DESIGNING IN A DIGITAL WORLD - HOW CorelDRAW SIMPLIFIES THE CREATIVE DESIGNERS WORKFLOW
“By exploring new technologies and applications we can disrupt the Status Quo – and make the necessary change to adapt our design workflow. With familiar tools, layouts and functionality CorelDRAW is definitely an application that delivers powerful design tools alongside the creative freedom for commercial success.” - CorelDRAW
As the designer’s production workflow becomes ever more digital, it’s becoming increasingly important to automate the design process - each and every repetitive task and action - and our communication with our clients.
More and more of the products we create are customized. But we have to remember, that the time required for each iteration is the same, regardless of volume and whether its printed once or a hundred times.
What if there was another way? Is it time to reevaluate your workspace, are you using the correct design tools?
Choosing which software to use as a designer is often a choice of habit - we choose products that we are familiar with. Technology is advancing at an incredible pace. To remain efficient and productive, we must choose our tools wisely, actively onboard knowledge, innovate and stay ahead so that we can serve our clients at pace.
When did you last analyse how you spend your creative time? Is it time to look deeper into your design workflow? Has your software adapted to meet market trends, and can you rely on it to maximise your creativity?
Does your chosen design software meet your commercial specifications and your creative expectations?
In our recent podcast with Suzanne Smith of CorelDRAW we discussed the application of Corel software and the designer’s digital workflow.
Suzanne has worked for Corel for over 18 years, first in the technical support division and then as a product trainer and specialist as part of Corel’s Graphic division. She has extensive experience in apparel design, print and the design industries.
She has also produced many inspiring tutorials, the most recent of which can be watched here: CorelDRAW Graphics Suite: Esssential Tools for Garment Decoration.
CorelDRAW was founded in 1985 in Ottowa, Canada. The first version of CorelDraw Graphics Suite was released in 1989. The company provides creativity and productivity software solutions to many 100,000’s of clients around the world - across multiple industries.
As designers we hold a great responsibility, and we are positioned at the very beginning of the supply chain. Our decisions impact the future of the products we create and how they will be manufactured. Great products start with great design.
Suzanne shares her essential’s toolbox, and guides the viewer through a series of common design actions to explore CorelDRAW’s unique applications. The CorelDraw Graphics Suite is an intuitive workspace, that can be customized to your specifications. Tutorials explore DTG (direct to garment) and Sportwear applications – both product sectors manufacture predominantly customized products on an industrial scale.
Each sector relies on repetitive tasks. Where the garments are personalized to meet the client’s unique brief. That may be just one T-Shirt, or hundreds of sports vests for a commercial event - each one personalized. Suzanne demonstrated how using CorelDRAW software, these tasks can be automated in minutes – whilst also removing human error, and the generation of wasted time, product and resources.
For the creative, CorelDRAW offers a myriad of tools that speed up the design process. Sketch, Power Trace, Colour Harmonies, Palettes and Colour management to name just a few. Plus, the ability to connect directly with your clients via the cloud for design approval – all of which deserve further exploration.
We are entering a point of convergence – a tipping point – where the design and production process demands seamless technology. Only by innovating can we hope to move to efficient sustainable working practices.
By exploring new technologies and applications we can disrupt the Status Quo – and make the necessary change to adapt our design workflow. With familiar tools, layouts and functionality CorelDRAW is definitely an application that delivers powerful design tools alongside the creative freedom for commercial success.
To explore CorelDRAWs Learning Center [click here]
London, UK – June 2026 – ARTS THREAD is delighted to announce that Alina Gamboa, VP Head of Design at Polo & RLX Men's (Ralph Lauren), has joined the judging panel for the Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2026, presented in collaboration with Google Arts & Culture.
Gamboa will lend her expertise to the Fashion, Accessories and Textiles categories.
The 2026 judging panel comprises esteemed leaders spanning diverse sectors, including digital visual communications, film, fashion, accessories, textiles, product design, architecture, interiors, fine art, photography, contemporary craft, and jewellery.
Over the forthcoming weeks, ARTS THREAD will individually unveil the judges from A to Z across its official social media platforms. This phased announcement highlights the calibre of expertise awaiting this year's cohort of creators.
London May 2026 – ARTS THREAD has officially opened applications for The Only Natural Student Design Competition 2026, an urgent call to action for visionary designers ready to disrupt the fashion, furniture, and furnishings industries.
