(Published Oct 2025) This is a lecture-based class that focuses on the Dos, Don’ts, and Myths of pattern collections and surface design portfolios. <a href="https://skl.sh/3JbbWi8" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Click here to watch Part 1</a>.
Hi! I'm Melissa Lee, a professional illustrator, surface designer, and licensed fabric designer. Back in July of 2022, I published Part 1 of Pattern Collections and Portfolios: Dos, Don'ts, and Myths, and it's been one of my most popular classes here on Skillshare. In that class, I focused on the fundamentals of creating pattern collections and building a surface design portfolio—things like collection size, complexity, color palettes, and how to present your work professionally.
Well, it's been over three years since I made that class, and I've learned so much in that time. I've licensed more collections, I've worked with more clients, and I've had countless conversations with students and fellow artists about what's working, what's not, and what questions keep coming up. So I decided it was time to create Part 2.
In this class, I cover all the things I didn't get to in Part 1, along with updated insights based on my experience since then.
<img src="https://static.skillshare.com/uploads/discussion/tmp/90a4a5d0.png" class="zoomable rounded-image-wrapper" alt="90a4a5d0.png">
Lesson Overview:
<ol>
<li>Class Introduction</li>
<li>Setting Realistic Licensing Expectations</li>
<li>An Updated Quick Note on Print on Demand (POD)</li>
<li>A Quick Note On Flexibility</li>
<li>Are Vectors Required?</li>
<li>Some More Thoughts on Collection Size</li>
<li>Should Surface Design Collections Only Include Repeating Patterns?</li>
<li>Portfolio Tip! Don’t Include This</li>
<li>Scale and Mockups</li>
<li>Should Your Portfolio Be in RGB or CMYK?</li>
<li>A Quick Note on Contracts</li>
<li>Portfolio Tip! Curate to the Company You’re Pitching To</li>
<li>Pitching Your Portfolio</li>
<li>Do You Need an Established Brand or Large Following to Secure Licensing Deals?</li>
<li>Closing Thoughts</li>
</ol>
Want to learn Illustrator? If you’d like to learn Adobe Illustrator and the art of designing repeating patterns, check out my other Skillshare classes on pattern design:
<ol>
<li><a href="https://skl.sh/3oxUFmz" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Surface Design In Adobe Illustrator: A Beginner's Guide to Pattern Building</a> - A comprehensive introduction to surface design in Adobe Illustrator.</li>
<li><a href="https://skl.sh/2ICkfhH" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Character Design Crash Course: Characters for Surface Pattern Design</a> - I cover things to consider when designing characters specifically for patterns, as well as demonstrate my personal process for creating a repeat pattern tile in Adobe Photoshop, but that lesson is somewhat outdated unless you use an older version of Photoshop than CC, as it is updated and improved yearly.</li>
<li><a href="https://skl.sh/4e6qb2f" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Basics in Adobe Illustrator: Radial, Grid, and Mirror Repeats</a> - Everything you need to know about duplicating and repeating objects, including how to use the Radial, Grid, and Mirror repeat tools, and a deep dive into the Rotate and Reflect tools.</li>
<li><a href="https://skl.sh/3Kr9IYT" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Basics in Adobe Illustrator: A Deep Dive into Exporting</a> - Everything you need to know about exporting artwork and graphics from Adobe Illustrator.</li>
</ol>
Through demystifying pattern collections and portfolios, this series can help you to avoid the sort of stagnation and loss of momentum that I experienced on my own journey to becoming a surface designer. My hope for you is to leave this series feeling motivated to share and submit your work and to continue creating patterns! 
So let’s get started!
***
Adobe, and Adobe Illustrator are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe in the United States and/or other countries.

Introduction

Setting Realistic Licensing Expectations

An Updated Note on Print On Demand (POD)

A Quick Note on Flexibility

Are Vectors Required?

Some More Thoughts on Collection Size

Should Surface Design Collections Only Include Repeating Patterns?

Portfolio Tip! Don't Include This

Scale and Mockups

RGB or CMYK?

A Quick Note on Contracts

Portfolio Tip! Curate to the Company You’re Pitching To

Pitching Your Portfolio

Do You Need an Established Brand or Large Following to Secure Licensing Deals?

Thank You!

Class Guide - Pattern Collections & Portfolios by Melissa Lee.pdf

Collection Color Palettes and Colorways.pdf

Collection Complexity.pdf

Portfolio Presentation Best Practices.pdf

Pitch Email Templates by Melissa Lee.pdf

Pattern Collections and Portfolios: Dos, Don'ts, and Myths | Part 2

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Pattern Collections and Portfolios: Dos, Don'ts, and Myths | Part 2

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