Graduate Spotlight: Textile Designer Lucy Martin
03 February 2025
Nature-loving textile design graduate Lucy Martin’s career has got off to an exciting start. Hot off the heels of her winning the Habitat Future Design award at New Designers in 2024, she has been working as an assistant designer at Habitat, learning the ropes within the print, pattern and trend team of the leading household furnishing brand.
From pinpointing trends, to guiding the design team’s collection direction, and creating new patterns for future seasons, many of Lucy’s designs will be hitting the shelves on new Habitat products in 2026.
We caught up with Lucy to chat about her time studying at Falmouth’s Fashion & Textiles Institute, her sources of inspiration, and her advice for aspiring textile designers.
When did you first become interested in design?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been interested in art, colour, drawing and textiles. My parents are both very creative, so I've been surrounded by creative influences which nurtured my love for translating experiences of nature into physical artworks. I spent most of my childhood outside or visiting museums, galleries and National Trust houses, and it was there that I became especially drawn to pattern. It wasn’t until my A-Levels that I realised there was an opportunity to turn my love of pattern into a career in textiles and surface design.
What made you decide to study Textile Design BA at Falmouth?
I had visited Cornwall and Falmouth extensively when I was growing up, and it was always my favourite place, but I didn't realise back then that there was university in Falmouth. I knew I wanted to study somewhere that I was going to feel inspired and that would allow me to focus on fashion and interiors. So, when my time to apply came along, and I discovered there was a textile design course at Falmouth, it went right to the top of my list, and I had my heart set on going there.
What was the highlight of your time studying at Falmouth?
It’s hard to pinpoint just one highlight, but my time studying at Falmouth was amazing. There was so much opportunity to explore my own capabilities within design, with the support of the amazing tutors and technicians who allowed me to learn and grow so much over the three years. I was so lucky to study in such a beautiful landscape that fuelled the inspiration for my projects, and I made some amazing friends along the way that made the experience even more special.
Can you tell us about ‘Garden of Memories’, your project that won the Habitat Future Design award at New Designers in 2024?
‘Garden of Memories’ is a joyful and eclectic interior textile collection for communal household spaces. The textiles investigate symbolism and the memories created from experiences with nature, exploring sustainable processes to create a nostalgic, homely feel. There is an emphasis on hand crafted textiles and the collection finds inspiration from a range of traditional and historical textiles, adding a colourful and contemporary flourish. The core of the project is situated around longevity and investigates lasting design, creating a collection that will be cherished and loved for years to come.
There was so much opportunity to explore my own capabilities within design, with the support of the amazing tutors and technicians who allowed me to learn and grow.
Your prize included a six-month work placement at Habitat, part of the Sainsbury’s family. How did you find that experience?
I am currently in month 5 of my 6-month placement and I am really enjoying my first experience of working within industry. There is a lot to learn when joining a large company like Sainsbury’s, but it has been really interesting to see the inner workings of a design team. I have learnt a lot about the different connections within a business, and how designers work alongside buyers and merchandisers to create final products.
What advice would you give to aspiring textile designers?
My advice to aspiring textile designers would be to make the most of your time at university; you are surrounded by so many amazing facilities and staff who have a wealth of knowledge that you can learn from. University is a really good chance to experiment with your own style and be explorative, so take all opportunities you can to be creative!
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