Please join us in celebrating this month’s spotlight surface designer, Miriam Rowe. We know you’ll find her story inspiring!
Please introduce yourself.
I’m a metalsmith turned surface designer, born in the southern United States. I thrive on new experiences and continuous learning, which has led me to work as a jewelry designer, an art lecturer, then international marketing for universities in England and Australia. I’m now based in Barcelona, and my artwork is inspired by my travels (36 countries so far).
Tell us a little bit about your design journey.
I grew up creating; when I was 10 years old I started my first art business selling jewelry. I continued making jewelry through high school, then went on to study my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Jewelry Design and Metalworking. During this time, I studied in the USA, Italy, and England; my artwork improved through the inspiration of my surroundings — especially when I was exploring somewhere new. My jewelry designs often featured intricate carvings and detailed etchings on metal surfaces, so when I realized I could apply that aesthetic (in so many colors!) to fabric, wallpaper, and home goods, I couldn’t wait to get started, and I’ve been working in Surface Design ever since.
What streams of income are you focusing on right now?
My main focus is art licensing for fabric and wallpaper, though I also enjoy doing commissioned projects. I recently created a suite of graphics, frames, and packaging for a card game that is releasing early next year. The game is based on Ancient Greek and Roman stories so my recent trips to Athens, Rome, Pompeii, and Herculaneum came in handy!
I also send monthly free mockups to artists and have a mockup shop for those who need more specific images for their work, though this is less about income and more about helping my community share their artwork in visually pleasing ways while avoiding AI copybots.
What do you like to do besides designing?
Before moving into design full-time in 2020, I lived in Hong Kong and worked for a network of Australian universities. I traveled extensively for work and when I had time, I loved my experiences learning languages in-country: I studied Italian in Tuscany and spent 4 months studying Chinese in Taipei, Taiwan. Since moving to Barcelona in 2020 I have been building my Spanish fluency, and my next project is Catalán.
I also seek out wine tasting and cooking experiences when I travel, and love to re-create meals from other countries back at home to remind me of those adventures. Right now, I’m obsessed with Georgian food and wine, and have found a shop here in Spain that helps me source the ingredients!
Do you have a favorite portfolio design or client collaboration?
The designs closest to my heart are the ones based on my childhood, growing up in rural Georgia (USA). My Kudzu collection with PBS Fabrics and Gone Lakin’ collection with Raspberry Creek both have so much nostalgia for me, and it’s been amazing to see those in the hands of makers.
The client collaboration I’ve enjoyed most is working with OwlCrate, a literary subscription box. They gave me a book, a theme, and a product: while vampiric roses with drops of blood aren’t my normal subject matter, I loved creating this pattern in my style, which was used as a heart-shaped oven mitt in their February subscription box. They were a fantastic client to work with, and their fans were amazing: I got incredible, artistic photos from fans all over the world after doing this collaboration!
Where do you get inspiration for your art?
Travel! This can be international trips, but just as often I’m inspired by exploring somewhere new near me: a new museum, walking a new route to see what plants other people are growing in their gardens, going to an arts fair or theatre performance… I love taking inspiration from my surroundings, and the more I change those surroundings the more inspiration I find. I take a ton of photos and love to organize them by subject/location/theme in my own inspiration library.
When you look back at your design journey so far, what are you most proud of?
I’m proud of building my surface design business with balance. The first time I ran a creative business (in jewelry design as a studio silversmith) I had no boundaries: I worked every hour of every day, and looking back, it didn’t help my business at all. I have kept that in mind as I started in surface design, and I’ve always kept a few boundaries in place: I don’t answer emails over the weekends, I have separate emails for work and personal messages, and I keep notifications turned off for all of my social media accounts. (I started doing this for work and personal a few years ago, and it is so freeing!)
Who are your favorite artists?
Contemporary: Jennifer Zee (Ginkgozee on Instagram), Annie Stegg, Maarit Hanninen. Historically: Hilma af Klint, Alphonse Mucha, William Morris.
If you could offer advice to other designers who are struggling, what would that be?
Do something different. Even small changes to your routine can bring inspiration: take a different route to work; try a new recipe; explore local attractions like parks and museums. By changing your routine and taking a break from the problem you’re trying to solve, you’ll be able to come back to it with fresh eyes and new ideas.
Where can we find you?
Website: www.wanderingmoda.com
Instagram: @wanderingmoda
Cara: @wanderingmoda
