Pattern design for homeware products
A course by Elizabeth Olwen, Print-and-pattern designer

Enhance your home decor with a range of playful and inspired patterns and illustrations.
Discover the joy of creating playful patterns and illustrations for your home in this online course. Join Elizabeth Olwen, a renowned print-and-pattern designer, as she shares her expertise and guides you through the process of designing vibrant motifs that can transform any space.
With Elizabeth's guidance, you'll explore the world of pattern design, from collecting inspiring ideas to sketching motifs, digitizing your drawings, and refining your compositions. Unleash your creativity and learn how to choose the perfect color palette to bring your designs to life.
By the end of this course, you'll have the skills to develop beautiful matching prints and patterns with a harmonious balance of colors.
What will you learn in this online course?
16 lessons & 23 downloads
- 100% positive reviews (141)
- 5,621 students
- 16 lessons (3h 8m)
- 23 additional resources (8 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: English, Spanish (Latam), French, Indonesian, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish
- English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
What is this course's project?
Throughout the course, you'll embark on a creative journey from a mood board to an original collection of motifs for the home. Your final project will be to bring together everything you've learned and develop a set of vibrant, harmonious designs that can be applied to various items and spaces. Let your imagination soar as you create stunning illustrations to liven up your home.

Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is perfect for artists, illustrators, graphic designers, or surface pattern designers who are looking to expand their creative horizons and explore new design approaches for the home.
It's also ideal for any curious creative individual who wants to try something new and learn the engaging craft of surface pattern design. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a beginner with a passion for art, this course offers valuable insights and techniques to elevate your skills.
Requirements and materials
To take part in this course, all you need is basic knowledge of Illustrator. Elizabeth Olwen will guide you through the rest, sharing her techniques and tips to help you master the art of surface pattern design. Get ready to unleash your creativity and embark on an inspiring creative journey.

Reviews

Elizabeth Olwen
A course by Elizabeth Olwen
Elizabeth Olwen is a Canadian print-and-pattern designer and color enthusiast. Her beautifully crafted patterns and illustrations are infused with heart and soul, reflecting her passion for spreading beauty and amplifying joy. Inspired by her surroundings, from the lush Canadian forests to the vibrant colors and tiles of Lisbon, Elizabeth's artwork is a meaningful expression of the world she encounters.
With over a decade of experience, she has collaborated with renowned companies around the globe, creating intentional products and campaigns that bring delight to people's lives. Elizabeth's expertise and unique artistic approach make her an exceptional guide in the realm of surface pattern design.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Creating the Vision: Mood Board and Drawing
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Principles of Pattern Design
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Looking for Inspiration
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Starting to Draw
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Digitizing the Drawings
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U3
Developing Your Creativity
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First Pattern: Assembling the Pattern Block
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Refining the Pattern
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Creating Your Seamless Pattern Swatch, Making It Infinite!
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Creating Coordinates 1
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Creating Coordinates 2
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Exploring and Applying Color 1
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Exploring and Applying Color 2
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U4
Bringing It All Together
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Bringing It to Life in Real-Life Contexts
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Naming and Storytelling
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Final Presentation and Real-World Products
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FP
Final project
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Designing products for homeware
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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Certificates
PlusIf 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is best for intermediate learners who have some basic drawing or design experience. If you’re comfortable with creative tools and eager to develop your style, you’ll benefit most from the content.
You’ll need drawing tools (pen and paper), a computer, and Adobe Illustrator for digital pattern creation and editing. Optional: access to Photoshop for mockups and a printer for physical mood boards.
You’ll learn to develop your creative style, design unique motifs, build cohesive pattern collections, digitize artwork, create seamless repeats, and apply your patterns to products for portfolio or commercial use.
The course covers motif design, mood board creation, color harmony, seamless pattern assembly, portfolio building, pattern application to products, and tips for submitting work to companies and exhibiting at trade shows.
You’ll learn to curate your best patterns, create cohesive collections, and present your work professionally for clients, companies, or trade shows, increasing your visibility in the industry.
Yes, the course teaches you how to digitize hand-drawn motifs using Illustrator and refine them into seamless, repeatable digital patterns.
Yes, you’ll gain strategies for submitting your designs to companies, preparing your portfolio, and exhibiting at trade shows to advance your pattern design career.

I loved it !!!
Very interesting course. Learning a lot about creating patterns.
I found this course really inspiring and informative; I also loved the teacher's engaging and passionate attitude, it added value to the whole experience.
Miriam
A well-structured and clear course that provides a good overview of the topic. Easy to follow and informative.
I would recommend it.
Estou gostando muito e motivada a trabalhar na área.