In this episode of The Insider, Alexandra Langdon is joined by illustrator and designer Isla Simpson, whose work has evolved from beautifully illustrated stationery into fabric and wallpaper collections inspired by English interiors, gardens and decoration.
After training in printed textiles at Central Saint Martins and spending fifteen years designing handbags for fashion brands, Isla gradually built a business centred around the part of design she had always loved most – drawing. What began through Instagram and bespoke illustration has naturally evolved into timeless collections for interiors, alongside collaborations with brands from around the world.
Together, Alexandra and Isla explore how the visual world we grow up in quietly shapes the way we see beauty. From childhood homes filled with Laura Ashley and William Morris, to Merchant Ivory films, Georgian architecture, the Costume Museum in Bath, and treasured books that have stayed with her throughout her life, Isla shares how these early influences continue to inform every design she creates today.
The conversation also explores designing for longevity rather than trends, preserving the human hand within a digital process, creating fabrics people will want to live with for decades, and why confidence often comes from embracing the things we have always loved rather than chasing what is fashionable.
IN THIS EPISODE:
• How our earliest visual memories shape creativity
• Training at Central Saint Martins and a career in fashion design
• Finding your own creative voice through illustration
• The enduring influence of Laura Ashley, William Morris and English decoration
• Designing timeless fabrics and wallpapers for modern interiors
• The importance of craftsmanship, patience and refinement
• Why designing for longevity matters more than following trends
• Balancing digital technology with the human hand
• Collaborating with brands while remaining true to your own aesthetic
• Building a creative business that has evolved naturally over time
Whether you are designing a home, building a creative business, or discovering your own personal style, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation about trusting your instincts, embracing the influences that have shaped you, and creating work with warmth, character and lasting appeal.
CONNECT WITH ISLA:
Instagram: @islasimpsonstudio
Website: islasimpson.com
BOOKS, PEOPLE & PLACES DISCUSSED:
The Fashion Museum, Bath (The Costume Museum)
Elizabeth Goudge – The Little White Horse
Nancy Mitford – The Pursuit of Love
Rachel Johnson – A Diary of The Lady
Amy Patterson
OTHER EPISODES FROM 'THE INSIDER' DISCUSSED IN THIS PODCAST:
EP 10 - Kate Teyssier - Craftsmanship, Creativity, and Design History
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0dceRkvStkaj9ADaeRtSkO
EP 9 - Henrietta Martindale - Creativity, Confidence and Finding your Style
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BhoP6TKvlb9ImvlSo98tG
Ep 8 - Camilla Fraser - Designing Spaces, People Experience and Remember
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ed8DqlJNPchmoL4bwQJmJ
CONNECT WITH ALEXANDRA:
Instagram: @alexandralangdonltd
Website: alexandralangdon.co.uk
Email: theinsider@alexandralangdon.co.uk
Podcast Producer: @mtalbotcreative
Marie has over twenty years' experience as a broadcast audio producer, working for the BBC, commercial radio, creative agencies, and private clients; her absolute obsession is podcasting
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