Laura Maycroft is a West Yorkshire-based surface pattern designer and illustrator, currently available for freelance work and commissions. A 2025 graduate of Leeds Arts University (BA Textile Design, First Class Honours), she is an award-winner at New Designers 2025 (Habitat Future Design Award, AVA Top 10, Hallmark recognition) and Bradford Textile Society (1st Prize Prestigious Textiles Award). Prior to her textile design career she held senior product management roles at moo.com and nature.com, and holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Bristol.

Versatile print hand-writing ranging from conversational and illustrative to bold and graphic. Place-based research is central to the creative practice - Maycroft describes her work as "often concerned with place and how it affects wellbeing." The portfolio features detailed all-over prints, repeat structures informed by printmaking processes, and a palette showing confident mid-century influence. Risograph and screen-printing aesthetics - layered, textured, technically applied - are a consistent visual signature.

Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign (Wacom tablet). Procreate and Affinity Designer (iPad). AVA for colour separation and recolouring (trained via 3-day course, 2023). Proficient in screenprinting and preparing files for digital printing. Photoshop & Illustrator for Textile Design, Central St Martin's / UAL (2018, work selected for window exhibition from 800+ applicants). Traditional paint and drawing techniques.

Giftwrap and homeware: Artko (2025) - 4 wall art prints commissioned for TK Maxx. Homeware internship: Asda Home (2022) - beach towel and Christmas homeware designs, one Spring 2023 bestseller. Womenswear internship: Bay & Brown, London (2021) - paisleys, ikat, and animal prints. Needlepoint kits: Unwind Studio, Porto (ongoing since 2020, 3 designs on sale). Published/featured in Caboodle and Uppercase Magazines.

MChem Chemistry, Oxford (2005); PhD Organic Chemistry, Bristol (2010). Transitioned to product management: Senior Technical Editor then Product Manager at nature.com/Springer Nature (2009-2015); Senior Product Manager at moo.com (2016-2020). Textile Foundation, Morley College London (2020-2021). BA Textile Design, Leeds Arts University (2021-2025, First Class Honours). Parallel creative work: Unwind Studio collaboration since 2020; internships at Asda Home (2022) and Bay & Brown (2021). Freelance practice launched on graduation.

Selected patterns (8) and placements (4) from Instagram review. Pattern work suggests illustrative all-overs, place-informed repeats with mid-century palettes, and technically layered prints referencing risograph and screen-printing processes. Selected placements include homeware and product contexts. Giftwrap, homeware, and needlepoint kit applications all documented.