I've written before about Camilla Meijer's wonderful patterns and lamp shade designs (see Camilla Meijer's Colorful Lamp Shades).

Fresh from the recent International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, Camilla was kind enough to answer a few of our questions about her designs and work.

Q: You were born in Sweden and now work in England. But your designs seem very of the moment and international. Do you see them that way yourself?

Camilla: My work has never been purposefully fashionable or universal, I have always worked in a way that I feel comfortable and enjoy.

My patterns are a result of my love of drawing and my love of nature.

My whole life I have been soaking up forms from the world around me both in Sweden and London, and recording them with pen and paper.

Q: Your work begins with a hand drawing and is then composed digitally. How does this process impact the final look of the pattern?

Camilla: The digital part of the process is essential to bringing my patterns to print.

I treat my computer as a tool that allows me to create repetitive patterns, and add colour to my ink drawings, but does not interfere with the essence of my original art works.

Q: We love the beautiful, interesting color combinations in your work. What influences your color palette?

Camilla: The vibrancy of my colours often come from nature, but not exclusively so.

If I see a nicely eg. coloured handbag or a house or a car etc, I will carry these colours in my head until I can get home to test them in all shades and then with others.

I see the world around me as one big colour swatch for me to sample from!

Q: Your lamp shades use 100 percent recycled materials, which is  wonderful. Was being eco-friendly always part of your plan?

Camilla: Wherever possible I have always tried to be environmentally responsible with my work.

Its always a pleasure to collaborate with people who share this desire, and are willing to do that little extra to lessen their impact on the planet.

Lights Up have impressed me with their commitment to creating fabrics from recycled materials.

Q: What's next for you? Any plans for patterns based on non-organic  motifs?

Camilla:  My work is about capturing beauty. For me this is nature in all its shapes and forms, and I can’t imagine exhausting this pool of inspiration any time soon!

Thanks to Camilla for taking the time to respond to our questions! Take a look for yourself at the Camilla Meijer Red Anna Shade or the Camilla Meijer Green Anna Shade. Or browse all of our contemporary lamp shades.

Studio photos thanks to Camilla Meijer.