Q&A with fabric and wallpaper designer Jessica Osborne

In this Q&A, Jessica Osborne speaks with Issy Granger about building a brand rooted in craft and colour, her creative process from sketch to sample, and the realities of running a design business alongside family life. From early days immersed in textiles to recent milestones and the lessons she’s learned along the way, she shares a thoughtful perspective on carving out a creative career in the interiors world.

Describe your design style in three words? 

Simple yet characterful

For anyone new to your work, how would you describe Jessica Osborne as a brand?

My aim is to create fabrics and wallpapers that are joyful, beautifully made and full of personality. The brand celebrates bold colour, playful geometry and a love of pattern, while championing British manufacturing and craft, creating designs that feel contemporary yet timeless enough to live with every day.

You’ve spoken about your early love of textiles, pattern, and interiors - can you tell us about the moment you realised this could become your career?

I went to a school with a huge emphasis on art, design and textiles, as Issy knows (we went to the same school), so I spent all my spare time in the art block developing textiles with friends who were also studying Textiles or Art A-levels. I went straight from school to Central Saint Martins, initially thinking I wanted to go into textiles for fashion, but that very quickly shifted to textiles for interiors. So really it’s always been what I wanted to do.

Your designs are known for bold colour and playful geometry. How do you approach colour when starting a new collection?

Colour is probably the biggest and most exciting part of the process for me. I love designing prints with dual colours with often just two colours working together. Over the years, I’ve become more confident in stripping things back and letting colour do the talking, rather than overcomplicating the design. I like to keep things simple and I think that comes across in the general style of my fabrics.  

Can you walk us through your creative process, from the first sketch to a finished fabric or wallpaper?

Often I start with hand sketches, then move everything into Illustrator and develop the designs from there. This stage takes a long time. My desktop is usually a total mess with hundreds of variations. I get a gut feeling when I know a print is going to work so usually that is the point where I have to tell myself to stop developing. I then work closely with the mills and printers to translate into fabric and wallpaper. Sampling is such a fun part and seeing the designs come to life. 

Many of our readers are design lovers. What does a typical working day look like for you - and how do you balance creativity with the realities of running a business?

I have two boys who are 2 and 3 years old so the day starts early (sometimes too early!). After nursery drop-off, my husband and I head to work together… our studios are next to each other in the same  barn converted building.

There’s a huge amount of admin involved in running my business, so mornings are usually taken up with emails, trade enquiries, shipments and customs forms (which I spend a lot of time on now). Afternoons tend to be more hands-on: sorting samples, packing orders and fulfilling requests. I squeeze the creative work in wherever I can, which is why I love January and February. I put these months aside for designing and planning the year ahead. 

What have been some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned since launching your brand?

Listen to your gut and don’t panic during tough moments. I’ve learned that something good is always around the corner. My Grannie is a real businesswoman; she was a property developer and has been through plenty of tricky times over the years. We’re very close, and whenever I felt stuck or overwhelmed with work, or even when difficult situations arose in life more generally, she would send me the poem ‘Don’t You Quit’ by Edgar Albert Guest. I printed it out and stuck it on the wall, and I still look at it whenever I need a reminder. It’s well worth looking up, it’s such an amazing poem.

Was there a particular milestone - a press feature, stockist, or project - that felt like a turning point for you?

Last year really felt like my turning point. After having the boys, I knew I wanted to properly go for it last year so I did my first trade show at Design Centre Chelsea Harbour where I was a House Guest for 5 weeks. I felt like a big milestone for me. I put so much work into the design and preparation.  I was really pleased with how it went and looked and met so many amazing interior designers and people from the industry. 

If you were styling a space using both Jessica Osborne fabrics and Issy Granger pieces, how would you imagine combining the two? Do you have any favourite Issy Granger pieces you'd use?

I’m obsessed with Issy’s lamps. I think its the block colour and hexagonal shapes that I am so drawn too. For my photoshoot last year, I had lampshades made in my fabrics to sit on top of them and they looked amazing. I also adore the carafes; the colours are beautiful. They’d be perfect on a bedside table in a guest bedroom or in fact any bedroom.

And finally - is there a book, film, podcast or exhibition you’re particularly enjoying at the moment?

I’ve just finished ‘If in Doubt, Wash Your Hair’ by Anya Hindmarch. She is so wise, and her “things lead to things” mantra is definitely going to be my motto for 2026. It couldn’t be more true.

I’ve also been loving the Paramount series ‘Landman,’ created by Taylor Sheridan. It’s one of the best things I’ve watched in a long time, and the female characters are brilliant. If you haven’t watched it, definitely do! 

Follow @jessicaosbornelondon and shop www.jessicaosborne.com