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My Journey Into Surface Pattern Design and the Courses I've Taken

My Journey Into Surface Pattern Design and the Courses I’ve Taken

It’s circa 2010, and I’m doodling in Corel Xara X, trying to figure out how to make repeat patterns.  I had the idea of selling digital papers I had seen on Etsy.  I could create simple repeats, but I grew frustrated when trying to figure out how to do a half-drop repeat.  I soon concluded that I needed to find a course or someone who could teach me.

There was a Surface Design and Textiles course in the North East region, but I couldn’t afford to undertake a second Bachelor’s degree then (or now).  However, I did stumble across the first iteration of the now-defunct Make It In Design courses, established by surface pattern designer Rachael Taylor.   With some trepidation, I enrolled in the first Module… and froze.

The course highlighted what I couldn’t articulate at the time: despite being for beginners, I found many people who already had their own artistic style.  At the time, this made me feel inadequate, and I struggled to complete the course as I felt like I wasn’t up to scratch.

Truth was, I wasn’t.

Over 12 years later, looking back on those first patterns I made with Xara X and that first online learning experience, I was discouraged by the lack of skills in industry-used software and in my own design skills.

Knowing what I know now, I can see these experiences as stepping stones to becoming the emerging surface pattern designer I am today.

Picking Up Surface Pattern Design… again

Circa 2020/21, a couple of short courses helped me build my confidence. I also started to invest in the technology and software the industry uses for surface pattern design.  An iMac and a subscription to Adobe Illustrator – after years of battling with InkScape and GIMP (the free versions of Illustrator and Photoshop, respectively).

These courses were great at getting me started again in designing pretty patterns. Being able to follow along at my own pace, and it was exciting to see my designs come to life on the screen.

For a while, I stumbled from short course to short course through Skillshare and Domestika. Then I took a deep breath and enrolled in Oksancia (Oksana Pasishnychenk’s)  Magical Layout Patterns course. It was during a difficult period for our family, so I wasn’t able to dedicate as much time as I would have liked to learning.

Skip forward another few years, and I signed up for Polina Oshu’s Pattern Camp in 2024, which I loved. The short course really helped me to focus on the drawing side of things. Importantly, it was a lovely gateway into the surface pattern design community and what was possible.

Yet, I was beginning to feel that familiar frustration, which I now take as a sign that I am ready for the next step. It was great doing all the Skillshare and Domestika classes, but I couldn’t help feeling I was stabbing in the dark of the surface pattern industry and had no clue where to look. I was also frustrated with my limited skills in Adobe Illustrator.

Making the biggest investment in my surface pattern journey To Date

Fast-forward to the beginning of 2025, Bonnie Christine’s Immersion course was launching once again. I had stumbled across Bonnie Christine’s Immersion course many years before, but it was too much of an outlay at the time. After a difficult few years, I wanted to do something for myself.  It was a scary moment hovering the mouse over the Buy Now button, even scarier when debating with myself whether to add the small-group element to the overall cost.

Thank goodness, I did.  Yes, it was a massive financial investment, but goodness, it consolidated the 12 years of my own attempts at surface pattern design.  Immersion takes you right from scratch – or whichever part of the surface pattern design journey you find yourself on.  The classes were easily digestible and a masterclass in breaking down complex topics and concepts. On top of this, the course really strengthened my Illustrator skills and built my confidence in using the software.

The icing on the cake?  That small group element?   I met four other fabulous ladies who love and appreciate pattern design too. It was a brilliant way to stay accountable and cheerlead each other throughout the course (imagine lots of positive “ooooohhs” as we each shared our work!). The best bit: we still meet weekly to talk about patterns and encourage each other on this journey.

As we reach the end of 2025

Life gets busy, pattern design creation has gone down the list of priorities, and I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time as I would like to my design practice due to other professional, family and health commitments. However, I am proud of myself for where I am today with my surface pattern skills, even if I’m not where I hope to be yet!

