Create Surface Patterns Inspired by Nature

A course by Katy Dika , Surface designer

Surface designer. Providence, United States.
Joined October 2021

Get inspired by the beauty of nature and create stunning surface designs using Photoshop.

100% positive reviews (13)
810 students
Audio: English
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Get inspired by the beauty of nature and create stunning surface designs using Photoshop.

Katy Dika, surface designer specializing in creating captivating motifs, will take you to an exploration of the intersection of fine art and commercial design, where you'll learn to observe, interpret, and translate nature into unique custom pieces. With gouache and Photoshop as your tools, you'll embark on a creative journey to develop your own textile motifs.

Through experimenting with mark-making using unconventional objects and selecting colors and scale, you'll paint motifs that capture the essence of nature's beauty. Dive into the digital realm as you digitize your artwork, design repeating patterns, and explore different colorways.

In this online course, you'll not only learn the technical aspects of pattern design, but also gain insights into working collaboratively with clients and meeting their needs. Katy will inspire you to distill the beauty of nature into your own unique creations, encouraging you to embrace imperfections and find joy in the details. Elevate your artistic skills and create patterns that truly resonate with your audience in this captivating exploration of surface design.

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What will you learn in this online course?

14 lessons & 20 downloads

Materials and Tools
5 minutes, 9 seconds
What Is Surface Design?
7 minutes, 1 second
Building the Artwork
14 minutes, 59 seconds
Creating a Repeat
10 minutes, 53 seconds
  • 100% positive reviews (13)
  • 810 students
  • 14 lessons (1h 44m)
  • 20 additional resources (7 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Create a repeating pattern inspired by nature. You'll have the opportunity to see your pattern come to life by printing it on fabric or directly onto a garment using an online service.

Throughout the course, Katy will guide you through each step, from exploring nature's patterns and experimenting with mark-making to digitizing your artwork and designing seamless repeats. The course project will showcase your newfound skills and enable you to create a tangible and beautiful piece inspired by the natural world.

Who is this online course for?

For anyone with an interest in surface pattern design and a desire to explore the beauty of nature through art. Whether you're a budding artist, an established designer looking to expand your skills, or simply someone who appreciates the intricacies of the natural world, this course offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.

Requirements and materials

To participate in this course, you'll need a set of paintbrushes, gouache, and unconventional mark-making tools such as feathers, pinecones, and bamboo skewers. This will enable you to explore and experiment with different textures and techniques to capture the essence of nature in your patterns.


Reviews

810 Students
13 Reviews
100% Positive ratings

Katy Dika

A course by Katy Dika

Teacher Plus
Surface designer

Katy Dika is a renowned surface pattern designer known for her exceptional ability to create captivating artwork inspired by nature. With a background in working with esteemed womenswear brands and interior fabrics companies, Katy's expertise lies at the intersection of fine art and commercial design.

Her passion for entomology and her experience as a curator in a natural history museum have shaped her unique perspective, combining science and art to produce extraordinary patterns. Katy's work showcases her love for incorporating elements of nature, particularly insects and creatures, into unsuspecting prints, adding a touch of whimsy and intrigue.

With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to meeting the needs of her clients, Katy understands the importance of interpreting visual trends from their perspective. She embraces the challenge of working within the technical parameters of commercial printing, ensuring that her designs not only captivate but also meet the requirements of the brands she collaborates with.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Inspiration and Interpretation for Surface Design

    • Materials and Tools
    • What Is Surface Design?
    • Nature and Patterns
    • Finding and Using Inspiration
  • U3

    Creating a Pattern

    • Mark-Making and Developing Palettes 1
    • Mark-Making and Developing Palettes 2
    • Building the Artwork
    • Creating a Repeat
    • Colorways and Final Touches
  • U4

    What to Do with the Design

    • Designing Coordinating Prints
    • Printing on Fabric and Garments
    • Making Digital Backgrounds from Patterns
  • FP

    Final project

    • Create a Surface Pattern Inspired by Nature

What to expect from a Domestika course

  • Learn at your own pace

    Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.

  • Learn from the best professionals

    Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.

  • Meet expert teachers

    Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.

  • Certificates
    Plus

    If you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.

  • Get front-row seats

    Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.

  • Share knowledge and ideas

    Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.

  • Connect with a global creative community

    The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.

  • Watch professionally produced courses

    Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.


FAQs

Domestika's courses are online classes that provide you with the tools and skills you need to complete a specific project. Every step of the project combines video lessons with complementary instructional material, so you can learn by doing. Domestika's courses also allow you to share your own projects with the teacher and with other students, creating a dynamic course community.

All courses are 100% online, so once they're published, courses start and finish whenever you want. You set the pace of the class. You can go back to review what interests you most and skip what you already know, ask questions, answer questions, share your projects, and more.

The courses are divided into different units. Each one includes lessons, informational text, tasks, and practice exercises to help you carry out your project step by step, with additional complementary resources and downloads. You'll also have access to an exclusive forum where you can interact with the teacher and with other students, as well as share your work and your course project, creating a community around the course.

You can redeem the course you received by accessing the redeeming page and entering your gift code.

If you're a Plus member, when you complete a course you've purchased, you'll instantly get your personalized certificate. You can see all your certificates in the Certificates section of your profile. You can download your certificates as PDFs and share the link online. Learn more about certificates.
Create Surface Patterns Inspired by Nature. Illustration, and Fashion course by Katy Dika

Create Surface Patterns Inspired by Nature

A course by Katy Dika
Surface designer. Providence, United States.
Joined October 2021
  • 100% positive reviews (13)
  • 810 students