Pattern Design - how I got started…
If you have been following me on social media for a while, you may have noticed that recently I have been developing my skills as a surface pattern designer alongside my illustration work. Prior to this, I had started to license some of my art on a variety of products, and I knew if I wanted to grow this further, that learning pattern design was a really good idea. Patterns are ubiquitous and can be used in so many concepts. I had made patterns before but they weren’t repeat patterns, ie. able to be tiled seamlessly to fit together.
The surface pattern design industry is huge and highly competitive. To stand out it’s so important to develop a unique but consistent and strong style. Of course of equal importance is having the technical skills required to ensure you can produce patterns of professional quality.
One question I faced when I first started was which programme to use and also whether to focus on raster or vector software - or both. Vector patterns (made with Illustrator or Affinity Designer) will never be subject to the same limitations leveled at raster patterns made in Procreate, because they are infinitely scalable and won’t lose resolution. It’s worth mentioning here that some of the criticisms of Procreate patterns, namely that they may become blurry at larger sizes, can really be managed by certain actions that reduce this tendency. All the courses that I recommend here present professional techniques for making Procreate patterns, which really minimise these apparent restrictions.
I was also under the impression that brands would always want vector patterns, but after a lot of research I discovered that whilst some do prefer it, most do not require it. Indeed what is more important is unique and original art, and if this is achieved via a raster programme like Procreate, then sticking with that for pattern design makes sense. It is where I am most confident and this shines through in my patterns.
So as an avid user of Procreate I decided to begin with that for pattern design and look to also take some courses in combining Procreate with Photoshop to make final patterns further editable and easy for clients to alter. That’s not to say that patterns cannot be 100% created in Procreate, just that occasionally there may be a project where a pattern needs to be finished off in Photoshop, so it makes sense to look at both options.
I taught myself Procreate with no online training, however I knew I would need more structure and discipline with pattern design as there are so many different techniques to master. I’ve also always found pattern design to be a little mathematical and therefore out of my comfort zone, so I set about researching the best online courses to get me started. I began a Skillshare trial and spent days looking at all the different courses available, which was in all honesty, a little overwhelming.
I think when choosing an online course it’s really important to stick with a teacher whose style you are drawn to, understand and also enjoy. There are hundreds of pattern design teachers out there, and *disclaimer,* the following courses and teachers I am recommending are entirely based on my own preferences:
My ‘go-to’ pattern design teacher is Maja Faber. Maja is a Swedish pattern design teacher and creative entrepreneur who has a large number of courses on various platforms, but mainly Skillshare and her own pattern club membership, Pattern Rebels, which I am a member of. I highly recommend this membership, it really has taught me most of what I know. It includes a community, monthly courses, freebies, challenges and feedback sessions.
Her Skillshare classes are also worth checking out (If you have never tried the platform before, they almost always have an offer of a free trial).
Professional Patterns in Procreate : Tips to Level Up Your Pattern Design
Pattern Design Using Procreate and Adobe Photoshop
3 Ways to Create a Half-Drop Pattern in Procreate
Create an Editable Pattern in Procreate with Colour Variations
Other Pattern Design courses on Skillshare I recommend:
Surface Pattern Design : Key Principles for Making Outstanding Patterns by Di Ujdi
Half Drop Patterns in Procreate : Complex Elements and Custom Actions by Di Ujdi
Surface Pattern Design for Licensing in Procreate (or Adobe Photoshop) by Mel Armstrong
I also recommend checking out The Studio by Liz Kohler Brown - another membership programme but with a lot of classes on pattern design and especially Procreate (and Affinity Designer). Liz is a great teacher and has huge amounts of knowledge and experience, so definitely one to consider.
A final word is that none of these courses are free - there are many of these on YouTube that I have also tried out, however I found that constantly switching teachers really started to confuse me. I decided to pick a maximum of 3 different teachers to learn from, to make sure I was being consistent and sticking to the same methods and ideas. This meant I found myself investing quite a bit of money in these classes and memberships, however I can honestly say that this is money well spent! I have picked up an entirely new skill in 4 months and have my first pattern collaboration out in the wild.
I am gradually building my portfolio, which has been brought to life by the addition of patterns. If you’re interested in them or have been toying with the idea for a while then don’t hold back! They’re a real game-changer.