Now she and one other staff member spend their working weeks creating hand-printed wallpapers, pillowcases, cushions, prints, scarves and bags that are sold at heavy-hitting design retailers such as Simon James , Backhouse and Corporate Culture . By the end of the year, Emma Hayes will introduce its third collection of moody, sumptuous, hand-drawn prints to the world – growing the export side of the business is near the top of Hayes’ to-do list these days – from a Quay Street studio space in Britomart complete with ocean views and office-mates that work in industrial design and other creative pursuits. Urbis caught up with Hayes there and asked about her burgeoning small business.
Urbis: How did you start in graphic design?