Studio Lilesadi Rotterdam Surface Pattern Designs by Twin Sisters

Hello dear readers,

I met Dinah about 5 years ago. She had just finished studying textile design in Florence, Italy and wanted to come to Vienna to work with me.

After staying in Vienna for about 18 months she decided to go to Rotterdam where her twin sister was living. After looking for a job as a designer, and working in several fields around town, she decided to open her own studio with her sister.

This is where the story of Studio Lilesadi begins. I interviewed Dinah for this blog to see what her focus is, to share her story with you, dear readers, and to see where she is heading in the future.

1. Please give a „behind-the-scenes“ idea of how and where you work.

We work in our studio in the old north of Rotterdam. It is a refunctionalized kindergarden, where a few designers have a studio in. It is a large, airy space which has a inspiring feeling. We even have a patio, where we can have lunch together as soon as the sun comes out.

Mostly we decide first the theme and then I start with collecting images and ideas creating a moodboard. As soon as the idea got stronger in my head, I start sketching and drawing by hand and then I scan them in and rework them in Illustrator and Photoshop.

Then Sarah gives her feedback, and sometimes we finalize the image together.

Sarah is occupied with creating new business contacts, finding new retailers and producers. She answeres press inquiries for example and writes the blog. Starting next week we will have a intern which will work one day a week on projects. We are really excited about it.

When an big order comes in, we meet in the studio and pack everything together.

Since Luca has been born we have to organize better to keep everything running smoothly. But he is such a cutie and very easy and relaxed little boy and for our kids collection he is already booked as the model.

2. Talk about your design background, your education and how you started to do what you are doing now.
I grew up in Bonn which is a small town without a big creative scene. My first touch with the design world was when I made au pair in London after my A levels. I saw some stunning works of textile design students at an exhibition and knew ‘that is it!’
I have studied then textile design in Florence , Italy. These were very inspiring years where I learned weaving, screen printing and translating ideas into patterns and designs.

During my studies I did a internship at a fashion label in Hamburg where I had at first insight about how the organisation of a fashion label works. Sarah studied international tourism in Italy and completed her master degree in Marketing in Rotterdam.

3. What inspires you?
I am very inspired by Structures from nature , photography like macro views on flowers , ice bergs, space, rocks , which brings out the beauty of it in detail.
Architecture, blogs like patternity, illustration, design magazines.

4. What is it like to work and live in Rotterdam? Are your clients more international or local? How do you find your clients or how do they find you? Is the internet playing a large part in this?

Working and living in Rotterdam is very inspiring and challenging. There is a big creative scene to create a network and to find cheap work spaces. There is a lot going on, e.g. festivals as Motel Mozaik, Rotterdam Film Festival, Worm, etc.

The platform www.weownrotterdam.com shows every week the coolest things to do. Rotterdam is love at second sight, there are still a lot of areas with old beautiful houses and neighbourhoods and as well there is modern architecture.

I will move to a new flat this weekend which is directly at the harbour. I can’t wait to decorate the space!

Via Etsy we created a good network as well as working with other Dutch designers.

5. What big dreams do you have as a studio – go for it, the sky’s the limit!

We would like to create more exclusive products for fashion and interiors. More collaborations with other labels and create pattern designs for shoes, lamps, ceramics,…

Have a great day!

Image credits: Studio Lilesadi.