My Journey into Surface Design: From Dreaming to Doing
What is Surface Design?
Before I dive into my story, let’s quickly talk about what surface design actually is. Have you ever looked at a cute notebook, a patterned pillow, or your baby’s printed romper and wondered, “Who makes this art?” That’s surface design! Surface design is the art of creating patterns and illustrations that appear on everyday products — like fabric, wallpaper, stationery, home decor, and more. Surface design is all around us and once you notice it, you’ll see it everywhere. And the best part? An artist was paid to create that artwork — often by licensing it to a company, which means renting the design for a set time.
My Journey into Surface Design
I first heard about surface design more than six years ago. I remember being fascinated by the idea. Back then, I had two small kids and life was full (and loud!). Not long after, I started working full-time as a web designer. And then came Covid.
For many, the pandemic brought hardship — and I don’t want to diminish that. But for me, it created a shift that I didn’t know I needed. Suddenly, I wasn’t commuting anymore or rushing to the office every morning and we were stuck at home. The good thing is that I found time for myself again. I began drawing consistently, for the first time in years. Slowly, day by day, I started reconnecting with that old dream of mine. I took part in every free workshop I could find about surface design and art licensing, learning as much as I could while squeezing in sketching time whenever possible.
Back in 2020, I took Anne LaFollette’s workshop where I learned how to turn a hand-drawn sketch into a repeating pattern using Adobe Illustrator (quick note here: currently I only create my patterns in Photoshop since I paint my motifs with watercolor on paper). I created a simple design with autumn leaves and mushrooms — and I was instantly hooked! It felt like magic. But after that spark, life took over, and I quietly set the dream aside… for a while.
In 2023, with the support of my amazing husband, we made a bold decision: I left my full-time job. I had already started making some income through my small online shop and a few collaborations with local stores, and I felt ready to take the leap. My plan was to finally build a surface design portfolio and truly pursue this path.
But once I had more time, I realized something: if I focused on building a portfolio, I wouldn’t be able to keep creating new products for my shop — which I still relied on for income. And if I focused on the shop, I wouldn’t have enough time or energy to create the portfolio. So, I chose the shop. I created more art for it, attended local fairs, and tried to grow it further.
It worked — to a point. I made some money and met wonderful people. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t sustainable. Handmade products are beautiful and fulfilling to make, but they take time — especially for someone like me, who refuses to paint something just to „get it done”. I love the details. I take my time. And that meant I couldn’t keep up with the pace needed to make it a real business.
Then, in January or February of last year (2024), I joined yet another free workshop — this time led by the incredible Bonnie Christine. Her motto, “One thing a day,” changed everything for me. She encouraged us to do just one small thing every day toward our dream — even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes. She gave us a printable year-long calendar to tick off the days we showed up for ourselves.
And that was my turning point.
I committed to doing something every single day to move closer to becoming a surface pattern designer. Whether it was sketching, learning, watching a course, or listening to a podcast, I ticked that day. It was slow, but it was steady — and it brought me back to what I truly wanted.
Eventually, I decided to pause creating new products for the shop. I kept my collaboration with local stores and welcomed the occasional orders from my online shop, just enough to keep a bit of cash flowing into my business account. But my real focus shifted: to finally become the surface designer I had dreamed about for so long.
And here I am — still walking this path, one day and one tick at a time.
The Year Everything Started to Click
At the beginning of this year (2025), I made what was probably the wisest decision since I started this journey: I joined Melissa Johnson’s mentorship program. And let me tell you that it changed my perspective so much.
Melissa, along with the amazing community inside the group, has been incredibly generous. The feedback I’ve received on my portfolio, the support, the answers to my (many) questions — all of it has helped me make real progress. The world of surface design can be quite confusing when you’re starting out, so finding a space where people openly share their knowledge and experiences has been a game changer.
Over the past year, I’ve started actively pitching my portfolio to fabric companies — especially to those that create products for children, since I feel my work fits really well in that space. I’ve learned that this is definitely a long game. Any experienced surface designer will tell you: it takes time, persistence, and you’ll hear a lot of “no’s” along the way.
So far, I’ve created 14 collections, which I’m really proud of. But thanks to Melissa’s mentorship and by paying close attention to what successful designers are doing, I’ve started to train my eye more. Now I can clearly see how my work is evolving — and how I can go back and improve some of those earlier collections too.
Being a surface designer — especially when you’re building your own business — can feel overwhelming. You wear all the hats: the artist, the designer, the art director, the marketing manager, the photographer, the accountant… and probably a few more I’ve forgotten. Add to that the daily rhythm of life — picking up the kids from school, helping with homework, cooking, cleaning and you’ve got a pretty full plate. Thankfully, I share these things with my husband.
One thing I really struggle with is social media. It’s hard to stay present and create content at the same time, and posting consistently just drains me. Instagram especially feels like a hamster wheel — your post gets a bit of attention, then poof, it’s gone.
That’s why I’m currently learning to use Pinterest more strategically. They say a pin’s lifespan is around four months — much better than Instagram’s 48 hours! I’m experimenting, creating content, and committed to giving it a real try. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Right now, I’m focusing on getting better organized. My goal is to:
- Sketch at least 10 minutes a day
- Once a week pitch my portfolio to at least 3 companies
- Create and post content regularly on Pinterest and Instagram
- Continue improving my surface design portfolio
- Keep up with the resources and briefs in Melissa’s mentorship
- …and leave space for flexibility when priorities shift
The most important thing is: I love my life now. Even when it gets chaotic. Even when I’m juggling too many tabs in my brain. I finally feel like I’m on the right path.
Where I Am Now — and What’s Next
This journey hasn’t been fast or easy, but it’s been full of growth, learning, and small wins that mean the world to me. I’m still figuring things out as I go, and still learning how to balance creativity with everyday life. I plan to keep creating art, keep pitching my portfolio to the right companies, grow my Pinterest account and start a newsletter!
As a little thank you for being here and taking the time to read my story, I’ve put together a short list of helpful resources below — ones that truly guided me and brought clarity to my surface design journey. I hope they inspire you too!
Mentorship
Podcasts on Spotify
Youtube Channels
Skillshare teachers
Blogs and Websites
If you’re on a similar path, just starting out, or even just curious about surface design, I’d love to hear from you. Your journey might look completely different from mine, but I believe there’s room for all of us in this creative world.
Leave a comment below and let me know — have you heard of surface design before? Are you chasing a creative dream of your own? Or maybe you’re balancing art and life just like me?
Let’s connect, share, and support one another. 💛