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What Is surface pattern design
Patterns are everywhere, and they add a lot of fun and excitement to everything! They are a way for people to express their personality through what they wear or decorate their homes. There are countless unique style options to satisfy a variety of personal tastes. There will always be a market for patterns!
What is surface pattern design?
Get Ready to be intrigued!
Surface Pattern Design is both challenging and exciting and provides a way to express your creativity.
A surface pattern is a motif or artwork repeated to create a pattern design and used as surface decoration to improve the visual appearance and functionality. Surface examples include wallpaper, wrapping paper, fabric, apparel, stationery, book covers, home decor, and gift items.
Surface pattern designers create and design the repeating patterns found on products, bringing life, energy, and movement to otherwise flat surfaces. Imagine if clothing didn’t have designs on it; we’d all be wearing the same thing!
Surface Pattern design vs. textile design
Many artists who do this sort of work will use the terms “Surface Pattern Design” and “Textile Design” interchangeably, which can sometimes be confusing.
Textile designers, who are not always illustrators who make repeating designs, focus on the functionality of a piece of fabric.
Role of a surface pattern designer
A surface pattern designer, in essence, is someone who creates designs that are typically in a seamless and technical pattern repeat and applied to products or fabric.
The fact that any surface can potentially have a pattern design applied to it means that your role as a successful surface pattern designer can vary greatly. You could be designing repeat patterns for everything from quilting fabric to wall coverings.
Regardless of the product, a surface pattern designer’s role is to create and develop designs that consider the end product and plan accordingly. The process will be the same, but the specifications may differ depending on the end-use.
What is a technical repeat?
A design must repeat seamlessly when creating a technical repeat pattern. You want the repeat to be undetectable, and it should be difficult to tell where it begins and ends unless you study the design elements and search the design.
Although creating seamless repeats is an essential part of a pattern designer’s work, designs don’t have to be in a technical repeat. Clients sometimes request placement prints. A t-shirt print is an example where designs must print in the exact location of each item. As a result, you do not need a seamless pattern design.
12 Essential Tips For Surface Pattern Designers
1. Learn Adobe Illustrator (Industry Standard)
Wow, that’s a big one! But you can do it. The thought of learning a new computer program might make you uneasy, but it’s a powerful tool in an artist’s arsenal.
There are so many classes and articles available online. Don’t let a challenging task stop you from pursuing your dreams.
2. Practice, Practice, Practice
Experiment and make as many repeat patterns as you can to build up your skills. Explore all the possibilities.
To help get you started, here are the 11 most common repeat pattern systems.
3. Never, Ever Throw Anything Away
Don’t delete files, and don’t throw away sketches; they might be what you’re looking for one day!
4. Read About Design Theory
Pattern design is about visual balance and symmetry- find out more by reading about art history and design theory. These are fundamental skills that will help in the creation of successful pattern designs.
5. Keep a Sharp Eye on Your Surroundings
Make it a habit to observe the world around you to discover patterns in natural and artificial objects. An idea can come from anywhere.
6. Keep a Log or Sketchbook of Your Thoughts
Many thoughts arise, but when one is preoccupied, one can easily forget. Those ideas, on the other hand, are valuable. After you’ve written down your thoughts, you can go back and use them for future projects.
7. Be Authentic
It’s easy to find inspiration by browsing the web, but never be ‘too’ inspired by someone else’s work. Don’t be afraid to try something new! Develop and stick to your signature style.
8. Every Day, Do One Thing
Whatever your dream is, start doing one thing every day, no matter how big or small, to move you closer to it.
9. Tell a Story
Consider themes and storylines when developing cohesive design collections. The theme should carry through each pattern design, the collection’s title, the names of each print, and even the color names you choose.
10. Create a Portfolio
Put your heart, love, and passion into this portfolio, which should contain at least ten high-quality designs.
11. Create a Community
Blog, tweet, Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest are all examples of social media platforms. Also, make contact with other surface designers.
12. Believe in Yourself
Believing in yourself is something you can do. You absolutely can! All you have to do is decide to do it. It will require sacrifice, dedication, and hard work, but you WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT.
Print-on-demand For Surface Pattern Designs
If you're an artist, graphic designer, or t-shirt designer, you can easily learn these skills and apply them to create surface pattern designs.
It can be a great way to use your art in new ways while also providing you with an additional revenue stream for selling your work.
Check out the Print-on-Demand sites where you can apply your illustrations and pattern design style to various products, or these sites for Fabric and Wallpaper.