You won’t find beige in Maya Lawrence’s designs, in fact neutrals are a no no. But if you want to add a pop of colour to a room, then her products will certainly do that. ‘I want to bring a bit of joy when you walk in a room and see my designs,’ she says when we chat.
The 37-year-old from Peverell in Plymouth was encouraged creatively from a young age. Her father was an artist and both parents had a good eye for design. She honed her skills while studying for a master’s degree in textiles and surface design at Birmingham University and then as an interior designer with Laura Ashley in London. She returned to Plymouth where she grew up in 2013 citing it as a great place to bring up a family; they have daughters aged eight and five and it’s also where her husband is based with the Royal Navy.
I comment that working as an interior designer for Laura Ashley is very different to what she is designing now. ‘I guess it was there that I discovered a real love for British design, it’s the epiphany of English, isn’t it? I loved it, but I always needed to add a stamp of my own personality - little bold and contrasting colour.’
It was during the monotony of lockdown that Maya started looking into her Jamaican heritage and play around with designs - her mother moved from Jamaica to England aged seven, her father is English. ‘I thought back to times we had visited and wanted to explore it more, along with the psychology of colour and the power that it has to elevate your mood. I still want to explore more iconography and folklore - it's the perfect excuse to try and visit Jamaica again.’
It had always been a dream to set up on her own but the years passed by. ‘When I was made redundant, I thought it’s now or never,’ she says. Incorporating her background, she added a bit of Caribbean colour into her designs with the use of a vibrant colour scheme and tropical inspired themes.
‘For me colour is so important. It’s why I went down the route of bold colour which can be toned down massively with the interiors and scheme that you chose. I wanted something that would make a statement; when you looked at it you would say “I love that” and it would make you smile.
‘I’m not a particularly maximalist designer that has colour everywhere. I actually really favour classic colours, but I love the mix of the two. It’s looking at things in a different way; looking at how you can incorporate the two.’
She started Mayajoy in 2021 and she set about creating prints, patterns and illustrations. Starting work one day a week on the project, she soon found it grew into a full-time job and her success was cemented in February when she took home the Trailblazer award at the BAME Gala business awards in Plymouth.
‘I think the event highlights the growing diversity within our city. What was lovely about the night was the common theme of being better together; the room was a melting pot of ethnicities.
‘Within the design industry, only three percent of designers are black. I want my children to be able to see other people who look like them working within creative industries. Being an ethnic minority, we bring a different experience or point of view and it is one that is worth celebrating. I think diversity is such a special thing because we all have something to offer.’
Her eye-catching collection features greeting cards, wrapping paper, kitchenware including oven gloves, tea towels and aprons, and other homeware including cushions, table runners and napkins.
‘Interestingly when I first started Mayajoy I released some sweatshirts which had positive affirmations - unique, valuable, loved on them. It was almost like a little pep talk to myself to go out there and take risks - they sold out!’
Describing herself as a surface pattern designer, she works with factories in the north of England working in small batches. ‘All of my designs are hand drawn in my Plymouth based studio and are digitally printed to remove the use of dangerous dyes. They are manufactured in this country, which is something I feel strongly about. It also ensures that you are getting an individual and lovingly made item,’ she says.
‘I really enjoy the initial concept stage, where I source inspiration - either through getting outdoors and photographing plants or exploring an emotion. For me a lot of my inspiration comes from my dual heritage but also from family life and days out. My fallen leaves cushion was inspired by the fallen rhododendron petals at Landydrock.
Her latest products will bring her family into the fold - a children's range starting with aprons which will feature her daughters’ drawings. ‘They have natural drawing ability, but they're at that great age where they are really confident in their style. They are in the sampling stage at the moment. I have manipulated them slightly to put them into patterns, but the core of the design remains pretty untouched.'
Does she think that people are a lot more adventurous perhaps in how they design their houses? ‘When I brought my sofas I wanted two different styles in two different fabrics. The woman in the shop said, “Are you sure?”. Back then it was the three-piece suite, but now it's commonplace. The popularity of Instagram and Pinterest has made interior design so accessible.’
Maya’s designs look equally good matched with an old sofa to brighten it up or enhancing a modern interior. ‘I talk about dopamine decor a lot, which is a big trend for 2024. There are no rules, it is literally about including pieces that make you happy; it's a very sustainable approach to interior design. Like with antiques, if you have something you like, have it and mix and match. It's less about everything being cohesive and more about just having things that really make the space more your own. Especially at home, our houses are an extension of our personality. I love the mix of tradition and modern design; I would say it’s my signature style.
Although she says admits she wasn’t the most business-minded person, her determination and passion has shone as brightly as her designs. ‘I held back for a long time with a fear of failing. What I have learnt during my time in business is that there really are no failures, only lessons that you can learn from. We only truly fail if we give up.’
mayajoy.co.uk
