If you haven’t come across the work of Kitiya Palaskas, multi-disciplinary Craft-based Designer and Founder of Kitiya Palaskas Studio then you’re missing out!

Kit specialises in prop and installation design, content creation, public art, illustration and creative workshop facilitation, celebrating traditional handmade techniques reimagined in contemporary ways. She’s an author and Adobe Creative Cloud Express Ambassador to-boot. Kit has worked with some rad global brands so we were pretty chuffed she said yes to working with us!

We were first drawn to Kit’s work because it’s incredibly fun, colourful and whimsical. So who better than Kit to bring the gorgeous illustrations of Brook Gossen to life?

We sat down with her recently to get an insight into her creative process, inspo for bringing the Bambi Mini Co. inaugural range design to life and why she chooses to work with sustainable materials.

 What was your inspiration for the paper creations?

I took inspiration directly from the amazing illustrations and prints on the garments themselves. Brook Gossen did such an Incredible job with the motifs! I put my own spin on each prop design but the core inspo came from the prints themselves.

Can you share some more of your creative process? How do you start a project like this?

We first started off by gathering references and inspiration, both for the imagery and for the prop construction techniques. I spoke in detail with Nicky about what the props needed to be used for, as that dictates what techniques we choose to use. We decided on a mix of plush and cardboard props, two of my favourite prop making techniques! After this research phase I produced digital sketches and planned out all our materials and techniques ahead of time. Then I got to work! 

What materials did you use and why?

For this prop collection I used a combination of felt and cardboard props. Both of these materials can produce a very playful result, and since it was a kids shoot I wanted them to feel almost like the kids made them themsleves. We are very conscious of sustainability when it comes to our work here at the studio, so we try to use materials that can either be recycled after their use, or have enough durability to be used again and again.

What were your first thoughts about the brand when Nicky approached you?

I was super excited when Nicky approached us! We love working with new brands on their launches, it's an honour to create fun things to help make their launch special. I loved the concept behind Bambi Mini and felt like our aesthetics and vibe aligned so well, so it was a natural fit!

Three fun facts about you/your brand – GO!

1. Prior to starting my business 1 years ago I had my own fashion and accessories label called Heartbreaker.

2. My first professional job was designing kids costumes for a Wolfmother film clip. I didn't have any idea back then where it would take me but that job helped to launch my career!

3. I have 2 flat-faced cats called Tina and Gus. They sometimes come to my studio with me, and Tina features in a lot of my DIY projects

Thank you again Kit for the most adorable creations – we love them and will treasure them for many moons to come!

About Kitiya Palaskas Studio
Founded in 2010, Kitiya Palaskas Studio offers a unique approach to commercial design, bringing craft based techniques to the forefront of everything they do. They celebrate handmade culture in all its forms, creating colourful and joyful props, installations, illustrations and content for brands all over the world. Their mission is to bridge the gap between craft and design by offering tactile, bespoke solutions to creative projects across the advertising, retail, fashion, entertainment and events industries. Find out more over at their home www.kitiyapalaskas.com