Illustration

Georgia Perry x FIAT for The Design Files Open House 2014

WE MADE  A CAR!  Well, not from scratch, clearly… but nevertheless we’re pretty PUMPED about this very special collaboration with Fiat and Melbourne illustrator Georgia Perry, especially for The Design Files Open House 2014!  Please meet our friendly little Fiat 500, wrapped in a lush leafy pattern inspired by tropical foliage. We were thrilled to have the opportunity to shoot this story on location at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (so lucky!) as well as at Loose Leaf, our fave spot for all thing plant-y in Collingwood.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins

Our custom Fiat 500, designed by Melbourne illustrator / graphic artist Georgia Perry, especially for The Design Files Open House 2014!  Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, shot on location at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Melbourne illustrator / graphic artist Georgia Perry, photographed in the jungle at Loose Leaf, our fave spot for all thing plant-y in Collingwood. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

 

 

Our custom Fiat 500, designed by Melbourne illustrator Georgia Perry, especially for The Design Files Open House 2014!  Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins.  (This photo was NOT taken at the Royal Botanic Gardens, cars do not drive on the grass at the RBG!).

Georgia’s visual diaries, brimming with inspiration and reference material. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

Georgia’s cut-out leaf shapes which inspired her design for the car. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

Detail from Georgia’ studio. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

Melbourne illustrator / graphic artist Georgia Perry in her Fitzroy home studio. Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

Me (Lucy) just getting acquainted with our sweet Fiat 500 on the leafy streets of Fitzroy! Photo – Sean Fennessy.

New cut-out hand painted timber artworks by Georgia Perry, for The Design Files Open House 2014.  Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins.

Me (Lucy) with gorgeous Georgia Perry, photographed outside Loose Leaf with our leafy Fiat 500.  (My dress is from The Standard Store!) I Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, styling assistance – Nat Turnbull.

Our custom Fiat 500, designed by Georgia Perry, for The Design Files Open House 2014.  Photo – Sean Fennessy, production – Lucy Feagins, shot on location at the beautiful Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
17th of November 2014

Having a company car is one thing, but when you get to totally CUSTOMISE a car and make it look like no other car in the universe, well, that’s where it’s at, people.  Amazingly, we seem to have conjured up a reason to do this once a year, and this year we’re doing it with FIAT, one of our brand new Major Sponsors for The Design Files Open House 2014!

We invited ex-Sydney, now Melbourne based illustrator / graphic artist Georgia Perry to join us on this mission.  We LOVE Georgia’s vibrant and always smile-inducing  work, she is a truly versatile creative who has designed everything from album covers to children’s books to window installations and more! She is particularly fond of bold colour and playful ‘cut-out’ style shapes – do check out her brilliant body of work here!  For this collaboration we were a bit bossy and reigned in Georgia’s usual primary colour palette, instead opting for a slightly more limited palette of various greens, spiked with a little coral pink, mauve and blue for good measure. After much to-ing and fro-ing, the car went off to get wrapped by some expert vinyl wrapping people (video of this car-wrapping process below – it’s pretty impressive!).

We asked Georgia a few questions about her work, her recent move to Melbourne, and the inspiration behind this extra special collaboration!

HEY Georgia, tell us a little about yourself!

I am a graphic artist based in Melbourne. I currently run my own business from my home in Fitzroy, working on projects across the music, arts and publishing realms.  I love working across lots of different projects at once, doing anything from graphic design and branding, commercial illustration and a window installation in the space of a week.

To keep myself extra busy I’ve also just released a collection of printed paper goods (think uber colourful calendars and cards) as well as a small range of silk scarves printed with my designs.  I’ve definitely not had enough sleep in the past few months, but I love being busy!

You moved from Sydney to Melbourne this year (in the middle of winter, no less!).  How are you finding Melbourne?

My boyfriend got a job in Melbourne during winter, so against our friends’ advice we moved down from sunny Sydney in the dark depths of July!

Being a one-woman show and working from home meant that I could set up shop and do my work from anywhere, which was lucky. It took a while to adjust, but Melbourne really feels like a fun and special place to be!

Tell us a little bit about this collaboration you have done to customise our Fiat 500 for Open House  – what inspired the design?

I was stoked when Lucy asked me to be involved in this for TDF Open House. I’ve never created artwork for a car before, so there were a few new things to consider!

My work is very simple and bold, and so we decided to go for a summery jungle-esque theme.  It’s almost channelling a botanical Matisse vibe, crossed with giant-sized stickers!  I really enjoyed using a new colour palette, and I like the way the rhythm of the leaves changes across different sections of the car.

What are you looking forward to?

Experimenting with my artwork across lots of new products and most of all – seeing what summer in Melbourne looks like!

Look out for our friendly little Fiat 500 on the streets of Melbourne this week – chances are it’ll be me or Lisa behind the wheel!  

And of course, you’ll be able to see our sweet ride person at The Design Files Open House in Collingwood, Melbourne Dec 4th – 7th! 

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