5 Skillshare Classes to jumpstart your Surface Pattern Design Business
Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning (at no additional cost to you) I will earn a small commission should you click through and make a purchase following one of my recommendations.
Will you indulge me, friend?
I’ve been thinking…
If the sky’s the limit, there’s nothing stopping you from turning turning this little side hustle of yours into your full-on day job.
It feels scary and incredible at the same time to dream that way, but why shouldn’t we?!
Tell me what you would reach for if the sky was your only limit!
Having synesthesia and being neurodivergent, colours and patterns have always fascinated me. I feel at home, I feel calm and relaxed.
Being a wedding photographer for so many years has been a great experience, but my long term goal had always been a career as a surface pattern designer.
With 2020 and the lockdowns stopping any weddings that I had been booked for, I had to pivot my business two years earlier than planned.
And I am so grateful for it.
2021 was my intro into surface pattern design and I don’t regret anything. A niche so versatile, fun, and fulfilling, and I am very grateful for life giving me this opportunity.
I often get asked how and where to start, so here are 5 SkillShare classes that will help you jumpstart your surface pattern design journey.
#1 Your Roadmap to Surface Design: A Step by Step Framework to Crafting Your Career
Bonnie Christine, my #1 mentor when it comes to surface pattern design, created this class to address the number one roadblock that aspiring surface designers run into:
OVERWHELM. Learn to see and understand the steps you need to take, then make a plan of action to accomplish them.
>> Use my link to get a 30 day free trial on SkillShare <<
#2 Intro to Surface Pattern Design: Learn Adobe Illustrator
Did you know? You don’t have to be an ‘artist’ to create beautiful artwork! This course is designed for the person who dreams of creating their own repeating patterns.
>> Use my link to get a 30 day free trial on SkillShare <<
#3 A Surface Designer’s Guide to File Organization and Workflow Techniques
Working on something as huge as an entire surface design collection can feel overwhelming.
In this class you’ll learn why having a system is important, how to organise your files, and the workflow Bonnie Christine uses to create a surface pattern design collection.
>> Use my link to get a 30 day free trial on SkillShare <<
#4 Surface Pattern Design Fundamentals
Mel Armstrong is going to take you through the fundamentals of surface pattern design.
There are many surface design classes on SkillShare, but in this class you’ll discover her secrets of how to create patterns for licensing, gift wraps, fabric and a whole range of products.
>> Use my link to get a 30 day free trial on SkillShare <<
#5 Paint to Pattern
Even though most of our work is digital, some of us still spent a lot of time painting with traditional media, in gouache, watercolour or pencil.
Learn how to use your own drawings to create a simple pattern in Photoshop.
