How my career in surface pattern design begun...
Mock ups from my latest pattern design collection…
I already had a passion for colours and increasingly became aware over the last few years that I loved patterns on my skirts and shirts. Last year I subscribed to CreativeLive that provides a number of online courses in exciting creative topics. I was fascinated by the Surface pattern design course by Bonnie Christine. I hadn’t heard of the term Surface pattern before and was totally sold. I’m a self-taught graphic designer, whilst being an Account Manager working in an advertising agency and Marketing Coordinator for a health & beauty manufacturer. Adobe Illustrator was my favourite design software, but knew there was so much more to it then what I used it for. This course gave me a taste for what could be possible in design. So I became a member of the #makeitindesign. It has a great Facebook community to provide support and participated in the online courses available. I also had a go at the winter school challenges whereby you are given a brief to design a pattern. I’ll post about this on another occasion. But the reason I’m writing today is to share my experience of my latest course that has totally changed by life.
As you know, I totally fell in love with Surface Pattern Design back in July 2019 because of #BonnieChristine, so I took part in an intensive 8 weeks course from March 2020 by Surface Design Tribe called #Immersion2020. The course is only ran once a year and I knew I just could not pass up on this amazing opportunity to grow my career in surface pattern design. I would recommend it to anyone interested in this new design venture too.
The course was split into 6 main modules including finding inspiration, drawing flowers, basic and advanced illustrator, creating repeat patterns, putting collections together, pricing, licensing and marketing. Bonnie is so lovely and gave 100% support to us all with facebook lives and additional bonus material. We now have continued support on facebook and have lifetime access to the course to refresh my skills when I need to.
I have learnt so much and now can give more to my graphic design clients as well as my new surface pattern design and illustration artwork. Although we didn’t have any pressure to finish our first pattern collection by the end of the 8 weeks course, I was determined to give myself a great leap into my career. I made a list of collection ideas, that I can’t wait to create, but my first collection is called ‘Bramble Cottage’. Bramble is my younger Springer Spaniel and wanted her to be part of the first journey into SPD. Plus my passion for florals and my love for living in my thatched cottage brought together the story for this collection, which had to be about a quintessential country cottage with roses, afternoon tea, tulips and more.