Aimed at students and recent graduates from the cohorts of 2024 and 2025, the global competition challenges emerging talent to abandon synthetic, oil-derived materials in favour of renewable and durable natural fibres.
Submissions are open immediately and will be accepted until the 30th of June 2026.
FALMOUTH, UK – April 2026– Falmouth University BA (Hons) Textile Design graduate and technician Meredith Wood has been named a Top 20 finalist in the prestigious H&M Foundation’s Global Change Award.
Through her pioneering company, Colour Earth, Wood and her co-founders are addressing urgent environmental issues by developing scalable, lower-impact plant-based pigments to replace highly polluting petrochemical synthetic dyes.
London April 2026 – ARTS THREAD has officially announced the opening of the seventh edition of the Global Creative Graduate Showcase.
This proactive initiative provides a crucial platform for art and design students graduating between September 2025 and August 2026.
By inviting graduates from anywhere in the world, including Southern Hemisphere students graduating after September 2025, the organisation continues to address the urgent need to elevate emerging talent in a rapidly evolving global market.
London – March - 2026 – Arts Thread has announced its continued partnership with TEX+ for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to supporting emerging textile graduates as they transition from education into professional careers.
TEX+ is a career accelerator designed to bridge the gap between the next generation of textile designers and industry professionals.
NEW YORK – January 2026– The Brooklyn Museum is proud to announce the North American debut of Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses, a major exhibition running from 16 May to 6 December 2026.
This global presentation celebrates one of the most forward-thinking fashion designers of this generation, exploring the convergence of traditional couture artisanship with innovative technologies.
Organised by the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, this extensive exhibition reveals the experimental spirit that has reshaped 21st-century fashion
London January 2026 – Arts Thread has announced it is partnering with Real Leather. Stay Different. for the sixth consecutive year to launch the International Student Design Competition 2026.
This global initiative seeks to identify the best new designers from around the world who are dedicated to promoting slow style and a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.
The competition aims to address the urgent environmental crisis created by the fast fashion business model.
London, United Kingdom – January 2026 – ARTS THREAD has announced a strategic collaboration with Mikser to launch Design Link, a transformative project supported by British Council Serbia.
This new initiative aims to bridge the gap between skill development, digital visibility, and international opportunities for young creatives, empowering them to become catalysts for positive societal change.
London 2025 – Ian Krebs, a Master’s graduate from the Swedish School of Textiles, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Arts Thread 2025 Textiles Knit/Weave Award.
Recognised for a forward-thinking approach that marries traditional craftsmanship with digital technology, Krebs’ winning project challenges the fashion industry’s perception of standard materials by reimagining jersey as a dynamic, sculptural medium.
The award-winning project investigates the latent potential of machine-made tubular knits, transforming a fabric typically regarded as utilitarian and plain into complex, expressive garments.
December 2025 – Fotoba International Srl, a leader in finishing solutions for the wide-format printing industry, has announced it will be showcasing its latest cutting and rewinding technology at Heimtextil 2026.
The presentation will feature the XLA 320 and XLA 170 automatic cutters, alongside the REW 162 coreless rewinder, highlighting significant advancements in the production of seamless wall coverings and digitally printed wallpapers.
These innovative solutions are designed to meet the growing demand for automated, high-precision finishing in the interior design and décor sector.
GLASGOW, Scotland – December 2025 – Timorous Beasties, the internationally acclaimed design studio known for its surreal and provocative textiles, has announced the launch of its latest collection, "Straight Out the Jungle."
Released to celebrate the studio’s 35th anniversary, this lavish new range introduces a richly decorative world of tropical intrigue, available across wallpapers, fabrics, and accessories.
"Straight Out the Jungle" represents a bold crossing of the threshold into the wild, encapsulating nature in its most untamed and unapologetic form
ArtsThread is proud to announce Kristian Falden as the winner of the Textiles - Print/Embroidery category at the Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2025.
Falden, a recent graduate of the Fashion and Textile Design MA programme at the Swedish School of Textiles, was selected for his outstanding and innovative work in a highly competitive international field.
ArtsThread has announced Anastasiia Pozhydaeva, a graduate of the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London, as the winner of the Formal/Couture category in the Global Creative Graduate Showcase 2025.
Her winning womenswear collection, titled "Echo," explores themes of cultural memory and emotional resilience inspired by life in Ukraine before the war.
London November 2025 – ARTS THREAD, in collaboration with the global athletic apparel company lululemon, today announced the launch of the "Apparel & Accessories Design Challenge: Life in Motion".
