Surface Pattern Design for Beginners: 12 Classes to Start Your Journey

Have you ever admired the beautiful prints on your favorite notebook, the fun patterns on a piece of fabric or the intricate designs on wallpaper? If so, you've already noticed the impact of surface pattern design. This inspiring and approachable field is all about creating the repetitive artwork that decorates the world around us. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing new hobby or considering a creative career, learning the art of pattern design is a rewarding journey that you can begin from your own home.

If you’re curious about the world of surface pattern design but are unsure where to start, stick around. We're about to explore what surface pattern design is, explain why it's a field worth getting into and break down common challenges you might face along the way. Most importantly, we'll show you 12 of the best online classes you can take to steadily build your skills and transform your artistic ideas into beautiful, repeatable patterns.

What Is Surface Pattern Design (And Why Should You Care)?

In short, surface pattern design is the art of creating repetitive, decorative motifs for a wide range of surfaces, from fabrics and wallpaper to stationery and home goods. Think of the floral print on a summer dress, the geometric design on a pillow or the whimsical pattern on a phone case—these are all examples of surface pattern design.

For hobbyists and aspiring professionals alike, surface pattern design is an incredibly exciting field. As a hobbyist, it offers a relaxing and accessible creative outlet. After all, you don't need a formal art education or expensive materials to get started; with just a few basic tools and a passion for design, you can create beautiful patterns to use in your own personal projects. It's also a fantastic way to develop your artistic skills, whether you're drawing, painting or working digitally.

And for those considering a creative career, surface pattern design offers a vast array of potentially lucrative opportunities. Unique and appealing patterns are constantly in demand across numerous industries, including fashion, home decor, publishing and product packaging. That means you can build a portfolio and potentially license your designs to companies, sell your own products or even work as a freelance designer. The field is also highly versatile, which makes it possible to specialize in a niche you love, from creating cute children's patterns to designing sophisticated, modern prints. 

Learning Surface Pattern Design as a Beginner

You can absolutely learn surface pattern design as a beginner, even if you’re not sure where to start. And if you’re feeling intimidated, rest assured that the challenges are more manageable than you think.

Here are some challenges beginners frequently face when jumping into surface pattern design:

• Creating seamless repeats: The idea of making a pattern tile that connects perfectly on all sides can seem like a complex puzzle.
• Mastering technical software: Although they may be relatively user-friendly, programs like Adobe Illustrator and Procreate have a lot of tools and functions that can be overwhelming for beginners.
• Finding your creative voice: It's completely normal to feel unsure of your own style, or compare yourself to other designers and feel like your work comes up short.
• Overcoming the "blank canvas" fear: Staring at an empty digital page or sketchbook can be paralyzing, and can make it difficult to start a project or even brainstorm.
• Understanding color theory: When you don’t have a grasp on color theory, it can be difficult to decide on a color palette and predict how colors will interact in a pattern.

The great news is that facing these challenges is 100% worth it; each one you overcome will exponentially increase your skills and creative confidence. And as you progress, you’ll develop a unique artistic style that’s yours alone.

Online classes offer an ideal way to tackle these challenges. By breaking down complex topics into simple, manageable lessons, they act as stepping stones you can use to reach your goal. And since you can re-watch tutorials as needed and learn in a low-pressure environment, it’s possible to learn at your own pace instead of playing catch-up. 

Build Solid Foundations 

Use these classes to gain fundamental surface pattern design skills. 

A 10-Minute Introduction 

It doesn’t get much more approachable than this: With the help of Skillshare Top Teacher Peggy Dean, you can create a vectorized repeating pattern in just ten minutes. You’ll just need some artwork you’ve already created (even if it’s just a simple sketch) and Adobe Illustrator. 

Learn the Fundamentals

Go a bit more in-depth with this class from Top Teacher Mel Armstrong. In it, you’ll learn how to create mood boards and select colors, sketch out your ideas, transform those sketches in Adobe Illustrator and create a repeating pattern from your art. 

Get Acquainted With Color Theory 

Unless you only want to create black and white patterns, you can learn a lot from this class by Top Teacher Kris Ruff. She’ll explain everything you need to know about primary and secondary colors, tints and tones, contrast and value, and much more. 

Expand Your Digital Skills 

Want to explore digital design platforms beyond Adobe Illustrator? These classes can help you branch out. 

Affinity Designer 

Affinity Designer is a powerful, subscription-free design program you can use on your iPad or computer. In this class, Top Teacher Weronika Salach will teach you how to create a colorful repeating pattern using Affinity Designer in just 15 minutes. 

Adobe Photoshop 

Photoshop is great for more than just photo editing—in this class, Top Teacher Cat Coquillette explains how you can use it to create a seamless watercolor pattern with eye-catching details. 

Adobe Fresco 

Adobe Fresco may be free, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a profoundly capable drawing and painting app. In this class, Top Teacher Maja Faber demystifies the process of creating beautiful patterns in Fresco. 

Explore Your Creativity 

Once you’re feeling a little more confident, use these classes to flex your creative muscles. 

Complete a Creative Challenge 

In a five-day challenge guided by teacher DK Ryland, you’ll draw inspiration from a variety of sources, from the great outdoors to everyday objects. Then, you’ll use the art you create as a basis for original surface patterns. 

Experiment With Animation 

Animating surface patterns might sound complicated, but under the instruction of Top Teacher Rebecca Flaherty, you’ll be able to create Instagram-friendly animations with ease. 

Paint Patterned Stationery 

Bring your surface patterns into the real world with this class from teacher Aleksandryna Gromyko. In it, she’ll show you how to use watercolors to decorate envelopes with delightful repeating patterns. 

Monetize Your Designs 

If you want to make money from your surface pattern designs, take these classes to find out how. 

Build a Portfolio 

In this class, you’ll learn how to organize your designs into a beautiful and compelling portfolio with the help of teacher Lauren Lesley.  

Sell Patterns Online 

Not ready to work with clients quite yet? In this class, teacher Geetanjali Behera provides a step-by-step guide for uploading and selling your surface patterns on the fabric and decor site Spoonflower. 

Launch a Career  

From finding your signature style and marketing yourself to securing clients and determining pricing, this class from Top Teacher Maja Faber covers almost every aspect of becoming a professional surface designer. 

From Blank Page to Beautiful Print

By completing online surface pattern design classes, you're not just learning how to use design software or create a seamless repeat; you're investing in your own creative growth and opening the door to a fulfilling new hobby or career. The skills you gain are yours to keep forever, and will act as a foundation for countless future surface pattern projects. 

So if you’re just getting started, don't let the fear of a blank canvas hold you back. The resources and support you need are right here on Skillshare, ready to help you turn your artistic curiosity into a tangible skill set. Just start with a single class, create one design and see where your creativity will take you next.

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Written By

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.

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