If you want to take part in this design challenge post your finished surface pattern designs to Instagram using the hashtag #kelciemakespatternsdesignchallenge with a description or story about the pattern. This way we can have a centralized way for everyone to find each other’s patterns. For this design challenge I am going to be posing my designs weekly, however, you can really go at your own pace. If you are feeling inspired and you want to bang out 5 patterns in a week go ahead. The dates are really just there to keep me on schedule. Here are the rules for each design challenge.
- Redesign one of your old designs
Take one of your old designs and turn it on its head. You must change at least 3 things about your design and they all must be from different categories. For example, all of your three changes cannot just be changing the color of three different aspects of your design or just rearranging three different graphics around. There has to be a noticeable difference from your old pattern to your new one. When you are done post your old and new pattern to Instagram side by side.
- Design a pattern based on a movie
For added difficulty try to make your pattern more ambiguous. If your pattern is based on harry potter don’t just draw Harry Potter but rather potions, wands, glasses, etc. (can you tell I have never really watched or read Harry Potter movies/books).
- Design a pattern based on your favorite memory
This one is self-explanatory but when you post your pattern to Instagram tell the story or memory that was the inspiration for this pattern.
- Design a pattern based on a song
Pick any song that you would like and interpret that song through your pattern. Songs are often interpreted differently from person to person so try not to look up the meaning of the song. Design your pattern based on your own interpretation of the song.
- Design a pattern based on one of your hobbies
For this design challenge, there is only one thing you need to know. You cannot use surface pattern design as your hobby.
- Design a pattern about something on your bucket list
What is something you have always wanted to do? Skydiving, traveling the world, swimming with sharks? Similar to the previous design challenge your pattern cannot be related to surface pattern design in any way. For example, you cannot say that you always wanted to open your own surface pattern design shop and submit one of your old patterns.
- Design a pattern using only these 5 colors:
For this challenge, you must only use the 5 colors given but you don’t have to use all 5 colors. You are also allowed two additional colors of black and white, which are not included in the 5 colors.
- Pick one color and design a pattern using only variations of that color
This design challenge was inspired by a pattern I saw on some flour packaging I got at my local grocery store. So you can get a feel of this challenge I will include a picture of the flour here:
Essentially you will be creating a pattern using variations of one color. For example, if you use the color blue you could choose colors between light blue and the very darkest of navy blue so long as it is a shade of blue.
- Design a pattern to go on the packaging of your favorite product
Pick a product that you love and design a pattern as if it was going to be featured on the products’ packaging. It could be food, shoes, makeup, electronics, etc.
- Design patterns for a stationary collection
Design a cohesive pattern collection for folders, planners, notebooks, pencils, etc. When you finish your collection and post it to Instagram explain a little bit about what you envisioned each pattern to be used for. If you want to go one step further you could apply your patterns to some mockups. For free mockups, I like to go to graphicburger.com or mockupworld.co but this step isn’t necessary.
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