FAULT FEATURED: Alexander Romaniewicz
By Tommy D Bridge
Alexander Romaniewicz, the self-professed ‘Yorkshire Boy’ from Huddersfield, has made his first small steps towards recognition after winning the Stylesight.com Print Design Competition.
Romaniewicz, a Digital Design for Fashion student enrolled at Preston University, created the winning designs – which ooze intelligence and ingenuity in their use of images and colours to create an overall pleasing aesthetic. The depth and detail of the designs, invite merit as independent works of art and credit must be awarded where it is due to Romaniewicz for conceptualising these prints.
With graphic prints featuring heavily in many collections from Alexander McQueen to Balenciaga, there seems to be an insatiable appetite for creative and innovative print designers, and Romaniewicz’s work aptly encapsulates this imaginative medium.
FAULT: How did you feel when you found out that you’d won the competition?
I was very excited when I found out I won, my tutor actually messaged me on Facebook about it; social networking at its best don’t you think? My family were over the moon about it because they understand how difficult it is to be acknowledged for your work in the fashion field, so getting 1st place just made the feeling that much sweeter.
FAULT: What was your inspiration behind the designs?
We were given a brief by Stylesight.com to create digital prints based on different fashion trends for next season. We had to create around 8 prints per trend using colour pallets and photographic inspiration. There was a multitude of concepts and ideas, so it really tested your adaptability as a designer.
FAULT: What was the creative process behind the designs?
My process on making these prints is a combination of obscure researching into every little detail about the trend, manipulating that research and producing it on either Photoshop or Illustrator. It’s all about recreating an image, still keeping to the trend but seeing it in a completely different way.
FAULT: Do you know how the competition was judged?
I’m not sure, but I’m just assuming they looked at every entry and just decided on what prints were stronger and what catered to their business.
FAULT: Were there many other submissions?
I hope so! It was an international print design competition, so obviously I’d want some form of competitors to compete against.
FAULT: What are you learning at University?
I’m in UCLAN Preston University studying Digital Design For Fashion. It’s what I’ve wanted to do and worked towards for a very long time (ever since I laid my hands on Photoshop V6 at the age of 12) and this is the only University in the country that catered to what I needed.
FAULT: What are your plans for the future?
A lot of things; I feel that I need to progress further in my work and become the best in every aspect of what I do and really make a name for myself in this industry. But for now I like writing, inventing, creating and researching.
FAULT: How do you plan on spending the prize?
The prize money is being saved for travel expenses next summer, as I’m working towards an internship overseas in either New York or Canada, maybe even somewhere in Europe.
FAULT: Which current fashion designers inspire you?
I need to cut down my list on this question; McQueen,Katie Arie, Prada, Dries Van Noten, Givenchy and Paul Smith, throw some Rick Owens into the mix as well.
FAULT: What music do you listen to when working?
It really depends on what I’m working on, if I’m doing anything to do with editing or design I listen to historical folk instrumental music, looking for inspiration I listen to heavy rock music, fashion research or shows, the dance music comes on. I would say my music taste is very multifaceted when I’m working.
FAULT: What’s your FAULT?
I need to stop fantasizing about becoming a pterodactyl astronaut when I’m working, we can dream can’t we?
