Behind the scenes: Meet Gloria Urech, designer of our new floral pattern!

Floral Pattern - Header

Here at Po Campo we love collaborating, especially with other design focused women! We had the pleasure of working with Gloria Urech to design our new Petals floral pattern. Gloria is one of Spain’s most colorful bespoke print designers and the head behind Gukuuki, a highly creative UK-based surface design studio. We recently interviewed Gloria and learned how she became a surface designer, her design inspiration, and how she balances work with being a new mother. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us Gloria!

Floral Pattern - Gloria Urech Source: Gloria Urech

Po Campo/Robin: You’re a Spanish designer currently heading a surface design studio in the UK. How do the different cultures of these two countries influence your work?

Gloria: Spanish people are passionate people and so I am in my work. Living in the UK has broaden my mind and view in the artistic field with techniques, blogs inspirations and surface designers´ works. I am always willing to learn trying new techniques and methodologies. My work is an expression of  this assembly.

PC: Congratulations on the birth of your daughter last fall! I know you’re proud to be a working mother. Can you tell us how you balance designing with spending time with your child?

G: Thank you. This is the biggest challenge of my life. At the beginning, was harder however as a creative person I need to keep “alive” that part of me, so I design at nights and when my daughter sleeps. When she is awake, I am a mother; when she sleeps, I am a designer.

Floral Pattern - Sketches 

Daily drawings from Gloria’s Black and White Sketch Project. See more on her Facebook page! Source: Gloria Urech

PC: You’ve recently been posting daily drawings as part of the Black and White Sketch Project. How has this affected your design process?

G: It helps me to think in what I would like to draw and which technique to use. And the most important, it aims the use of non-digital tools to expand my creativity at its own richness.

PC: What’s your favorite thing you created as a child?

G: I used to draw a lot of portraits. Everyone I met, they were portrayed.

PC: What is exciting to you in design right now?

G: To see how flowers decay, the change of colors and textures. It is a very interesting unfolding.

Floral Pattern - Inspiration 

Source: Gloria Urech

PC: Other than the computer, what is your most important tool?

G: Ink, watercolors and paper. However, I also love photography too. My camera is a good companion. It has been with me always and as my grandfather was a photojournalist, I learnt from him and later in the art school.

PC: How did your career begin? How has it evolved?

G: I constantly like to learn new things. My background is in Branding & Graphic Design. Although life took me to opportunities to study a master in Fashion Photography, which lead me to work for the English brand Pepe Jeans London in, where I become a Senior Print Designer over the years and therefore, learn how to create patterns for Fashion textiles. After leaving Pepe Jeans, I become a freelancer, in continuous search for new techniques and ways to improve my methods. So Gukuuki Studio was born offering services of Surface design for licenses and collaborations, as well as branding and graphic design services for clients and companies.

PC: What do you do to bust out of a creative rut?

G: A walk in the park with my family, design books and blogs, traveling, to meditate, a talk with another creative person, a brainstorming session and the Black and White sketch project which keeps my creativity in a constant flow.

PC: What’s your favorite part of your daily routine?

G: My morning coffee, to play with my daughter and the time when I sit in my desk, to listen my favorite music and draw.

Floral Pattern - Studio Workspace 

Gloria’s workspace. Source: Gloria Urech

PC: Describe your workspace.

G: At the moment, it is place in the living room which is a very bright room, surrounded with my orchids, design books, colors pencils, a water fountain, some photos about places and it is also the playground of my daughter, so we share it.

Our “workspace” is our bright creative corner and I feel fortunate to have it.

 

Gloria and I talk a bit more about how she designed our Petals pattern here, along with a peek at our inspiration images and some of Gloria’s sketches! You can follow Gloria on Facebook or Twitter to see more of her work, including her other floral patterns.

Enjoyed this interview? We’re looking for suggestions of other creative women to interview on our blog. Post your ideas in the comments!


1 comment


  • Faiza

    Hello, I used to be “luckyzen”, your friend on VT.
    So glad that I found you. Your work is amazing!


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