Introducing
Surface Pattern Design Studio
The most comprehensive program for creating, digitizing and getting your artwork onto products
Surface Pattern Design Studio is the only course of its kind that not only shows you exactly how to create repeating patterns like a pro---but how to get your art onto products, and then in the hands of people who love your designs! Whether you want to license your art, showcase it on print-on-demand sites, or directly sell physical products, you will learn how to create collections with your signature style stamped all over them.
Imagine the satisfaction of seeing your creative ideas on products.
Like the wallpaper you designed...in your living room. Or the gifts you wrap for loved ones....with your unique cards and wrapping paper. Or walking into a store and seeing products of all kinds with your art on them.
Welcome to Surface Pattern Design Studio!
Before I tell you about this life-changing program, let's talk about who this is really for...
You've been a passionate hobbyist and doodler since childhood, often dreaming about being in a creative business that provides time, location and financial freedom. But you're not just a dreamer.....you have the ambition and determination to learn new skills, launch your own business, and make a whole lot more money your way. Maybe a lucrative side hustle is all you need. Or you simply want to take that passion you have for crafts and treat yourself to a new creative skill set.
Whether you're.....
-
someone who went to art school, but now you're burned out from a creative "day job" that doesn't provide the freedom to produce the kind of art that's in your heart and imagination
-
a diehard DIY crafter who wants to learn an exciting new skill so that you can create products for your family and friends
-
a person who was told that "artists are always broke", so you pursued a supposedly safer career path....and now you feel as though life is passing you by
-
looking for a side hustle that doesn't require a big financial investment, office space, or time commitment
-
someone who thinks that "artists are other people"...as if creative people have inherited some kind of a magical gene...and you don't have the skills to draw a simple sketch on the back of a cocktail napkin
-
deathly afraid of learning new technology...because you're "too old" or "not good with tech"
-
someone with kids, or older parents to care for, and you're looking for a satisfying career that you can do from home
-
recently retired or laid off, and you want (and need!) to earn more money
-
already running a successful creative enterprise and you want to expand your product and service offerings to the marketplace
You're in the right place! Surface Pattern Design Studio will give you the tools, inspiration and unparalleled support you need to successfully put your patterns on products and start a new career, side hustle or hobby.
By the end of this program,
you will have…
-
Mastered Adobe Illustrator to the point where you are completely confident that you've aced all the skills required to produce gorgeous surface designs
-
Nailed down your signature style---and it absolutely shines from every design you create
-
Produced a complete collection of patterns in whatever niche you want to succeed in: home decor, children's clothing, quilt fabrics, stationery, baby products, you name it
-
Created a variety of pattern styles, such as border prints, geometrics, half drops, brick repeats, tossed, and layered
-
Learned all about the various money-making opportunities available to you: licensing deals, selling on print-on-demand sites, and creating your own physical products
-
Acquired a new hobby that enables you to take other forms of art you have created (watercolors, block prints, sketches and silkscreens) and digitize them
"I had zero art training and had never touched Adobe Illustrator prior to being in Jenna's beta test group for this course. She broke things down in such a simple, easy to understand manner that I was able to progress through the modules without any problems....and I work a full time job. I completed a collection and I am now selling my products on print-on-demand sites. The best part? I've taken my kids' sketches, digitized them, and put the art on their own t-shirts and backpacks! "
ELIZABETH COSTELLO, new surface designer
Enroll in Surface Pattern Design Studio today!
OR
What’s Inside Surface Pattern Design Studio
Module 1
Getting Started with Illustrator
Here's why it pays to learn from someone who's gone before you---I know exactly where most students get stuck when they start working with Adobe Illustrator. In this module, we're going to download the program and learn the basic tech tools in a very clear and rational manner (you won't feel intimidated and confused by the tech!). By the way, you don't need an iPad for this course: all that's required is a computer with enough RAM to run Illustrator, and your creativity.
Module 1 Highlights:
- whether you're working on a PC or a Mac, you'll be able to download Illustrator and quickly learn how to maneuver around the workspace
- get started with the most frequently used tools and ace them with plenty of simple practice assignments
- develop best practices for creating black and white sketches and then import them into the program
- learn how to move around your motifs (drawings), resize and make copies of them
Module 2
Color & Inspiration
This module is split into two areas: the first half is devoted to understanding how to apply color to your motifs, and the second half gets you started on developing your signature style. It's smart to start developing your personal style in this module so that you'll have plenty of art to bring into the program in Module 4, when we start building patterns.
