Bridget Thompson
Q What do you do?
“I am a freelance textile designer and artist :) ”
I currently have clients in fashion and interior design - I offer mostly service-based digital and textile design but I also sell my digital artwork and patterns to fashion brands. I love create new prints by painting, drawing, and scanning my work digitally. I also create naturally-dyed textile artworks.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
Oh boy, what a journey. Growing up I traveled internationally a lot, especially having a parent who worked in the commercial airline industry, so I was heavily influenced by the art and design I saw in other countries. One of the most amazing things I saw was beautiful fabrics. After working in fashion for a year after I graduated from a liberal arts college, I went to the Savannah College of Art & Design for a Masters in Fibers - a.k.a. textile design. While there I learned about machine knitting, weaving, natural dye - but mostly specialized in digital design and digital printing.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I stand out by utilizing digital technology to create and expand my art practice. I have a unique perspective when it comes to color palettes - I am greatly inspired by bold and bright colors, a futuristic-bohemian aesthetic, and tropical mid-century modern design.
Q What are you working on right now?
A fabric collaboration with Montana-based fabric printing company Western Sensibility! This collection includes tablecloths, pillows, and designs for fabric yardage. I am so excited because Western Sensibility specializes in performance fabric (used for upholstery) and has the best qualities.
Q What’s your style?
My style is like a little vacation. I was born and raised in California in a nature-forward environment so I love creating patterns that include flowers and botanical elements. I also suffer from wanderlust so I like to create patterns that incorporate vivid, saturated colors coupled with muted, natural tones, and which evoke something that takes you away from your day-to-day surroundings.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
While I absolutely love working in fashion, I have become more and more interested in interior design. My dream jobs include creating prints and fabrics for experiential hospitality businesses like spas, hotels, bars and restaurants. As a double Leo (moon and sun in Leo for all my astrology nerds), hospitality is in my blood and I love creating warm environments.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I need to create more products and merch to sell in my online store :/
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I would have them help me track progress on & organize the various projects I am working on at a given time, lolol who likes doing this ??
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
Re: following a creative path - you are meant to do this, follow your heart <3
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would like to talk to an expert about how to better leverage the current skills and offerings I have, and expand on all the art & work I have already done.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking for freelance print and pattern, and textile design opportunities.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal collaboration would be with IKEA...honestly. I would love to create an iconic, accessible home collection with them for fabric-based products from rugs, to bedding, to room dividers and furniture.
Q What is your rate?
My hourly rate is $49-90 depending on the project, and typically I sell my digital designs for $500. For digital design packages like logo design and digital assets, I offer packages from $300-500, and my large-scale, framed textile artwork ranges from $500-1500 depending on size.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Feel free to email me, DM me, or get in touch through my website submission form. bridget@bridgetbstudio.com
Q Who is a creative you admire?
My bestie Ariana Hoch - talented abstract painter, drawer, and world traveler. @fikkachica
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
Aboslutely boring...but I say creative by creating a LOT of time for rest and free-time in my schedule to let my grandma mind wander.
This member profile was originally published in June 2023