It’s hard to believe 2021 is nearing its end. It was another wild and challenging year, but one that has made me feel more invested and connected to our online design community than ever before. For the Pattern Observer team, this is always a time for reflecting upon the past year’s events, as well as a surge of excitement and planning for the year ahead. For that reason we always love wrapping up the year with our annual Goals Group-Study, which you can read more about below.
You’ll also find our schedule of e-courses and events for the first half of 2022, all of which are included in a monthly or annual Textile Design Lab membership. In addition to these events, we will continue to have our weekly live art critiques on Thursdays at 1pm Eastern, our community coloring hour on Fridays at 1pm Eastern, monthly design challenges and guest expert presentations. Other events and courses will be added as needed.
While we offer self-paced learning for all of our courses and tutorials, our group-study events are especially fun, and a time to connect as a community while working through one course together. Here’s what’s coming up:
December 6: Pattern Planning & Goal Setting
In this two week group-study you’ll clarify what you hope to achieve in 2022 and create an action plan that is broken down into quarterly tasks to get you there. At the end of this course, you will feel focused and in control—ready for this upcoming year!
You’ll know exactly what steps to take and how you can use the Textile Design Lab to achieve the goals you’ve laid out before you. We will meet during the second week for a live chat to help strategize together. WGSN access is provided for the duration of the course.
January 10: The Sellable Sketch
Bring clarity and focus to your collection development process. Take the guesswork out of what to design each season by picking appropriate trends for your target market while staying true to your own artistic style. Our most popular course! Your choice of WGSN Fashion or Lifestyle & Interiors access is provided. By the end of this course you will thoroughly understand:
- What elements lead to a successful print collection
- The importance of staying true to your artistic style
- How to pick appropriate trends and inspiration sources for your target market
- How to develop a print from sketch to digital file in both Illustrator and Photoshop
March: How to Connect with Licensing Agents and Print Studios
Designers who have a professional online portfolio developed—and who are ready to work with print studios and agents—are invited to join us for this four-week journey. WGSN access will be included. We will work our way through:
- Researching studios in the marketplace
- Making small updates to your website
- Preparing marketing materials
- Reaching out to print studios and agents for representation
March 28-April 29: Illustrator: a Fresh Look with Laura Coyle
Laura Coyle will be teaching “Illustrator: A Fresh Look,” a course for new or occasional Illustrator users, Photoshop users, and anyone who wants a refreshed perspective on how Illustrator works. Topics include:
- Shape drawing, selection, layers, and groups
- Vector basics: stacking order, anchor points, paths, live content vs. expanded
- Color: swatches, eyedropper tool, RGB vs CMYK
- Drawing tools overview: pen, pencil, brushes
- Files: exporting, saving, cloud vs. computer
- Overview of integration with Illustrator on the iPad, Fresco, Creative Cloud, Photoshop
May: Collaboration for Pattern Designers
In this two week course you will learn the importance of working alongside other designers whether they be coworkers or clients, how to handle conflicts when they arise and how collaboration will enrich your design process. You will identify your strengths and what challenges you when working with others, and practice your new-found skills, giving you the confidence to put them into action. There are so many benefits to collaboration, but in an industry where so many of us work in isolation, it can be amazing to step outside our usual workflow and connect with others.
June: Trend Month (NEW!)
Throughout the month of June we will take a deep dive into WSGN, as well as look at other methods and resources for researching trends in a variety of markets. Designers will create their own trend boards based upon provided briefs and learn how the ability to confidently present trend information will give you a leg up with clients. Guest expert presentations will provide insight and inspiration through the process.
We are so excited about these events and hope you will join us here! With the holidays coming up, you can also purchase a gift card for a Textile Design Lab membership for a designer in your life (monthly or yearly available.)
Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments below and we look forward to seeing you in the Lab!
Chelsea