Module Highlights:
- create custom color palettes from photos and other sources
- learn how to use the paint brush and blob brush tools, and how to fill in your motifs with color
- discover how to find sources of inspiration, and then how to organize your inspo assets
- consider what kind of products you want to see your art on
Module 3
Creating Art within Illustrator
Now that you know how to bring black and white sketches into the program and work with them, it's time to import other forms of art you want to work with: watercolors, photographs, and block prints. What about foraged finds, such as real leaves, feathers, and flowers? Yes, you can do that too! Also in this module, you'll learn how to create art with the pen and pencil tools.
Module Highlights:
- learn how to use the native drawing tools within Illustrator to create art within the program
- finesse the tips and tricks for successfully importing watercolors & other artwork without sacrificing depth and variations in shade
- collect objects found in nature (and around the house!), import images of them, and discover how they can add pizzazz to your patterns
Module 4
Repeating Patterns
OK, it's showtime! In this module you learn the precise steps needed to create a gorgeous repeating pattern. And I do mean "precise". Illustrator is pretty fussy here, which means that mistakes can be made. Trust me, I made all of them countless times, but I will walk you through the snafus with several troubleshooting videos that will quickly get your patterns working. Once you've successfully created your first repeating pattern, then you'll learn how to create new variations of it in different color palettes.
Module Highlights:
- learn how to create beautiful "tossed" patterns (which means that there is no definitive vertical or horizontal look)
- nail down the 3 steps necessary to create a pattern that repeats perfectly....so that you can send the file to a licensing company or print-on-demand site
- recoloring your art is one of the easiest things to do in Illustrator, and manufacturers will often want to see your designs in several colorways. This module introduces the tech tools that make recoloring a snap.
Module 5
Advanced Pattern Techniques
Now you're ready to start building more complex patterns. In this module you'll also learn how to add more interest and depth to your patterns via background textures, the puppet warp tool (yes, it's a thing), and other tools that enable you to manipulate your motifs.
Module Highlights:
- learn how to create diagonals, stripes, border prints, geometric patterns, and plaids
- adjust the scale of your completed patterns (super easy to do) so that you can envisage how they will look on something big, like wallpaper, all the way down to something small, like washi tape or an iPhone case
- create your own textured backgrounds by snapping photos of beach sand, raindrops on a window, anything that has a unique look to it. You can also purchase inexpensive, vector-based textured backgrounds: I'll show you how and where to go
Module 6
Creating Collections
Congratulations! Now that the tech is behind you, it's time to start creating collections for sale. In this module you'll learn exactly what manufacturers want to see in one: the number and kind of patterns, how they need to "work together as a team", and the number of colors you should use. You started to work on your signature style in Module 2; now we're going to really to lock it in with more inspiration gathering and refining.
Module Highlights:
- understand the difference between a hero, a blender and a complementary print
- how to create moodboards that will inform your creative process
- what kind of story do you want your collection to tell? What kind of feeling do you want someone to experience when they see your work....and then decide to bring it home with them? We'll do a deep dive into the emotional aspect of creating work that tugs at someone's heart.
- learn what a mini-collection is----and the product lines that are perfect for a smaller collection
Module 7
Licensing and Selling Your Art
There are a number of options available to you as a surface designer when it comes to earning an income, and in this module you'll learn all about them: licensing agreements, print-on-demand sites, producing and selling your own products, and being employed as a surface designer. You'll discover the pros and cons of all of them, the time frames involved, and the kind of income you can realistically expect to earn. Want to do surface design as a side business? We'll go over that too.
Module Highlights:
- the legal aspects of licensing contracts and royalty payments
- why savvy surface designers don't stick to just one income stream
- an insider's guide to the very best print-on-demand sites
- what absolutely must be in your portfolio
Module 8
Creative Entrepreneurship
What is the best way to promote your patterns? Do you need a website or an email list? What social media platforms are best for showing off your work? Do you need to form a corporation? In this module you'll learn the best way to go about creating a presence in the surface pattern world. Marketing is a critical key to your future success, and the path you take depends on a number of factors. By the end of the module you'll have a complete roadmap in place!
Module Highlights:
- how to protect your artwork from being copied
- bookkeeping, organizing your files and annual planning
- how trade shows and maker's markets can expose your work to decision makers at manufacturing companies and magazines
When you enroll during this special, limited time period,
you’ll get:
Surface Pattern Design Studio
(A $2,997 Value)
-
8 Implementation Modules
showing you literally EVERYTHING you need to do to learn the skill of surface pattern design. -
Personalized Attention
from me, via 2 live Zoom calls each week. In these calls we'll troubleshoot your questions and problems concerning the creative process, as well as the technical end of things. If you're having tech issues with a pattern, you can email me the file and I can analyze it in my Illustrator program. -
A step-by-step plan for developing your signature style.
