Surface Pattern Design Collaboration

Surface Pattern Design Collaboration

I couldn’t have predicted how much fun it was to collaborate on this surface pattern design project. I would have usually create a mood board to begin a design. A mood board would include; sketches, images, and a color palette which are for the purpose of spurring on some inspiration for the design, how it will look or what feeling it will give to the viewer.

But this design process was very different.

Textile Design Lab

A couple of months ago I joined a Surface Pattern Design community called Textile Design Lab, who offers online courses in the industry of Textile Design. I am realizing that there is much to learn about that industry. TDL courses are informative, engaging and fun.They teach technical skills, business advice, and much more about the industry of textile design. One of these courses was on collaboration which, could be with a client or fellow designer. For this project, it was with Yamila Heiblum, a fellow designer/TDL member. You can find her on Instagram here.

Autumn Splendor

Since Autumn is all around me right now, I sketched an oak leaf, acorns, berries and leaves. My inspiration for the sketches was a visit to the Chico Mendocino National Forest Genetic Resource Center (tree farm) for a lovely fall walk with my sister (photos above). These sketches, if we wished could be shared with other class members.

When I saw the sketches that Yamila shared of flowers and leaves I knew that they would go perfectly with my sketches. I searched for autumn colors and put together a color palette and began to arrange the motifs.

This is the final design, Autumn Splendor.

It was so interesting to see what other members designed with the different motifs that were shared. Every set of eyes on a design sees something different which makes the critiques so valuable. One member said that she saw a Japanese feel to the design. I personally think this print would be a great table runner and napkins for fall events.

Here are some mock-ups with this design.

I have created a few more designs to create a fall collection:

You can purchase the fabrics here.