It was an indication of a lifelong obsession with design, which resulted in Louise Bickle studying Fashion and Textiles at Sydney College of the Arts, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Design.

During the next two years she headed up various design rooms, but was constantly frustrated by the prevailing approach to design in Australia. So in late 1980s, Louise began working for herself and never looked back.

In 1989, Art Park Design Studio was born and over the next five years the studio created placement prints, meterage designs, logos and range concepts for a number of prominent Australian and American companies covering everything from swimwear to a range of screen prints for a Barrier Reef resort.

It was not too long before the textile design studio grew into a homewares business and by 1994, the art park brand had a large local following and the designs, their application and visual presentation had a very strong and individual handwriting.

art park’s highly successful alternative to the current offering was a unique, contemporary take on design. A mixture of humour, style, attention to detail and an explosion of much-needed colour.

‘The brand was one of the pioneers of niche design, and provided a unique and compelling offer, all the while drawing inspiration from impactful and creative use of colour, visual imagery and texture.’

Gary Saunders, Saunders & Co PR

The end result – and what people remember about art park - is a brand which delivered offbeat classics, quality with a quirky twist, bright, punchy prints with personality, and a certain something that made everyone smile – whatever their age.

‘With its graphic prints and eye-catching colour ways, the art park brand epitomised the sunny carefree days of Australian life’ Lisa Green, former Editor-In-Chief, Australian House & Garden.