Successful pattern designers know this secret: you have to hone in on a look that is uniquely yours! -
A course that takes you from knowing nothing all the way to the finish line.
Although I created this course so that a beginner can succeed, this is not Surface Design "Lite", meaning that you have to take a more advanced class after this. Everything that you need to know is right here.
Plus These Bonuses to Help You Rock It as a Surface Designer
Bonus 1
Branding Brilliance
If you want to make a mark in the surface design world, you need to have a recognizable brand. Yes, your patterns will have a certain style to them, but you also need to create a "brand bible" that works in tandem with your signature style. A brand bible is a digital or physical notebook that contains all of the information that represents your message, and you'll learn how to create one that's dynamite!
(A $297 Value)
What You’ll Get:
A complete, step-by-step plan for brainstorming and creating your brand bible:
- the colors, photos and fonts that you will use on your website, social media posts, emails and any marketing materials. This is based on the 4 seasons color theory method (spring, summer, fall, winter)
- how to create a simple yet effective website using the Story Brand method based on the book Story Brand by Donald Miller (however, you don't have to buy the book)
- develop a crystal clear focus on who your ideal customer is so that your marketing speaks directly to them, tugging at their heartstrings. Your ideal customer is the person who will end up buying your products, not the manufacturer who produces them.
Bonus 2
An Insider's Guide to Print on Demand Sites
By now, you've probably heard of Spoonflower and Society6, but there are plenty of others. You'll be surprised to discover just how many options there are for getting your art on products, whether you want to sell them or create them just for fun.
(A $256 Value)
What You’ll Get:
Not all print-on-demand sites are alike. Naturally you want the lowdown on the best platforms with the highest quality products. This bonus provides you with the list of the best ones out there, plus...
- a list with over 100 different product categories you can look into
- POD sites that will drop ship to you, so that you can sell your products on your website, Etsy or other online platform
- how to approach manufacturers directly and bypass the POD sites (which means that you make more profit!)
Bonus 3
Creating Patterns from Watercolors
Because watercolors have so many shades, creating patterns from them requires extra skills. In Module 3, I explain the mechanics of importing them into Illustrator, but this bonus explains why you need to think about your digital patterns BEFORE you even start painting!
(A $447 Value)
What You’ll Get:
The step-by-step process for planning out your paintings, the settings you need to select in Illustrator when you import, and how to blend your colors to create a look that's rich and textured.
- what manufacturers need in your digital file in order to print patterns that capture the beauty of watercolor
- how to clean up your artwork and work in outline mode before beginning the pattern making process
- use the recolor artwork tool to change the colors of your original painting
Here’s what you’re getting when you enroll today:
Surface Pattern Design Studio - a $2,997 Value
- Bonus 1 - $297 Value
- Bonus 2 - $257 Value
- Bonus 3 - $447 Value
Total Value: $1,000
When you add it all up, that’s a value of $2,997
But when you enroll today, you’ll get access to everything for just: $1,997
OR
Plus You'll be Backed by a Risk-Free 14-Day Guarantee
Back in 2010, I was wondering if I should spend the money to learn Adobe Illustrator. I didn't absolutely need it for my table linens business---after all, I was able to do most of the creative aspects of it by hand---but I suspected that if I was willing to make the investment, that it would pay off.
Three semesters of Adobe Illustrator classes at the School of Visual Arts in Manhattan was going to cost me $1,750. Yikes.
So I totally get why you would be placing close attention to this part of the page!
I wasn't afraid to invest in myself and my business, provided that I got the results I was looking for.
And I'm sure you feel the same way.
That's why you can place your confidence in a money-back guarantee and set any enrollment nerves aside.
By the end of 14 days, you'll have received access to the first two modules of Surface Pattern Design Studio.
Meaning you'll have had the opportunity to download Illustrator, learn the basic tools, understand how to import your art, color it in and start developing your signature style BEFORE making a final commitment.
If you don't feel totally confident and motivated about your ability to learn surface design by 4 pm PT on Thursday, February 1, 2024, simply reach out and we'll refund your investment, no questions asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have tech or art skills to pull this off?
When is the enrollment period?
Do I get the full course all at once?
How much time should I set aside for this on a weekly basis?
What tools and supplies do I need?
How long do I have access to the course?
Can I just use the Illustrator app on my iPad?
How much does it cost? Is there a payment plan?
Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
What kind of support will I get?
What if I fall behind?
When do I get the bonuses?
Will you be teaching Procreate in this course?
Enroll in Surface Pattern Design Studio today!
OR
If you're thinking "this sounds amazing but I'm still not 100% sure" keep reading...
