Maia Francis - BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice
I am a surface pattern designer whose work is rooted in storytelling, emotion, and materiality. Working across interiors, homewares, stationery, and printed textiles, I create designs that are deeply informed by personal memory, sensory experience, and a love of traditional craft. My practice often begins with drawing, painting, or hand embroidery, allowing for a tactile and intuitive connection to the subject matter. I use these methods to build imagery that feels warm, honest, and emotionally resonant.
Stitching is central to my process, not only as a visual element, but as a tool for reflection and healing. It allows me to translate feeling into form, particularly in response to themes of comfort, home, and loss. My use of textiles is both deliberate and expressive, drawing on the familiar textures and domestic settings that offer a sense of grounding and continuity. Through this, I aim to capture the quiet strength and beauty found in everyday materials and memories.
Much of my work is inspired by objects and places that carry emotional weight - furniture passed down through generations, worn fabrics, or the intimacy of handwritten notes. I often create collections that bridge the gap between fine art and functional design, combining repeat patterns with standalone illustrative compositions. Whether designed for a gallery wall or a printed cushion, I want my work to invite touch, contemplation, and connection.
Ultimately, my practice is about translating feeling into surface. I see pattern as a form of narrative - one that can hold space for the stories we carry, the homes we build, and the comfort we seek in the things around us.
