If you watch any of my classes on Affinity Designer, you have heard me mention more than once that I have a secret weapon. As a busy entrepreneur, trying to balance creativity and efficiency has always been a challenge. You know I am always going on about working faster! Time never seems to be on my side, and I am sure that for yourself, you would agree. For me, time is money.
As a busy teacher and entrepreneur, it seems even harder to navigate this precious resource. We are always told we must work smarter and not harder.
As an illustrator and surface pattern designer, I've discovered a game-changer that has not only transformed the way I work but has also significantly enhanced the quality of my work—pre-saved assets in Affinity Designer.
In my Affinity Designer Foundations class that I do LIVE twice a year (8 week program), I have full lessons on how to create these from scratch. Here is a sample of one of the lessons so you can get a little taste:
This class is always available as a self-paced course but has the live support component only twice a year. Dates TBA for 2025
In my many years of illustration, incorporating the habit of reusing vector assets has proven to be a game-changer, especially in Affinity Designer because they are always at-the-ready! Assets are stored right where you need them, in a fly-out panel on the right.
It's surprising how often you use them, once you start. I was a die-hard Illustrator user for 35 years, and now I barley touch it!
I teach about the use of the Asset Studio all the time and probably mention it in every Affinity Designer class🤪.
Here is an example of one of the projects I have in the Affinity Foundations series (I supply all the assets). I also have a similar class in my school membership.
These pre-saved digital elements, carefully collected from past projects, have become valuable tools that bring both efficiency and consistency to my creative process.
For example, coupled with the use of my Affinity Designer templates, I can usually create a repeat pattern like this in one evening's worth of work; sometimes I can even do a few blender prints!
When starting a new project, I often flip through my assets library in the Affinity
Designer interface. These can be anything from floral filler motifs to more detailed botanical or quirky tea cups and tea pots, trees and mountains, and many background patterns and elements which can serve as the foundation or for texture in my illustrations.
The practice of reusing these assets not only speeds up my work but also ensures a consistent visual style across different projects. I have even produced a set for sale which has over 600 of my assets in it (Click on the image to learn more).
What I love is that students can alter any asset easily without any loss of quality. I often don't even recognize they have done so!
The benefit of reusing vector assets extends beyond time-saving. It allows me to devote more time and energy to the creative side of my illustrations.
Instead of spending hours re-creating common elements, I can focus on experimenting with ideas and adding unique touches to each piece. I can easily alter the elements to make them look unique.
The benefit of reusing vector assets extends beyond time-saving. It allows me to devote more time and energy to the creative side of my illustrations.
Instead of spending hours re-creating common elements, I can focus on experimenting with ideas and adding unique touches to each piece. I can easily alter the elements to make them look unique.
Using assets has really helped me a ton to build many fabric collections and placement prints/illustrations art portfolio in no time. Not all illustrations will “sell” and certainly at this point not all of them are client work, so I compensate myself this time investment with such efficiency hacks as recycling assets.
Don't be afraid to embrace the efficiency of recycling some elements—it's a smart and sustainable approach that allows you to focus on what truly matters, your work and your portfolio. And eventually when you get client work, you’ll be ahead of other artists and you’ll be able to offer some speed and efficiency to fulfil client deadlines!
(This set below comes free with the Affinity Foundations Class as well as a bunch more!)
I have a several classes that include many processes I use create vector assets in Affinity Designer in case you’d like to check them out. What I also love about these assets is that I can use them as stencils, often painting within them using the pixel persona as shown here:
Check out my Artist Resources here:
