Designtex’s New Digital Studio Platform Allows for Easy Customization + Fast Turnaround

Beauty, utility, and sustainability are the three qualities Portland, Maine-based Designtex hold close. For more than 60 years, the brand has been designing and manufacturing applied materials for the built environment using what they refer to as “material intelligence.” By definition it’s Designtex’s knowledge of how materials are best applied in different settings and environments combined with their commitment to research, and belief in the power of improvement as a means for systemic change. And now, with the release of the Digital Studio tool, the brand has launched a one-of-a-kind digital design platform that enables designers and architects to create and customize a solution for any environment in a matter of minutes with a fast turnaround time.

Simple, intuitive, and waste-free, the Digital Studio encourages experimentation with color, scale, materials, and imagination. With an ever-growing collection of curated patterns, including designs by artists local to Portland, you can quickly and easily create custom textiles and wallcoverings – and receive samples within a week. Everything specified within the Digital Studio is produced at Designtex’s digital printing facility, which is primarily staffed by working artists. There they’re able to produce at an elevated level of detail and craftsmanship, just as they would their own work. The pride they have in the final product is evident.

“There is a joy to being hands-on with the making of materials,” said Karen Gelardi, principal designer and collaborations liaison, Designtex. “We have that here at the print facility and hope that designers will feel a direct connection to the production process through the Digital Studio tool, like this is their factory and we are facilitators.”

So, how do designers benefit from Designtex’s Digital Studio? To quickly and easily create custom textiles and wallcoverings for projects, choose a pattern. You can then tinker with the color palette until satisfied before utilizing the 3D visualizer to see your personalized design applied to different products and in different scales. Easily make any adjustments until it’s to your liking, or choose to save your work to revisit later. Once you’re ready, a single click places an order for a free sample – or several – that will arrive within a week. After that, a full order for a project can be received in only two weeks time.

Designtex’s substrate offering includes two durable wallcoverings, three multi-use fabrics for upholstery or panel, and a high-performance upholstery with a silicone stain repellant and fluid barrier. Staying true to their commitment to sustainability, there is also a circular, multi-use textile and a vinyl-free wallcovering. All substrates are SCS Indoor Advantage Certified and have HPDs. The wallcovering inks are Greenguard Certified, the textile inks are OEKO-TEX Certified, and Designtex offsets carbon emissions from their Portland factory. Products and samples are produced on demand, so there’s no waste in the production process.

Champ by Elizabeth Atterbury

Last month, I had the chance to experience Digital Studio at Designtex’s Portland facility for myself, and can vouch for not only the platform’s ease of use and quality output, but the level of thought and time that went into perfecting it all. The technology, selected designs, and user experience have all been pared down to an artful, mindful level that can be appreciated by all who interact with Digital Studio. Choosing a pattern, customizing the color palette, deciding on the scale, and finally choosing a substrate took me less than ten minutes – though you can easily spend more time experimenting with all of the options available. The big takeaway: it’s not an overwhelming experience, but rather a simple one that includes your personal touch and delivers.

“The ability to offer just-in-time production options to our clients is so exciting. Designers and architects are juggling evolving client needs and, as always, tight timelines,” said Oriana Reich, VP of Marketing, Designtex. “With the launch of our Digital Studio, we’re equipping them with a tool that reduces their time to customize and produce materials, and we’re helping everyone within the design ecosystem maximize creativity and efficiency.”

Budding by Christopher David Ryan

Champ by Elizabeth Atterbury

Collective by Jenny McGee Dougherty

Drypoint by Anna Heplr

Double Stripes

Ground Cover by Karen Gelardi

Fleur de Tachee by Rachel Adams

Studio Oxford

Studio Scene

Photo: Kelly Beall

To learn more about Designtex’s new Digital Studio, visit designtex.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.

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