What do you want to learn next?
I’m currently brainstorming ideas for new Skillshare classes and would love to get your feedback on the topics I’m considering. Below are descriptions of the classes with a short survey at the end, so you can let me know your interest level in them.
I truly value your opinions and I appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey.
CLASS DESCRIPTIONS
1. Make Great Patterns: Mastering Fundamental Design Principles
Anybody can make a pattern. But if you want to be a successful surface pattern designer, you’ll need to understand the fundamental design principles essential for making great patterns. If you have no formal art school training or would like a refresher, this class is for you.
I’ll walk you through the most important principles for patterns — balance, rhythm, depth, contrast, and scale, and provide lots of examples to illustrate and reinforce each concept. There will also be hands-on lessons demonstrating how to incorporate design principles into your own pattern designs to make them stronger, more appealing and more marketable.
2. The Professional Repeat
This class is all about getting art files ready for production. I’ll show you how to check your pattern for technical errors as well as flaws like holes, hills, gullies and unintentional striping. I’ll also give you tips on setting up your files so they look professional and are user-friendly for your client.
Companies may need files set up for specific printing processes, so I’ll explain the differences in the most common methods you might encounter — digital, offset, screen, and rotary printing. I’ll also go though the different color systems including CMYK, RGB, HEX, Pantone, and Indexed Color, and show you how to specify them in your files.
A few lessons will be specific to Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop, but the majority are applicable across all software applications.
3. Patterns in the Wild: Designing for Products
Surface pattern designers don’t just make pretty patterns. They also make products look great. This class is designed to get you thinking about how your patterns will look on products. You’ll learn how color, scale, texture and level of detail affect which products they’re suitable for. I’ll give you insights into design considerations for home goods, apparel, quilting fabric, stationery and ceramics. You’ll end up with a better understanding what companies are looking for, so you can tailor your designs to your desired product categories.
4. Pattern Tool Expert
With Adobe Illustrator’s pattern tool you can make seamless patterns almost instantly — including half drops and brick repeats. Plus, you can adjust and revise your designs on the fly. It’s a very powerful tool.
But it also has some idiosyncrasies that make some designers shy away from using it. In this class, I’ll start with a quick review of the basics, showing how it differs from other pattern-making methods. Then we’ll take a deep dive into the details, overcoming its idiosyncrasies with explanations, tips and workarounds. By the end, instead of being a reluctant or frustrated user, you’ll be a pattern tool expert!