2025 Surface Pattern Design Achievements

Reflecting on my achievements in 2025 – I’m proud that I have:

  • …completed the Immersion course.
  • …redesigned and set up this website for my surface pattern design brand.
  • …picked up my Dity Diva Instagram account again – and started to promote my work.
  • …had one of my prints added to a tote bag from a print-on-demand website – the thrill of seeing my own designs on fabric was brilliant and made the possibility of being able ot see my patterns on things feel more real.

Surface Pattern Design Courses I Have Taken

It’s taken quite a bit of investment – money and time – to get to this point. Below is a list of surface pattern design courses over the years that have helped me gain the skills needed to be a surface pattern designer:

Domestika Surface Pattern Courses

Skillshare Surface Pattern Design Courses

Further Courses

What’s Next For My Surface Pattern Design Journey?

One of the big lessons I’ve learnt on my surface design journey is that it takes time. Time to learn the software and technical skills to design and create the patterns. Time to develop your signature style. Time to become confident in your designs and figure out where you want your patterns to be seen.

It’s taken me over 12 years to get where I am today as a surface pattern designer. I’ve navigated getting married, starting a family and overcoming health crises. In 2025, I am a parent/carer, and it’s more important than ever to me to build a career around the responsibilities I now have.  Surface pattern design provides much-needed respite from the day-to-day tasks of caring for a child with a chronic condition.  Being able to take time for myself to design something pretty that brings me and others joy is priceless.

It’s the beginning of November 2025 as I write this post, and I am eyeing the steps I would like to take as I continue my path as a surface pattern designer.

In 2026, I would like to:

  • Make pattern creation a daily practice — it could be doodling, painting, or cracking open Illustrator.
  • Learn more about colour theory and put this into practice. I would love to figure out the colours and patterns for Ditty Diva.
  • When I started Immersion, I set a goal to open my own online stationery shop. I want to create a collection that I could apply and sell, particularly washi tape and notebooks.
  • Sell my colouring pages – and launch Pretty Pattern Colouring Club properly. It’s an idea I’ve had in my head for a long while now. It’s time to make it happen.
  • Learn how to draw more shapes and figures.  I’ve been frustrated with my lack of skills in this area and feel it would widen the types of patterns I could design.
  • Work on my mindset around my work being good enough. I’m still working on this, over 12 years after taking that first paid course.
  • Save up the money to join the next enrollment of Bärbel Dressler’s ‘Repertoire’ course, which studies pattern design more in-depth.

What’s your journey looked like?

One of the things I’ve learnt from meeting other surface pattern designers is that we all have our own journeys into this profession.  Mine has felt like it’s taken ages at times. Yet when I reflect on this journey, I realise it has walked alongside me in the different seasons of my life. I can’t wait to see where it takes me next.

How about you? Where are you on your surface pattern journey? What advice would you give aspiring surface pattern designers starting? Share your thoughts in the comments.

10 Surface Pattern Design Course For Beginners

10 Surface Pattern Design Courses For Beginners

If you want to turn your art or doodles into patterns, there is a whole world of classes and courses to get you started in surface pattern design.

There are many websites and great teachers out there who share their knowledge of this industry. This means it can feel overwhelming, and speaking from my own experience, it left me bewildered and trying to figure out where to start.

With this paralysis in mind, I realised there are several factors to consider before undertaking a course.

Things to consider when choosing a surface pattern design course

  1. What do you want to achieve or learn at this stage of your surface pattern career?

    It will pay dividends to take an hour or so to think about what you are looking to achieve at this stage.  There’s nothing worse than signing up and paying for a course that is either too advanced or not quite what you were looking for.  At this stage, you want to develop your skills and confidence to reach the next level — whether it’s technical, business-related, finding your style, or managing your mindset.

