Free Download: Principles of Pattern Design

Unlock the secrets of pattern design with our free downloadable pdf.

Repetition, symmetry, balance, harmony, unity, rhythm, flow, proportion and hierarchy are not only a bunch of New Age sounding words, they are also the milestones of pattern design you will see portrayed in this neatly put together presentation made by Elizabeth Olwen (@elizabetholwen).

Elizabeth Olwen:

The picture above might be a faithful representation of what an evening at Elizabeth's might look like. A hangout with no food around other than food for thought. This evening, unbeknownst to you, she is about to teach you a thing or two! Things like how your eyes should travel freely through your patterns or how flipping and mirroring designs can create a nice sense of movement between the elements.

The Canadian print-and-pattern designer and colour enthusiast lives in Lisbon, Portugal. As you can see, she creates patterns and illustrations infused with heart and soul, with the intention of spreading beauty and amplifying joy (I'm color blind but even I can see!). Her well-crafted and meaningfully-made artwork is driven by the desire to leave something beautiful behind with every step she takes (I wouldn't leave the house if that was me). Additionally Elizabeth has a very deep and passionate relationship with color... We who live through our faith don't ever get jealous... But we all sin sometimes!

That's just the start. Olwen has been building her brand for over 10 years through collaborations with companies she admires from all around the globe, on feel-good, intentional products and campaigns for a broad range of clients, from advertising to packaging, fabric to bedding, swimwear to jewellery, and so much more... Well, I don't even think there are many more possibilities...! But her truest passion is designing print and pattern for home decor, for products like wallpaper, rugs, pillows, home textiles and wall art. Something she discovered when she recently bought her very first house.

Okey, that's enough passion for the whole year. Let's get to the point! Here I present to you, your new guide to pattern making. Don't ever leave the house without it! What are you going to do when a pattern doesn't align properly out there, in the wilderness?:

Pattern design for household items

The recently disclosed free download is part of a full Domestika course, as always! In it you will discover that teaching is another of Elizabeth's passions. You will be guided through her process of designing vibrant motifs that can transform any space.

Unleash your creativity and learn how to choose the perfect color palette to bring your designs to life. I hope you aren't color blind like me... I still have feelings, though... (also, for the record, I am not fully color blind...)!

By the end of this course, you will have the skills to develop beautiful prints and patterns combined with a harmonious balance of colors.

But it just dawned on me... What if you don't even know what pattern design is to begin with? Have I really made no sense to you this whole time? Well, it's always better late than never or late than sorry or safe than never, I don't even know, anymore:

- What is pattern design?
- What is surface pattern design?