My Story
Hi, I'm Zoe McCarthy, the face behind the Zoe Barker Design studio.
You may have followed my journey on social media, in which case you'll be aware of my love of the artisan approach to design. (Please do pop along and follow my Instagram feed for regular insights to studio life and recent projects!). I thought it would be lovely to post some regular blogs, written by myself giving you a glimpse into my world so you know who is drawing for you!
My first post may be a-kin to a story-book because I want to start from the beginning, but I feel that’s ok as I do love a story.
Warning: I type as I would talk and sometimes this means tangents – lots of. So, you may feel like you should be in conversation with me at times. Feel free to join my conversation in the comments (or in your head) or just take my musings for their creative value and imagine me sitting on my sofa and talking to myself. My Dad would just love this comment – he despairs of my ability to wander into my creative brain at any given opportunity, I look up and see his eyes wide waiting for me to shut up and come back to the conversation. I love my Dad, he is my inspiration, my hero and also, I am shiz-scared of not doing him proud! (tangent no.1)
Anyway, I digress. This is a short story, but a significant one.
When I was re-positioning my brand, I did a lot of soul searching, confronting my fears, my passions and my reasons for being here and doing what I do. So, I went back to the beginning and here is what I re-discovered out about myself…
My love of clothes, colour and style started at 18 months old (according to my Mum because I can’t remember). I had an older sister, Liz and a younger, Laura. Liz was your picture book tot, dressed beautifully in non-gender-specific outfits and compliant to Mum’s wardrobe offerings. Laura was the tom-boy tot, dressing herself in a multitude of colours, always one sock falling off. We were totally different. At 18 months my Mum could leave me to dress myself and when I surfaced, I’d having matching everything down to my socks and knickers. I remember family outings to the local woodlands; sisters in shell suits (this was the late 80’s) and there I’d be in a monochrome nautical skirt with a tulle and white blouse with a flouncy collar (unfortunately we have video footage of this too).
My love of weddings started at primary school. Not because as a 7-year-old I wanted to have a fairy-tale wedding or the romantic love story. No, it was because I just loved the idea of making wedding dresses. What was more exciting for a 7-year-old girl interested in dresses than a wedding gown?! I also remember, at 7 years old, choosing some glasses from the opticians. No brown NHS frames for me, no I wanted those green plastic ones with the pink roses all over the frame. They had a Dame Edna shape to boot. Oh. My. Word. I couldn't sleep the eve of collection, so excited to make my fashion statement at school the following day.
And then came the Tomy™ Fashion Plates. THE BEST GIFT EVER! And I embarked on my journey. (I followed my design dream and in 2015 I designed my first wedding dress for a beautiful bride. But this was no ordinary bride, this bride wanted a nod towards the stunning ball gown on display in the V&A Museum, London. This ball gown happened to be bright yellow with a floral print! So, I made it happen!)
Having been to art college I decided that the coolest and most accessible way to earn a living at 18 years old would be to start a career as a Graphic Designer. I spent a few years developing my digital design skills, using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign to design logos, brochures and corporate communications for a lovely design studio. And then I realised I had to follow my dream and I returned to Art College at 21 to complete a Foundation Degree, which led me to attaining a BA (Hons) in Textile Design from the prestigious Chelsea College of Art & Design London. I did all this whilst still working part time at the design studio. And when I needed extra pennies, I even cleaned offices to pay for books and materials. I worked bloody hard and it paid off.
I loved my degree and was lucky enough to be the first alumni of Digital Textile Designers and featured in magazines, books and more. I continued to work as a freelancer for the design studio whilst setting up my own business. I set up my studio straight away in my parent's barn conversion and I got stuck into designing and selling ranges that featured my hand drawn designs and commissions for lovely clients too. This was also bloody hard work and still I felt I needed more training. And so, I returned to university to complete an MA in Fashion Design at Winchester College of Art. Again, bloody hard work.
I continued to make my own ranges and exhibit at London and Hampshire design fairs and I took commissions of textile designs, interior projects and fashion accessories from lovers of my work too.
And then as my life and family evolved so did my business and I finally found the reason to specialise purely in wedding design as my friends and family commissioned me to create works of art for them and their wedding stationery. This worked perfectly around my two pregnancies and maternity leave I am proud to say my business remained fruitful enough throughout and my clients uber supportive and pleased for me. This is when the true switch happened, I wanted to work with people. People in love.
Which brings me to the here and now - Your Wedding Story.
Telling your story through bespoke illustrations and paintings printed on to high quality wedding invitations and items to decorate your venue such as table plans, place cards, menus and lots more. From save the dates through to carriages at midnight and thank you cards. I make that happen seamlessly.
Zoe Barker Design studio creates:
Unique Wedding Stationery for Stylish Couples in London, Hampshire and Beyond.
High-end wedding stationery and luxury on the day venue decoration for luxe weddings.
Unusual and unique designs hand drawn for couples.
If you have read this far, well done, I have taken you through the personal journey (the short version - if you’d believe that!). And now I can take you on your wedding journey, be it grandeur in style, relaxed and atmospheric, understated and nostalgic, classic, traditional or quirky. Whatever your theme I can create your story for you.
Please get in touch if you’d like to chat more. The options are limitless but I’m here to help you to narrow your choices down and fine-tune your wedding theme from the off.
I can’t wait to begin your journey with you,
All the love,
Zoe
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