This new initiative invites emerging designers to create versatile apparel that supports a dynamic, modern lifestyle, seamlessly transitioning from athletic activities to work and social environments.
The challenge is designed to discover and champion the next generation of design talent. Participants are encouraged to submit innovative designs that reflect the realities of daily life, where movement and adaptability are key.
London, UK – November 2025 – ARTS THREAD, the leading digital platform for emerging artists and designers, has announced the winners of its annual Global Creative Graduate Showcase for 2025.
The showcase celebrates the next generation of creative talent from around the world, providing a vital platform for graduates to gain international exposure and connect with industry leaders.
This year's winners were selected from a highly competitive field, with entries spanning furniture, installation art, and menswear.
Orlando, FL - October 13, 2025 – Leading print finishing equipment manufacturer Keencut has announced it will preview its groundbreaking new cutting machine at Printing United Florida, taking place 22–24 October.
The innovative technology marks the beginning of what the company describes as "a new era in print finishing."
The cutting-edge machine has been engineered to deliver faster, smarter, and more effortless cutting capabilities, reinforcing Keencut's commitment to making "Cutting Made Easy" for print professionals worldwide.
Industry visitors will have exclusive access to live demonstrations throughout the three-day exhibition.
October 2025 – Leading textile printing company Friedmans Ltd has announced the acquisition of a new MIMAKI TX330 1800 pigment printer, significantly expanding its digital printing capabilities and production capacity.
This strategic investment represents the company's continued commitment to innovation and quality in the competitive textile printing market.
The new MIMAKI TX330 1800 pigment printer will enable Friedmans Ltd to deliver faster turnaround times while maintaining exceptional colour accuracy across its comprehensive range of printed fabrics
October 2025 The Made Smarter Adoption programme is helping London manufacturers accelerate their digital adoption, improve productivity and strengthen sustainability.
If your business produces a physical product within the M25, you may be eligible for free, government-funded support including grants, training and fully paid interns, designed to help you make the most of digital technology.
LONDON, October 2025 – ARTS THREAD has officially opened public voting for the Global Creative Graduate Showcase, the world's largest online showcase for emerging artists and designers.
The public is invited to explore the work of 500 shortlisted graduates and cast their votes for the most innovative projects across four main areas: Fashion/Accessories/Textiles, Digital/Visual Communication/Film, Product/Architecture/Interiors, and Fine Art/Photography/Craft/Jewelry.
London, UK – September 2025 – Arts Thread, the leading creative network connecting emerging talent with industry opportunities, has announced the winners of its inaugural Only Natural Student Fashion Competition 2025.
The competition, focused on sustainable and natural design approaches, attracted submissions from fashion students worldwide.
The competition recognised outstanding work across three categories, with winners demonstrating exceptional creativity in sustainable fashion design.
Morris & Co., the luxury heritage fabric and wallpaper design house and original company founded by William Morris in 1861, presents The Unfinished Works, a series of designs born from an exploration of The Huntington in California, USA.
In an unspoken exchange between artists throughout history, the designers at Morris & Co. have picked up the pen laid down by William Morris and John Henry Dearle to create The Unfinished Works.
The story of what happens when young designers access digital technology is still being written.
What once was a theoretical sustainability goal seems to have shifted into an active regulatory reality.
Is the Textile Market Finally Recovering?
After a difficult few years, there are genuine reasons for optimism. Duncan was candid about the challenges: "The market for textiles has been very difficult over the last three years. I'm not going to hide the truth there. But the tide is turning.“
A profound shift is currently reshaping the sector
Changing consumer expectations demand greater design diversity, faster turnaround times, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
To thrive, interior brands must adapt their supply chains, bringing production closer to the end consumer and moving away from bulk manufacturing.
Digital textile printing offers a definitive solution to these operational bottlenecks.
Digital transformation doesn't announce itself.
It accumulates - one innovation at a time - until an entire industry looks back and realises the ground has shifted beneath its feet. That's precisely where textiles stands today.
The conversations happening now about AI, automation, sustainability, and digital product passports are not theoretical. They are shaping decisions being made on factory floors and in boardrooms right now.
“By leveraging advanced digital textile printing, Marylene Madou has successfully merged traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Her approach offers a blueprint for how independent designers can scale their brands globally while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.”
From Helsinki's printing mill to Paris's Le Marais, discover how Marimekko is scaling a design-led brand with purpose, craft, and bold innovation.