You should give Surface Pattern Design Studio a 14-day risk-free shot if you're motivated by any of the following:
1. You want freedom.
Whether it's the freedom to run a business from anywhere in the world, to having more time to spend with your loved ones, or to bust through a financial ceiling, you want to call the shots.
Maybe you want to be a full-time surface designer.
Perhaps you like your day job, but the idea of a flexible side hustle appeals to you. It provides you with a Plan B if your career goes off the rails, or the cash to buy that weekend home.
Maybe you simply need more "me time" and want to indulge in a hobby that you can do anywhere, anytime.
2. You're not afraid of trying new things.
Let's be real here. Learning surface pattern design does not require jumping out of airplanes, scaling Mount Everest or performing organ transplants. It requires only two basic skills: getting in touch with your creativity and learning the tech. That's it. Chances are you've already learned new creative skills in the past: watercoloring, oil painting, photography, ceramics, macrame, knitting, printing, you name it. Was there a learning curve? Of course. Remember the very first Powerpoint presentation you had to prepare and you were saying "whaaaaaaa?" You figured it out. You can do that again.
3. You recognize that there is no "perfect time" and waiting is not the answer.
That doesn't mean you don't break a sweat when you think about pressing the buy button below and investing in your incredibly promising future and creativity. But it does mean you're fully aware that it's "one day or Day One" and only YOU can decide. For what it's worth, if there was ever a "right time", it would be now. If you're tired of going on to Instagram and drooling over all of the amazing art that others are creating....and telling yourself that "one day" you're going to get your act together and live like an artist...this is the moment.
I can’t wait for you to join Surface Pattern Design Studio!
Maybe your heart is set on creating a full time career that allows you to scale your revenue and your ability to do something that you absolutely love....all the while enjoying time, location and financial freedom.
Or perhaps you want to earn an income on the side, money that will play a big part in your future financial plans.
Or maybe you have spent many years taking care of other peoples' needs, and now it's time for YOU to play and feel like a kid with a brand new box of Crayola crayons again (and I'm talking about the box with 120 colors!).
Surface pattern design skills can help you accomplish this.
What I love about this skill is that it can be used in combination with my other interests, such as block printing, letterpress and silkscreening. You can also create art within the program, or via an iPad.
But here's a little insider's scoop...
Not a single person has shown up at the surface pattern starting line feeling 100% confident they have this thing in the bag. And that includes people who went to art school, or folks who have already been using Illustrator to create things like logos, annual reports or websites.
Very few people feel like "experts".
Just about everyone asks, "Will anyone want my designs? How long will it take me to learn all of this stuff?"
My friend, I created Surface Pattern Design Studio to slowly but surely replace that doubt with a simple to implement 8-week plan.
Back in the day, I was a biology major. My first job was selling scientific equipment (skeletons, nasty chemicals, microscopes, dead rats, glassware) to research labs. It was a glamorous job (LOL) but somebody had to do it.
I spent every weekend and every spare penny taking art classes in NYC and wondering if I could ever make a living doing something fun.
Then the environmental industry opened up, and I got a job removing hazardous waste. You know those people in the yellow suits and the double-cannister face masks? Yeah....that was me.
This job was even more glam (insert "crying while laughing" emojis here), because those Tyvek suits make you sweat like nobody's business. I smelled stanky waste that no human being should ever have to smell (heck, some of my co-workers lost their sense of smell because their masks weren't tight enough).
After surviving several explosions and spending Monday through Friday on airplanes, in hotels and wading through horrendous gooey substances, I decided to lean into my creative side.
It had been calling out to me for so long.
I didn't know how to draw, so I taught myself. I wanted to be a printer, so I took classes in silkscreening, letterpress, wood carving and block printing.
Then I opened my own business, selling products with my designs on them.
I didn't know how to do ANY of this. Trade shows, branding, hiring sales reps to sell my product line, where to find packaging materials, how to build a website....it has been a journey.
When I finally got around to learning Illustrator, the teacher went so darn fast that I was practically in tears. Mind you, I got rid of explosives and chemicals that could kill you if they so much as touched your skin. Didn't lose my cool then, but my brain was being held together with chewing gum and some string during those Illustrator classes.
So when I created Surface Pattern Design Studio, I kept remembering how clueless I felt when I first learned Illustrator.
The material isn't hard to learn; it's how it is taught that counts. Throughout the entire time I developed the course, I thought about YOU, the person who wants to learn this without frustration.
You've got this, and I've got your back. I'm here to walk alongside you, every step of the way.
I can't wait to meet you, teach you, and cheer you on inside Surface Pattern Design Studio!
All my best,
Jenna
