Interviewing a designer: Design by Numbers

Georgina Marmoy is the creative cat behind Design by Numbers: a bespoke t-shirt concept with an originating premise harnessed to events in the year. For her debut collection, Georgina relies on 2012’s rumoured end of the world motif and the science behind it all. HI! was equally eager to let Georgina wax lyrical about said science as we were to quiz her on the brand’s early days…

HI! Georgina, tell us all we need to know about Design by Numbers, where did the idea come from?
I’ve always wanted to run my own business. When I was younger I made my own t-shirts with iron-on paper (Ed: ah craft club memories) and I guess it developed from that. Design by Numbers is based on an annual collection whereby I research events and each year I base the collection around the one I choose. For example, this year, the collection is inspired by theories relating to the end of the world.

A childhood dream has materialised, credit where credit is due. How did you decide on the end of the world theme? Are you a closet science geek?
It came after hours of researching 2012, from the Olympics to the Queen’s Jubilee, but the end of the world seemed to pop out at me and gave me plenty of inspiration to start my first collection.

And there you have your original designer inspo, what happens now, how do you translate this inspo into actual designs?
I wanted something abstract so based on the theories I found, I tested out different techniques in order to get a similar effect. For example my Ice Age t-shirt is pictures of crystals which imitate ice cubes.

Ooh er… are you responsible for this whole process and how is a full blown collection realised?
I am. Everything you see within this business is designed by me, the graphics, the packaging, everything! The ball gets rolling by photographing and experimenting; I froze marbles in ice for one design. I then manipulate the images on Photoshop to get the perfect print. This design is then placed on a template which is sent to the printers… in America. The pockets in this collection came about by illustrating an aspect of a particular theory and were simply sown onto the finished, printed tees.

And voila! Do you have any plans to widen the range beyond unisex tees?
I do! Firstly, I’m looking to increase the number of t-shirts within the collection and you may see other clothing items launched, so watch this space.

We’re particularly big fans of the Solar Flare style, enlighten us on the theory behind this one?
It’s rumoured the sun will produce lethal eruptions of solar flares, turning up the heat on earth and unleashing storms strong enough to fry the planet… scary.

Yikes, that sounds crazy. What does 2012 hold for Georgina Marmoy… besides the end of the world (let’s hope otherwise)?
Hopefully the beginning of a successful business and not the end of the world. I’ll generally be beavering away with Design by Numbers, becoming a working grown-up and making a start on the designs for 2013.