BARRY GRAY

Overview Statement

Working for the last fifteen years in the Home Furnishing and Fashion industry has cultivated a discipline surrounding the creative process. A designer has to have an awareness of the cultural Zeitgeist to be effective, also has to adhere to industry standards and work within a strict timeline, because you are always working six months to a year ahead of yourself. That is how long it generally takes to conceive, develop, produce and ship for retail.

The sourcing / developing process has influenced the philosophical perception surrounding how and what I do creatively. As a designer I would be required to work with overseas factories mostly in Asia, but sometimes India, Pakistan, Turkey and South America. Design packages would be shipped to the factories and via e-mail correspondence production would start beginning with achieving a correct prototype and finally the bulk production and shipping overseas to the U.S.

This experience has closely aligned me with people working in other countries, cultures and their customs. You get to know them quite well, their birthdays, daily events, etc. Globalization and the internet have revolutionized my art and life.

Barry Gray 2005