  2. What area of the industry are you looking to learn about?

    Do you want to improve your drawing and design skills?  Upgrade or learn how to use Illustrator, Photoshop or Procreate to make patterns? What areas do you want to concentrate on? Stationery, textiles or other types of surfaces? Are you ready to learn how to create a collection? Or are you looking to learn more about the business side of things – such as marketing and pitching your designs?

  3. Is the course Live or self-paced?

    I guess your preference for either a live or self-paced course will influence the type of course you want to undertake.  Both have their benefits and downsides.  If it’s a full-on course over some time, it is helpful to be part of that community. However, if you are taking things a bit slower, self-paced learning lets you complete the courses at your own pace.

  4. Level of support

    When researching for a course, look for the type of support the course leader offers.  Check if there are opportunities for 1-to-1 coaching, a community group linked to the course on Facebook, or other ways you can get help when you’re scratching your head, wondering why Illustrator is acting quirky.

  5. Budget

    Some of the courses listed come with a pretty hefty price tag.  If you are new to surface pattern design, I’d recommend starting with a few smaller courses.  If you have the budget, and the course looks like the right one for you, and there’s a community attached that you feel you would benefit from, then that sounds like a good fit.

    As a busy mum and someone attempting to set up a surface pattern business as a side hustle, it is just as essential to budget for the time commitment a course will require.  In other words, a course may look fabulous and shiny, but do you realistically have the time to complete it?

10 Surface Pattern Design Courses for Beginners

Whichever level you’re at, make sure you take the time to do your research.  Look at the two or three courses listed below and think about what you want to achieve.  You don’t have to learn everything at once, and one course may be better once you have mastered the basics. And don’t skint yourself either — there are plenty of surface pattern design courses that cost only a subscription, like Skillshare, or free 7-day courses that certain designers, like Bonnie Christine, offer in the run-up to the annual launch of Immersion.

Without further ado, here are the ten surface pattern design courses for beginners:

  1. Oksancia – provides self-paced courses in creating patterns in Illustrator and selling your designs through microstock websites.  Okscancia is a fantastic, knowledgeable teacher; her courses are worth checking out.
  2. Mel Armstrong is a New Zealand Surface Designer and Creative Educator who has their own surface pattern design course, ‘The Art and Joy of Surface Pattern Design‘, and some fantastic, easy-to-follow mini courses on Skillshare.
  3. Elizabeth Silver – provides courses around licensing, pitching and getting started in the industry.  Well worth a look, as she has been in the business a long time and really knows her stuff!
  4. Bonnie Christie – Immersion course – an annual course with a hefty price tag, yet it offers a comprehensive community and modules to get you up and running as a surface pattern designer.
  5. The Pattern Social – Jules McKeown and her husband recently launched their ‘One Motif, Endless Patterns‘ course, breaking it down on how to create colourful and impactful patterns in Adobe Illustrator..
  6. Pattern and Design – Rachelle’s self-paced courses – showing you how to create your first repeats in Illustrator and Photoshop.
  7. Polina Oshu – I love Polina’s bold style and took her PatternCamp course a year or so ago, which I loved. I first found her through her Domestika course. She also has a Patreon page where you can learn from her.
  8. Kristina Hultkrantz – Kirstina also offers a Patreon service and Skillshare classes to help beginner surface pattern designers get started.  Her classes are easy to follow and a super accessible way to learn more about creating patterns.
  9. Amanda Grace Designs – offers courses for beginners to intermediate surface pattern designers in Photoshop and Procreate. Her newsletter is full of helpful advice on getting started as a surface pattern designer.
  10. The Print School offers a range of courses focused on drawing, painting, and Photoshop. The company behind The Print School, Longina Phillips, has worked with big fashion and textile brands.

What Next?

Hopefully, this list of surface pattern courses gives you an overview of the level and scale of what is available to get you started – whether you want to try a free course or take a deep dive in.

Best of luck on your journey!

Feel free to share below if there is a course you have found helpful when starting in the industry.