Falling (Deeper) in Love with Surface Pattern Design
Today I’m back on one of my favorite topics—my deep and growing love for pattern design. I first stumbled into this special little corner of the design world while teaching high school art, and even then I knew it was something I’d dive into “someday, when I had the time.” Once I retired, I finally had that time—and down the rabbit hole I went!
That rabbit hole has a name: surface pattern design. I started by taking online art classes and fell in love with the process of designing patterns for fabric, home goods, stationery, wallpaper—you name it. At first, I worked in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator (and I still keep my subscription, just in case), but over time, I transitioned almost exclusively to Affinity Designer, especially on the iPad. It’s now my go-to creative weapon. The portability and ease of drawing anywhere—from my backyard to my comfy couch or to a cozy café or on the road – has been a total game-changer.
To make things even easier, I’ve designed dozens of templates that help me do the heavy lifting inside Affinity Designer. They speed up my workflow, let me test colorways and repeat types faster, and give me more time to play with motifs and layouts.
And yes—I teach this stuff, too! I’ve created a full suite of surface pattern design courses, covering both Adobe Illustrator and Affinity Designer, all of which are included in my Thriving Artist Membership. I also teach a signature course called Mastering Surface Pattern Design in Affinity Designer which runs July/August (LIVE cohort) or anytime as a self-pace course. (Find it here: learn.deloresart.ca/p/mastering-surface-pattern-design-in-affinity-designer).If you’re curious about diving in, or looking for a place to build real momentum with your art, head to learn.deloresart.ca
Where it All Began
My first taste of patterns came through fabric. I was an avid seamstress and obsessed with textiles. I discovered designers like Marimekko while working in a wallpaper store and studying design in trade school. I even worked in a fabric shop for a while and became fascinated by the way patterns were composed.
I’ve got stacks of sketchbooks and art journals full of motifs, ideas, half-formed doodles, and color experiments. That’s where I always start—pencil or marker in hand, just playing. Sketch. Scribble. Explore. There’s magic in those pages.
What Is Surface Pattern Design, Anyway?
Look around you. Patterns are everywhere—on your clothes, your cushions, your notebooks, mugs, wallpaper, wrapping paper, tableware. Surface pattern designers are the creative force behind all that beauty.
Once I learned how to make my first repeating pattern, I was absolutely hooked. These days, I sell a variety of products featuring my designs—from apparel to home décor—and there’s nothing quite like seeing your artwork come to life on something you can hold or wear.
The Tools I Use
Many patterns begin on paper, but the repeat itself—the magic that makes it seamless—is crafted digitally. Here’s a peek at what I use:
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A sketchbook, tracing paper, and plenty of pens and markers
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An iPad with Affinity Designer (my favorite!)
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A MacBook Pro or 27" iMac (for heavier lifting)
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Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (occasionally)
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A scanner or camera for digitizing artwork
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A color printer and mockups to visualize how patterns look on real products
The Pattern-Making Process
You can start from a simple pencil sketch or a full-blown watercolor painting. The core steps:
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Create your original art
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Scan or photograph it
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Digitize and clean it up
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Choose a color palette
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Build your pattern repeat
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Recolor and scale as needed
If you want to dive in, I offer beginner-friendly classes in both Adobe and Affinity programs—everything from custom brushes to advanced repeat templates. They’re inside the Thriving Artist Membership, along with bonus workshops and art business resources. And if you’re just browsing, check out my Skillshare profile here—there’s lots of good stuff waiting for you.
Why I Love It
The thrill of combining motifs, adjusting colorways, and scaling for different products never gets old. Surface pattern design hits that sweet spot between art and problem-solving—it’s joyful and deeply satisfying.
It can seem overwhelming at first, but like anything worthwhile, it’s all about showing up and staying curious. Take it one step at a time, and you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
More Resources to Explore
Here are a few favorites I recommend if you want to keep learning:
Artists & Educators I Love:
Elizabeth Olwen, Helen Dardik, Mel Armstrong, Victoria Johnson, Anne Bollman, Ronnie Walter, Ginger McCleskey, Sandra Bowers, and more!
Next Steps
One of my big goals this year is to finalize several new collections, launch a public-facing portfolio, and begin pitching for licensing opportunities. It’s a little scary—but it’s the kind of dream worth chasing.
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