Hello Creative Friend
Build a Career as a Surface Pattern Designer
...and find the art and joy of seeing your artwork on fabric, stationery, home decor and more. Join thousands of students I've helped along the way.
your journey begins here
Why I Created This Course
I didn't set out to become a surface pattern designer. I was a software engineer, freelancing and contracting to big companies in Sydney, burnt out and looking for something that felt like mine.
I was around 40 when I started again. At the time, that felt late.
Now that I'm in my 50's, it doesn't sound late at all.
I made this course because I wished it had existed when I was starting out. There was no clear path, just a lot of trial and error, a lot of courses that taught me to draw but not how to actually get my work in front of the people who could license it. I wanted to build the thing I needed back then, the creative side and the business side, together, in one place.
does this sound like you?
You're closer than you think
Maybe you already know how to draw. You've got a sketchbook full of ideas, or a folder of digital files you're proud of. But something's missing between "I can draw" and "I have a career doing this."
Maybe you've taken a few courses already. You've picked up bits and pieces, a Procreate tutorial here, a licensing article there, but it's never quite added up to a system you can actually follow.
Maybe you're staring down a blank software canvas wondering what a half-drop repeat even is, or you've got no idea how you'd approach a company to license your work, even if you did have something ready to show them.
If any of that sounds familiar, you're not behind. You're just missing the parts nobody's shown you yet.
who this course is perfect for
This course is for you if...
YOU CAN ALREADY DRAW
You want to learn how to turn that into patterns that sell
YOU'RE NEW TO THE SOFTWARE
You're a complete beginner to Procreate, Photoshop, Affinity or Illustrator, or you know the basics but not how to use them for pattern design specifically
You've tried courses before
You've taken courses before but still don't understand how to actually get a foot in the industry
You're starting later in life
You're starting a creative career later in life, changing direction, or picking art back up after years away from it
You WANT A SYSTEM
You want a system to follow, not another hundred scattered tutorials
You'RE READY FOR REAL CLIENTS
You're ready to build a portfolio and start reaching out to real clients, not just practising in private
THE QUESTION I ASK EVERY STUDENT
What if the thing holding you back isn't talent?
Most of the designers I've worked with who found success weren't the most technically skilled when they started. They were the ones who kept going, who learned the business side instead of avoiding it, who stopped waiting to feel ready.
I believe people buy joy. Not perfection, not polish, joy. The pattern that came from a story you actually wanted to tell. That's what licensing companies respond to, and it's closer than you think.
“
in my words
"The pattern that comes from a story you actually wanted to tell is the one that sells"
your teacher, coach & mentor
Hey there, I'm Mel
I'm an illustrator and surface pattern designer based in Wellington, New Zealand. My work has been licensed by companies including Cloud9 Fabrics, Hallmark, Wentworth Puzzles, and Auzou and I've illustrated more than fifteen children's books.
Before any of that, I spent years as a software engineer, freelancing and contracting to large companies, and feeling completely burnt out by it. Surface pattern design gave me a second creative career, one I get to build on my own terms.
I've spent over a decade in this industry now, and I've made most of the mistakes so you don't have to. I built this course to share what actually worked, not just the theory, so you can build a career that feels like yours too.
12+ years working as a professional surface pattern designer and illustrator
Licensed work with brands including Cloud9 Fabrics, Hallmark, Wentworth Puzzles, Indie Boho Australia, Loomwell & Phoebe Fabrics
Illustrated more than 15 published children's books with publishers such as Scholastic & Harper Collins
Skillshare Top Teacher, one of the platform's top instructor tiers
Contributing author to the Graphic Artists Guild Handbook, the industry's standard pricing and ethics reference
your teacher, coach & mentor
Clients I've worked with
I feel genuinely lucky to have worked with these companies. Licensing has taught me that this industry isn't just about the art, it's about the relationship. Trust, good communication, and showing up reliably matter just as much as the work itself.
These are a few of the brands I've had the privilege of collaborating with over the years.
Cloud9 Fabrics
Indie Boho (Australia)
Wentworth Puzzles
Auzou (France)
in their words
Don't take my word for it
A few honest reflections from students who've been through the course, in their own words.
“
I can't recommend it enough. It is a very comprehensive and detailed course. Outstanding course for the price. You have access to resources, Q&A videos, quick tips, and more. It covers Photoshop, Procreate and Illustrator, very clear explanations, reliable info and brilliant tips. Mel answers all your questions, she is very effective, smart and talented.
— Be
I love this course. Mel shows all the steps to create surface pattern collections, giving precious tips in all the subjects involved. From finding your dream client, to achieving a beautiful and cohesive collection, organising your files, or even legal matters, everything is in this course.
— Elha
I am very happy to have taken this course. I have learned a lot, and above all it helped me learn to create collections, which is the most difficult thing for me. Watching Mel show you her method has helped me organise and create a more consistent workflow.
— miriam
what's inside
Here's what you're learn
Six modules, self-paced, with over fifty lessons covering both the creative and business sides of this industry.
Module 1 — The Fundamentals
Your own journey into surface pattern design, how to make money in this industry, developing your style, and discovering licensing opportunities.
Module 2 — finding inspiration, colour & sketching our ideas
Building a story and mood board, sketching motifs, colour theory, and using templates to get started.
Module 3 — colour & texture
Colouring your motifs in Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, and traditional medium, so you can work in whatever software fits you.
Module 4 — pattern composition
The biggest module. Pattern composition fundamentals, plus how to build repeats in Procreate, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Affinity Designer.
Module 5 — pattern collections
Why, when, and how to build a full collection, and how to display it professionally for potential clients.
Module 6 — the business of surface pattern design
Portfolios, pricing, contracts, copyright, marketing, passive income, and everything else that turns your patterns into a business.
PLUS: bonus mini courses and community
12 months' access to the Pattern Collective Community Membership
Notion for Pattern Designers - Mini Course
Find your Signature Style and Stand Out - Mini Course
one time payment
$399 USD*
This includes full access, all bonuses, and the 14-day money-back guarantee.
* Prices shown in USD and do not include any applicable taxes (VAT, etc).
before you join
You may be asking
How are the modules released to me?
Module 1 is ready for you as soon as you sign in, so you can start straight away. Each following module opens up once you've completed the assignment for the one before it.
What tools do I need for this Course?
Paper, pencil, and a rubber to start, plus at least one of Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop or Affinity.
How much time do I need?
The course is built around six modules and was originally designed for six weeks, but it's fully self-paced. Go at whatever speed suits you.
How long do I have access to the material?
For the life of the product. All PDFs are yours to download and keep.
Is this the same content you share on Skillshare?
No, everything in this course is new and exclusive to this course
How much experience do I need?
Some familiarity with Illustrator, Photoshop, Affinity or Procreate is ideal, I teach how to colour, add texture, and compose patterns in each, but you'll want the basics of at least one first.
What if I have a question that isn't listed here?
Send me an email, [email protected], I'd love to help.
✳
one last thing
Start before you feel ready
You don't need to have it all figured out before you start. Most of the designers I've watched build real careers in this industry started exactly where you are now, unsure, a little rusty, without a system.
This course is that system. The creative side and the business side, together, so you can stop guessing and start building.
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