Part 1: Research Point - Visual Space

For this research task we were to find other illustrators that have created flat patterns for different products such as; wrapping paper, fabrics, stationery, wallpaper etc.

I really enjoyed this task looking for illustrations that fit with my favourite style of design, colours and themes and I also researched Holly Wales, an illustrator that I had looked into in a previous unit to see what surface designs she had created.

Supporting fellow illustrators is a passion of mine and so I began collecting the wrapping I received from them from orders I had placed. Here are some of them:

Fizz and Flourish

Katnipp Studios Ltd

I also saved some wrapping from birthday gifts as examples of styles I like:

Then I continued my research online, mainly using Instagram.com;

Tapes:

Water activated tape by Dellies Designs, in collaboration with No Issue.

Washi Tapes by Katnipp Studios Ltd

Washi Tape by E Harvey Art

Washi Tape by Apple Cheeks/Tiffany Tan

Tissue Paper & Vellum:

Coconutacha

Leigh Ellexson

Wrapping Paper:

Coconutacha

Digital Patterns:

Linenjungle

Patterns for Products:

Holly Wales

Clare Therese Gray

Holly Wales

Fabrics:

Dizzy Daisy Fabric

Linen Jungle

What Mabel Did

Isoletto Design

Clothing:

Dizzy Daisy Fabric

Linen Jungle

Sketchbook Patterns:

Katie Vernon Art

Clare Therese Gray

Holly Wales

Wallpapers:

Kate Golding

Clare Therese Gray

Reflection: 

It was so interesting searching for these pattern designers, I noticed that a lot of them do a range of products with their patterns. For example some fabric designers will also work on wallpaper and packaging designs. Coconutacha is a graphic designer and illustrator and recently has started taking her pattern designs into wallpapers after using them for wrapping paper and tissue papers. Working on making a repeating pattern can be tricky, trying to get the pattern to flow as it is repeated without leaving big areas blank or images cut off. 

Many of the designs I have shared above play with flat colours, shapes and little details, some artists apply more depth in their illustrations showing different angles of flowers which helps to make them look more realistic. I personally really like the flatness of the whimsical illustrations, some of them look like doodles which make them fun and interesting. Simple line work against a coloured background can be a very effective look and playing with limited colours also makes for striking designs. 

I then decided to try my own patterns, firstly I wanted to try a digital pattern. Searching online I found this tutorial by Bardot Brushes on how to create a pattern using Procreate and her repeating pattern tool.

bardotbrush.com/repeat

Creating My Own Repeating Pattern:

My Own Sketchbook Patterns:

Further Research:

I decided to see what other information there was out there about flat pattern design and came across this interesting article by Shannon McNab. There I learnt more about the different types of flat patterns and went back and looked for more examples, which I have shown above.

Shannon McNab. 2021. What is Surface Design? — Shannon McNab. [online] Available at: <https://shannonmcnab.com/blog/2016/8/2/what-is-surface-design> [Accessed 19 July 2021].

Stationery is a big influence to me and so I decided to re-visit a favourite stockist Go Stationery. They have a lovely selection of different illustrated covers ranging from florals, to contemporary shapes and patterns.

Ltd, G., 2021. GO Stationery - UKs leading supplier of Notebooks and Gift Stationery. [online] Go Stationery Ltd. Available at: <https://gostationery.net/> [Accessed 19 July 2021].

Another pattern designer that came to mind was Rebecca Jones. I came across her work a few years ago when I was looking for colouring books and discovered there were such a thing as colouring greeting cards. Jones' adult colouring greeting card books are beautifully illustrated, I love the simplicity in her illustrations and the nature and whimsy themes. 

Jones shares some of her process on her Instagram grid and these posts really inspired me and have opened my mind up to what patterns can be used for as well as those I've listed above.

Journal and notebook covers would be fun to illustrate.

Rebecca Jones

These sketchbook patterns are really inspiring and something I would have fun doing too.

This research task has been a really good look into flat patterns and all the different kinds that are out there. Making my own patterns was harder than I thought but I really liked how they came out. Overall flat pattern design is an interesting form of design and one that I enjoy as a customer but it isn't something I want to pursue for my own illustrations except maybe in my own packaging and sketchbook doodles.