But what makes Marimekko's story compelling is not just its aesthetic legacy?
The textile industry is undergoing a vital transformation. As the insights from Techtextil and Texprocess reveal, the path forward relies on a combination of sustainable hardware, intelligent chemistry, and seamless digital workflows.
From Zimmer's industrial-scale energy reductions and Stratasys's on-demand 3D embellishments, to Kornit's single-step technical printing and the unified digital ecosystems of NedGraphics and Optitex, the tools for change are here. To stay competitive, brands and manufacturers must adopt these innovations, moving away from fragmented, wasteful processes towards a truly connected, circular economy.
Friedmans stands as a testament to the power of combining traditional textile knowledge with forward-thinking innovation.
“Operating from their UK headquarters, Friedmans now serves a diverse array of sectors, including swimwear, dance, entertainment, sportswear, interior decor, prosthetics, and even pet apparel. With a strategic supply chain that reliably serves clients worldwide”
The apparel decoration industry is decisively moving away from isolated, analogue production tools toward connected digital manufacturing environments.
"Kornit’s unwavering commitment to transformative technology continues to disrupt the status quo. For business leaders and innovators ready to capture the future of apparel manufacturing, the path forward is clear”
The Urgent Need for Sustainability at Scale
The transformation at Coats provides a vital blueprint for the wider textile and apparel sector. True sustainability cannot be achieved in silos. As Dearing emphasised:
“Cross-industry collaboration is the engine of meaningful change. Brands, machinery suppliers, chemical providers, and fibre producers must act as an interconnected ecosystem”
Today’s customers demand superior product quality, real-time data visibility, and lightning-fast turnaround times.
For large-scale garment decorators, managing these expectations while balancing seasonal demand fluctuations - such as the massive surges seen during Black Friday - presents a monumental challenge.
"Relying on transactional vendor relationships and outdated legacy equipment is no longer sufficient to secure long-term stability and growth.”
Printing method is never a secondary detail. It shapes the entire life cycle of a product, from concept to customer. In today’s fashion industry, where margins are tighter and speed matters more than ever, technical knowledge has become a competitive advantage.
“The future of textile design belongs to professionals who can combine creativity with execution, aesthetics with practicality, and vision with production reality”.
Are we witnessing the reinvention of Merch driven by adaptive, digital technologies?
The commercial opportunity presented by printed, personalised merchandise is already a lucrative revenue stream; it is the core driver of growth in a multi-billion-pound industry. And the mandate for print businesses is clear: automate, adapt, and offer undeniable added value, or choose to gradually lose market share.
Powderless DTF is an important area of innovation. It deserves research, investment, and thoughtful development.
“But at its current stage, it often feels like the industry is attempting to commercialize the concept ahead of the underlying chemistry and system readiness”.
All Apparel Manufacturers face an Urgent Mandate: “Automate or be Left Behind”.
Industry leaders like Super Nova Sports and Ryozo International were struggling with severe pre-press bottlenecks and unsustainable fabric waste. By integrating AI Sublimation Software into their workflows, these forward-thinking businesses eliminated manual variable data entry, boosted fabric efficiency to over 80%, and reduced delivery times by more than half, establishing a highly profitable, agile, and environmentally responsible production model.
The Future of Manufacturing belongs to those who Embrace Connected Digital Ecosystems
“Whether you produce garments, car interiors, or home furnishings, the transition from creative concept to production-ready product often remains fragmented. Design teams work tirelessly to develop compelling materials, yet technical teams struggle to interpret these visions without losing data along the way.”
The European digital wallcovering marketplace is expanding at an impressive rate.
“For print professionals and interior designers, this transition presents a distinct set of challenges. Achieving flawless colour consistency, managing complex substrates, and meeting stringent environmental standards are no longer optional extras; they are fundamental requirements for commercial success.”
If you're looking to optimize your website for AI search, hang onto your cowboy hat. It's the Wild West out there. Former (and current) SEO companies see the handwriting on the wall as more search moves from traditional SEO to AEO (answer engine optimisation). Opportunists are popping out of the woodwork.
(There are good options out there, but vet them carefully.)
A swimsuit might start life as a sketch. By the time it reaches the shop floor, dozens of hands have touched it - designers, dye houses, printers, trim manufacturers, quality controllers. Each one interprets colour in their own way, under their own conditions, with their own tools. The result is often a product that looks nothing like the original vision.