In a few weeks, we'll be voting on next years themes. Cathy and I would love to hear how you've liked this year's abstract themes, have they worked for you, do you need more structure?

Any ideas for next year's themes?

I love more abstract themes personally and am very impressed with some of the work I'm seeing from the people who have been inspired by "shape and ornamentation" this year. I hope lots of people enter their work as I think the topic has been very broad and there will be a a lot of great creativity on show

My personal feeling is that they've also worked really well, and have given flight to a lot of creative dreams. I can't wait until February to see what people have created, the few bits I have seen already are mind blowing!

Ideas that I've been tossing around for themes are:
Materials
Texture
Sparkle/ Glitter / Shiny
Geometry (like this)

I find the abstract themes a little befuddling, simply because there is total freedom and no structure. I think experienced designers may find it easier to focus their idea's that may be daunting for a beginner who will not know where to start... or simply have so many idea's they have nowhere to start.

It's a bit like getting a client who gives you no idea's but wants you to come up with the perfect dress.


Can we not have a choice between one more structured goal set and one abstract? Indeed, not all minds think alike...

I found this year's themes a bit irritating. Ornamentation is fine and I think we will get some really interesting entries out of it, but shape is one of the six elements of design, ditto material and color, which I think were two of the other options. Everything has some shape, texture, color, material. The question is how they're used to enhance the design. From the Pintrest board it seemed to be meant as extreme shape, but it doesn't actually say that. The vagueness of the prompt bothers me. I like specifics.


I really like that geometry prompt, and texture could be really interesting.

I've loved the themes this year, but I can see how for some they may be frustrating. I think that a theme like "1877" although brilliant for some, leaves less scope for interpretation for those who do not make historical replicas. We all work differently, but perhaps two different themes would be an idea? One structured and one less structured?
I enjoyed the themes this year a lot. I've always focused the shape of my corsets in terms of large hipspring, small waist, and this gave me a chance to explore other silhouettes, as well as different top and bottom edges
It all depends how you work I suppose - no matter how this is run, someone will be unhappy with it.