even as the context around them evolves.

I started by researching colors associated with protest art and the 1960s era, particularly those tied to peace and resilience. Darker tones were chosen to represent the weight of global challenges, serving as a grounding layer, while the bright hues—like vivid oranges, greens, and yellows—symbolize hope, growth, and the energy of change. The balance comes from layering these colors thoughtfully, so that while the darker shades anchor the design, the brighter tones rise through, reflecting a message of optimism and resilience. This approach helped me create a visual dialogue between the struggles of the past and a hopeful outlook for the future.

For this piece, I wanted to capture the warmth and authenticity of hand-drawn lines, which I felt would best convey the organic nature of the 'flower power' theme and the spirit of 1960s art. I started by sketching the core floral and symbolic elements by hand, allowing for slight imperfections and textures that give a more human, tactile feel. Once I had these foundational sketches, I moved to digital tools to refine, layer, and adjust the design’s structure and colors. The digital aspect allowed me to experiment with scale, repetition, and vibrant color contrasts that wouldn’t have been as flexible by hand alone. This combination of techniques felt like the ideal way to blend historical resonance with a polished, modern finish.

Choosing organic cotton poplin for Flower Power Fabric Pattern Design was essential to my goal of aligning the project with environmental responsibility. Organic cotton requires fewer resources and no harmful chemicals, reducing its environmental impact, which felt in harmony with the pattern’s message of peace and renewal. Beyond material selection, these considerations influenced the design itself, with motifs and colors chosen to reflect nature's resilience and vibrancy. The result is a piece where both the material and design speak to a mindful, sustainable approach that honors the values of the original 'flower power' movement while resonating with today's focus on environmental stewardship.

Thank you for noticing that detail! In Flower Power Fabric Pattern Design, I wanted each floral element to have its own ‘breathing space’ to evoke a sense of openness and individuality, similar to the diverse, free-spirited energy of the flower power movement. This approach was inspired by vintage posters from the 1960s that often used open compositions to create a relaxed, harmonious feeling. By using delicate line art alongside colored surfaces, I aimed to establish a visual rhythm that allows each element to stand out while remaining part of the larger pattern. This balance reflects the idea that individual voices can come together to form a cohesive, powerful message—a concept central to both the historical roots and modern interpretation of flower power.

Spending time in my own head was a key part of creating a piece that felt authentic and resonant. I wanted to capture the underlying emotions of hope, resilience, and unity that the flower power movement represents. This introspection helped me identify specific emotions and memories tied to nature, peace, and social change, which I then translated into visual elements like open floral shapes and vibrant colors. It also influenced the flow and spacing within the pattern, as I aimed to create a design that feels calm yet impactful. This process of connecting with my emotions allowed me to shape a pattern that isn't just decorative but carries a personal, meaningful narrative.

Balancing commercial viability with the artistic message in Flower Power Fabric Pattern Design was both challenging and rewarding. I wanted the design to feel fresh and relevant for SS 2020, so I looked at trends like bold colors, retro motifs, and sustainable fabrics, ensuring it could resonate in a contemporary fashion context. At the same time, I kept the design rooted in its message of peace and resilience by preserving the symbolic elements and careful use of space. The balance came from weaving these motifs into a modern aesthetic that could appeal to today’s audience while staying true to the spirit of the 'flower power' movement. This approach allowed me to create a design that feels meaningful yet wearable, bringing a sense of purpose to fashion.

I studied the bold, free-form shapes and earthy, vibrant color palettes typical of that era, capturing their sense of spontaneity and optimism. To make the pattern relevant for today, I paired these retro-inspired forms with a more refined, minimalist composition, giving each floral element space and balance that reflects contemporary design sensibilities. This dual perspective allowed me to create a pattern that honors the flower power movement’s original energy while adapting it to a fresh, versatile look that speaks to today’s aesthetics and values.

Creating a seamless repeat for Flower Power Fabric Pattern Design was definitely a rewarding challenge. One of the biggest obstacles was ensuring that the hand-drawn elements retained their organic quality without creating visual interruptions in the pattern. I spent a lot of time adjusting the placement and scaling of each element to keep the flow harmonious, making sure that no lines or shapes felt too dominant or lost in the repeat. Additionally, translating the texture and subtle imperfections of the hand-drawn lines into a digital format required careful adjustments to avoid any ‘jumps’ or inconsistencies in the final layout. Balancing the natural, free-flowing look with technical precision was key to achieving a seamless repeat that feels fluid and cohesive.

Thank you! Winning the Bronze A' Design Award for Flower Power Fabric Pattern Design is incredibly inspiring and affirming for me. This recognition reinforces my commitment to creating designs that carry both aesthetic and meaningful messages, and it encourages me to continue exploring themes like sustainability, social awareness, and historical inspiration in my work. Moving forward, I envision pushing boundaries even further by experimenting with new materials, techniques, and color palettes, while still grounding my designs in purpose and storytelling. This award has given me a boost of confidence to take creative risks and pursue projects that align with my vision of thoughtful, impactful textile design,