10 Surface Design Projects for Summer
Summer is a season of warm weather and time spent out in the beautiful outdoors. It's also the perfect time to dive into exciting projects to enhance your surface pattern design and illustration skills.
Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting out, these 10 creative prompts provide ample opportunities to explore new techniques, experiment with different styles, and make significant progress on your portfolio. So, grab your art supplies, prepare your sketchbook, and let's embark on a summer of artistic growth and fulfillment!
1. Design Challenge
Challenge yourself to create a surface pattern design or illustration every day for a set period. How about 30 days? Push your creative boundaries, explore the same or diverse themes, and refine your skills. Setting aside time each day, even if it’s just 15 minutes, helps you take your creative work more seriously and allows you to develop a vast collection of designs.
2. Theme-Based Series
Select a theme that resonates with you and create a series of illustrations or surface pattern designs based on that theme. It could be "Botanical Beauty," "Whimsical Creatures," or "Retro Summer Vibes." This prompt helps you develop a cohesive body of work which is important as you build your portfolio.
3. Take a New Online SPD Class
Enroll in an online surface pattern design class or workshop to expand your knowledge and learn new techniques. Explore classes that focus on specific areas of interest to you or challenge yourself with classes outside your comfort zone. Broaden your skill set and gain fresh perspectives. There are so many courses to chose from! Check out my new Surface Design “bundle” by clicking HERE.
4. Expand into a New Medium
Experiment with a new medium, such as gouache or watercolor pencils, to expand beyond the type of work you normally produce. Explore the unique characteristics and possibilities of the medium and incorporate it into your surface pattern designs and illustrations. This tactic is also very helpful when you’re feeling stuck. By trying something completely new, you feel less pressure.
5. Book a Professional Photo Shoot
While the weather is lovely, invest in a professional photo shoot to capture high-quality images of yourself and your artwork. These photos can be used on your website, in your portfolio, and other promotional materials. It’s so important to share who you are and where you work, no matter how messy your studio might be. Professional photos are a must.
6. Finalize One Surface Pattern Design Collection
Choose a theme for one surface pattern design collection and create 5-7 patterns that complement each other. Times are changing and it’s no longer required that you create big 12-piece collections. Mini-collections are more flexible both for you and for companies looking to license your work. Keep the color palette tight. Include related motifs, and showcase them with variations to ensure cohesion across the collection. This project will demonstrate your ability to create a comprehensive body of work.
7. Holiday-Themed Patterns
Design 6-8 standalone patterns with a holiday theme, such as Christmas or Winter Holiday. Including holiday-themed patterns in your portfolio is essential. November and December are the biggest shopping months of the year so make sure your portfolio has jaw-dropping seasonal patterns. Showcase your creativity and capture the spirit of the holidays.
8. Start Collecting Mockups
Gather a variety of high-quality mockups and learn how to use them to showcase your surface pattern designs in realistic settings. Experiment with different mockups that focus on apparel, home decor, or packaging. These create compelling visuals for your portfolio. Buyers need to see your designs “in situ”, meaning in real life environments which bring your designs to life.
9. Art Journaling
Start an art journal to document your creative journey. You’ll be amazed at the progress you make over time and you’ll love leafing back through your older work. Use your journal as a space for reflection, sketching, and brainstorming. It’s a great resource to refer to when you need a new or old idea that you’re ready to explore again.
10. Create a Vision Board
Create a vision board that highlights the theme you selected in project #2. Gather visual references, color chips, textures, and inspirational images that resonate with your chosen theme. Your vision board serves as a visual guide and constant reminder of the direction you want to take with your surface pattern designs and illustrations. Fill it amply so that it yields tons of motif ideas!
I can’t wait to hear which of these projects resonates the most with you. Join me for my weekly Wednesday live chat about art, creativity and surface design. It’s always on my Facebook business page, on Wednesdays at noon PST / 3pm EST. You can find my page on Facebook HERE.
See you there.
xo,
Anne
P.S. Ready to dive into Surface Design with me? Check out my new “bundle” that contains four mini-courses curated especially for YOU. Click HERE for details.
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
