At Print Pattern Archive (PPA), we believe that a business thrives on inclusivity, flexibility, and a deep respect for life’s natural rhythms.
Nature doesn’t rush; it achieves everything in its own time. As print designers we spend a lot of time drawing inspiration from the natural world making us more in tune with it's cycles, yet we fail to see that as humans we're also part of nature. In this article we look at why flexible working facilitates creativity and rolls with life's constant changes.
Flexibility and Freedom
Flexibility is essential our all-female team, including Kerri with her new baby and Cheryl raising five neurodiverse children. We’re proud to support ambitious mothers and others who find traditional corporate structures limiting. Work doesn’t have to be an uphill struggle or a “juggle” in a fast-paced life; it can be a harmonious “blend” that enriches our lives and fuels our creativity.
'For me, family, home, ‘work,’ and creativity are seamless. My life is a constant flow of creative energy. I ‘inhale’ ideas, finding inspiration through people, places, collaborations, conversations, and visual imagery. Then I ‘exhale’ through doing, creating, suggesting, and manifesting. It feels lovely, like I’m in flow with the universe. At work, I bring the creative vision of others to life; at home, I create for myself, family, and friends. I believe that if we’re not growing and creating, we stagnate. I’m blessed with a lot of energy, and this drive comes from the joy of creating in my own time and rhythm.' — Cheryl
PPA ARTWORK
Life’s circumstances constantly change. Your working patterns in your 20s may be entirely different in your 30s or 40s. For many—working parents, neurodiverse individuals, and carers—flexibility isn’t a luxury; it’s essential, and the corporate framework might not suit them at all. PPA’s approach fosters a workplace where diverse lifestyles are not only accommodated but celebrated. Kerri, for instance, has direct experience of how life’s circumstances often require a complete rethink.
'After over a decade in intense roles within the fashion industry, I found myself questioning how to fit family life into the mix. My job involved travel, long hours, and a daily commute. I loved my career but struggled to see how I could merge it with motherhood. When Cheryl approached me about becoming her business partner, I couldn’t pass it up. I admired how she balanced her life with five children while running a business. After much reflection, I left my 9-to-5 job in search of a more blended and fulfilling life.
Two years into the partnership, baby Lily arrived, transforming my world overnight. My daily routine shifted. No longer could I drop everything for deadlines or work late into the night. We didn’t set strict timelines for my return to work, knowing I’d need time to adjust. Yet, just four weeks postpartum, I found myself missing the creativity that filled my life, and I was so happy to work flexibly to balance my creativity.' — Kerri
Nurturing Creativity in an All-Female Team
Many of our talented all-female team used to work in corporate companies but couldn’t return after having children. Some took the leap to escape the rat race and live a more soulful life at home or in the studio. As a nurturing business, we’re pioneering super-flexible working and the systems that support it.
While some aspects of business are rigid, it’s possible to work the hours we choose around that. Creativity and drive aren’t taps that can be turned on and off at will. On my power days, I can do a 14-hour day without noticing. Other days, my brain won’t get in gear, so I paint or take an afternoon off to recharge.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Working remotely is a big shift. Blending work and life is a “work smart, not hard” skill that lets our team stay focused, delivering the quality and specialism we’re known for. Remote work shapes our team-building as well. Our creative retreats, where we rent a beautiful house and immerse ourselves in focused creative flow, are both productive and soul-nourishing. I don’t think we could deliver the quality of work we do if we were doing the ‘churn’ of a 9-to-5. Instead, designers can work at their own pace, producing quality, not quantity.
Clients are happy to know that their purchases support talented, independent female artists they often get to know and develop a more direct relationship with. This more freewheeling energy complements the corporate sphere well. Our studio provides the kind of hand-printed designs that print teams often lack the time or space to create. It’s a great synergy, the yin to the yang.
Harnessing Creative Energy
Whether you’re working 9-to-5 in an office or freelancing, creativity is with you 24/7, and knowing when to harness it is essential. It’s not just day-to-day but weekly, monthly, and seasonally. For me, autumn is when I go up a gear, and I get stuck into exercise every December when everyone else is hibernating. People are unique, and I celebrate that. I’ve learned to go with the flow rather than force energy when it’s not there.
The Taoists believe in the power of Wu-Wei:
'True power lies not in force, but in flowing like water, moving effortlessly with the currents of life. In the quiet of Wu Wei, we let go of resistance and embrace the creative flow, where all things unfold naturally and purposefully.'
So when life changes, go with it. Whether you’re embracing the shadow or the light in a situational change, “The Juggle” often arises from trying to maintain old patterns and expectations. “The Blend” comes from accepting life as a whole entity, not cutting off after work but embracing a more holistic approach to creative living. I’ve learned that I can’t rush or push my five children any more than I can turn back the tide. I’ve learned to align myself with life’s energy, and though it seems counterproductive, I actually get more done.
The New Work Life Balance?
At PPA, we’ve realised that our creativity extends beyond our collections. We’ve brought creativity into how we work too. As a director, I respect different stages of life, limitations and strengths of the team. I know which designers in the team can hit deadlines and which are super productive working flexibly around young children, or the neurodiverse who have both incredible skills and limitations.
We’re advocates for “The Blend” as a more grounded inclusive way of being rather than “The Juggle,” where you’re much more likely to drop a ball—or a baby! The team appreciates this supported approach so much that I see them working extra hard to build something great together. At PPA, we know that if you look after your people, they will look after you.
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