The creative minds behind UK-made design: In conversation with Melanie Holland and Amy Pears

Our in-house design team is a cornerstone of Johnson Tiles' success. Their years of experience, passion and collaborations with trusted global partners enable us to create and source products that meet the highest environmental and social standards while reflecting ever-changing tile design trends.

We sat down with Design Manager, Melanie Holland and Senior Designer, Amy Pears, to discover how the design process is evolving following the company buyout and restructure, where they find their inspiration, and what we can expect to see over the next year.

Welcome, Mel and Amy. Tell us about your background as a designer, and your main responsibilities at Johnson Tiles.

MEL: Even as a child, I always loved drawing and experimenting with colours and textures, which led me to study Surface Pattern at Staffordshire University and later, pursue a Master’s in Ceramics. I then started my career with a placement at Wedgwood and some freelance work before joining the Johnson Tiles team nearly 22 years ago now.

Since 2018, I’ve had the pleasure of leading the design team, taking responsibility for the entire design process from initial concept to production, ensuring that each design meets market demands. With a keen eye for detail, I integrate customer preferences, design trends, and cutting-edge advancements in techniques and technologies to help produce distinctive and exclusive tile designs.

AMY: My journey into ceramics began similar to Mel’s, which is why we work so well together. I've had a passion for interiors and a keen eye for detail from a young age when I spent hours creating bedroom designs. This led me to art college and a degree in Surface Pattern Design at Staffs Uni, which is where I discovered my love for tile design. My final project was to create a tile collection, and I was instantly drawn to the material because it was so different from working with fabrics and paper. I loved the various effects and finishes that could be achieved with tiles. So when the opportunity at Johnson Tiles arose, I knew it was the place for me. I was so inspired by that project that I continue to work with the Surface Pattern Design students at the University, setting an annual industry design brief and working with them to grow and develop.

Now in my role as Senior Designer, I enjoy developing innovative tile ranges, experimenting with patterns, colours and textures. My days involve everything from trend and colour analysis to visiting trade shows and events, which power trend brochures and product presentations. I also support the marketing team, creating CGI schemes, styling arrangements and flat lays that reflect these trends.

Earlier this year, the UK management team completed a buyout moving the company to an entirely outsourced business model. Mel, can you talk us through how this will change the design team's role and what customers can expect moving forwards?

MEL: It’s an exciting time for the business - we have ambitious growth plans that will leverage our insatiable passion and experience for tiles designed in the UK, for a UK market.

The main difference is that we now work even closer with our suppliers and will be making regular, in-person visits to see their processes with our own eyes, which is essential to maintaining our design vision. Plus, now that our production and manufacturing colleagues are remote, we’re maintaining regular communication digitally to ensure the team stays close-knit across the globe.

Importantly, customers will continue to receive a high level of design service support, and we will work with concept boards and Pantone references as we did previously to create our own design artwork. But we're also eager to introduce some new ideas as we now have exciting opportunities to work with various tile formats and unrestricted techniques - the sky’s the limit!

How do you typically work with clients from the design stage through to the final product?

AMY: We typically arrange a client meeting - ideally face-to-face - and begin with designers and buyers exchanging ideas and concepts. Mel and I then go away to develop a concept that meets their needs while aligning with their market and customer base. Alternatively, we might present a range of designs, collect feedback from the buyer or customer, and refine the range based on their input. The most important thing is that we will continue to work with our customers just as closely throughout the entire design process to ensure their expectations are always met.

MEL: We also love collaborating on bespoke projects with our sales team, interior designers, and product buyers to create products tailored to their specific requirements and market needs. We find it is really important to stay close to our sales colleagues, who are getting regular insights and requests for specific tiles or designs from the market. This two-way communication helps us to quickly identify product gaps and new sales opportunities, which we translate into product briefs and eventually marketable products.

Where do you go to find inspiration for the UK market? Are there any other designers who inspire your work? 

MEL: Inspiration can be found anywhere and everywhere if your mind is open to it. I supplement my own reading and interests by primarily attending major tile and interior exhibitions to identify trends, emerging technologies, and design innovations. Our design team also conducts market research to stay commercially aware and updated on industry tile trends, consumer preferences, and competitor products, leveraging these insights to create new, visually captivating, and attention-grabbing designs.

AMY added: I’ve found that social media is another brilliant way to source design inspiration, especially as it’s so influential now in interior design. However, it’s crucial to create products that resonate with our customer base by tapping into evolving interior trends and keeping up with other designers - Kelly Hoppen has become a particular inspiration at the moment - as well as other commercial and residential projects that are making an impact. Travel also significantly influences my designs. Whether it's a business trip to a trade show or a personal holiday, I enjoy observing the different textures on floors and walls and the colour groupings in architectural designs.

Could you share some of your current favourite designs that Johnson Tiles has recently brought to market or is in the process of finalising?

MEL: My current favourite tile is Arizona - a range that’s both luxurious and sophisticated. It uses innovative inkjet technology to print a matt design onto a glossy glaze, creating a polished effect that replicates the translucence of real onyx. It is visually stunning - perfect finish for restaurants, hotel bathrooms and even residential properties.

AMY: It’s hard to pick just one, but I am really taken with our Dakota range at the moment. I worked closely with one of our customers' in-house designers to create this collection, focusing on earthy warming tones that reflect key colours spotted earlier this year at Milan Design Week. I also love the elevated surface, which features a subtle gloss shimmer on the vein detail, adding interest, depth, and tactility to the surface.

Can you give us any clues about any new projects in the pipeline?

MEL: We have a number of interesting projects underway at the moment which will come to market in September and November so be sure to sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about them. One of our core values is designing and creating tiles specifically for the UK market, rather than simply taking products off-the-shelf - which of course there is a time and a place for.

I am also working on a new handcrafted wavy edge design, which would be a first for Johnson Tiles. With our new suppliers, I have had the opportunity to experiment with dry powder granilla to see how it reacts with the inkjet print and gloss to create a new effect. I won’t give too much away yet - but I am really excited to unveil the finished look!

As a team we have been working on the launch of our new Wakefield Outlet, which has been incredibly exciting. Here, visitors can explore old favourites at discounted prices, including stunning collections like Melrose and our nature-inspired Haven, a beautiful range of stone-effect tiles that replicate genuine crosscut stone.

AMY: Later in the year we will unveil a new collection - Spectrum! This UK-designed collection features a new size format for our portfolio in a stunning glaze finish - definitely one to look out for. I’m excited to see how these designs will be utilised in both commercial and residential projects.