Surface pattern design with Wendy Scheerlinck from House of May

Based in Belgium, House of May offers hotels, brands and stores an opportunity to tell their stories with strong, vibrant prints, patterns and objects that defy the ordinary. Here we chat with the founder and creative director, Wendy Scheerlinck about her creative journey to starting House of May.

Tell us more about yourself. How did you get to where you are now?

As a graduated civil engineer-architect, I started my career, like most of my fellow students, in an architectural practice. Through a client of my second employer, I came into contact with the project management of hotel renovations. I immediately fell in love, both with the industry and with project management itself.

Later on Accor Hotels offered me a job and there I was, working my dream job when I was barely 28! But then there was that other gift a few years later, the birth of our son, that forced me to step back and work closer to home. After some wandering, I did end up back in the hotel industry at 39. However, the midlife crisis had been brewing for some time, and I knew I wanted more out of life.

In 2019 I started House of May, my design studio, as a sideline. It’s been a journey of self-development and self discovery ever since, and I love it! I’ve been creating my own bold and colourful universe of repeat patterns and abstract prints and I’m enjoying every second of it!

How important are pattern, texture and colour in your work? Where do you find inspiration for your design work?

I live and breathe colours and shapes and I love everything about aesthetics and design! Ever since I was a child, I loved observing, drawing and collecting beautifully shaped things. Throughout my training as an architect, as well as a sculptor and draughtsman earlier on, my eye for aesthetics and sense of design only increased. My work draws inspiration from the (neo-)avant-garde, modernist architecture and the great eighties Memphis Style.

Can you tell us more about the services you offer for brands and interior designers? What is your process of working with collaborators?

I have an online pattern library, reserved for clients and industry professionals. Next to that I offer custom print design or branding. But by far the thing I love most are collabs with other creatives, or delivering design support to other studios. I am thinking about interior designers, architects, design brands or studios, product designers, colourists, exhibition or set designers, photographers, upholsterers, fashion brands,… who constantly think in colours, shapes and textures, like me.

House of May is the project-based, out-of-the box thinker who can look at their creative concept from a different angle, help support it, run it or give it that extra push. They can use all the knowledge House of May has in-house to deliver projects that stand out and make a bold statement.

Next to these services I also have a small online shop with products I’ve designed. At the moment the shop only consists of trays featuring my prints but I have plans for colourful papier maché and ceramics too, in the future.

Private individuals can also buy my prints on fabrics, home decor and wallpaper via Spoonflower and Happywall.

What is your favourite project or print design you’ve done so far? And why…

I loved designing the modern minimalist bedding design collection for the Spoonflower blog! I remember it so well because it was the first real recognition for my work as a surface pattern designer.

Any plans for 2024? 

Protecting my brand and personal brand as a trademark and further evolving my bold and colourful style. Working on the visibility of House of May via new backlinks (so thanks for this interview!), my website www.houseofmay.eu and Instagram @house__of__may. And of course, getting some colourful licensing deals and collabs!

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