Surface Design: Turn your Artwork into Collections

A course by Allison Cole , Illustrator and Surface Designer

Illustrator and Surface Designer. Providence, United States.
Joined May 2021

Create cohesive product collections using Adobe Illustrator for illustration, surface design, portfolio enhancement, and client engagement

233 students
Audio: English, Spanish
English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch

Create cohesive product collections using Adobe Illustrator for illustration, surface design, portfolio enhancement, and client engagement

Unlock your creativity and dive into the world of surface design by learning how to transform a single illustration into a cohesive collection of products. This course guides you through the process of idea generation, sketching, and creating captivating compositions using Adobe Illustrator. You'll explore the benefits of collection-focused artwork, enabling you to produce a range of interrelated products. Gain insights into creating a repeating pattern that can be applied to items like greeting cards, stickers, and notebooks, ideal for building a portfolio or starting an online store.

Discover the power of your motifs and learn how to apply them to real-world products. The course covers essential techniques for developing your illustration skills, from brainstorming and sketching to finalizing your artwork. You'll also learn how to create professional product mockups, showcasing your designs in a polished and market-ready way. Whether you're looking to expand your professional practice or simply enjoy the process of seeing your art on tangible items, this course offers valuable insights and practical skills for artists at any stage.

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What will you learn in this online course?

18 lessons & 20 downloads

  • 233 students
  • 18 lessons (3h 6m)
  • 20 additional resources (6 files)
  • Online and at your own pace
  • Available on the app
  • Audio: English, Spanish
  • English · Spanish · Portuguese · German · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unlimited access forever

What is this course's project?

Create a single illustration in Adobe Illustrator filled with motifs, ready to transform into a die-cut sticker, greeting card, and notebook. Develop design skills, brainstorm ideas, and explore compositions, culminating in a cohesive collection for your portfolio or sales.

Who is this online course for?

Aspiring artists and designers eager to transform illustrations into market-ready products will love this course. Ideal for those with basic Adobe Illustrator skills, it suits beginners and pros seeking innovative ways to create cohesive collections for portfolios, sales, or promotions.

Requirements and materials

No extensive prior knowledge is needed, but some basic Adobe Illustrator skills will be helpful. Gather your creativity, a computer with Adobe Illustrator installed, and a sketchbook for brainstorming and sketching ideas to bring your unique illustration concepts to life.


Allison Cole

A course by Allison Cole

Teacher Plus
Illustrator and Surface Designer

Allison Cole is a seasoned illustrator and surface designer renowned for her vibrant and engaging creations. With a passion for art that dates back to her formative years, Allison honed her skills at The Rhode Island School of Design, where she gained a comprehensive understanding of the creative process. Her career journey began as a graphic designer and freelance illustrator, during which she explored the world of surface design by crafting and selling her own products. This self-driven initiative led her to discover the potential of creating art for products, ultimately guiding her towards a career in surface design.

Over time, Allison has collaborated with an impressive array of clients, including Target, Keds, and West Elm, and has developed product lines with brands such as Paintbrush Studio Fabrics and Badge Bomb. Her work is celebrated for its unique motifs, vibrant colors, and compelling compositions that capture the imagination. Allison's dedication to her craft is evident in her strategic approach to building her brand and establishing licensing partnerships. She continues to inspire artists by demonstrating how to transform illustrations into captivating collections, offering insights into the world of surface design with the aim of empowering others to see their work on products.


Content

  • U1

    Introduction

    • About Me
    • Influences
  • U2

    Envisioning a Collection

    • The Benefit of Creating Collection-Focused Artwork
    • Idea Creation: Brainstorming Your Interests
    • Research and References
  • U3

    Creating the Illustration

    • Composition Overview
    • Final Sketches and Color
    • Drawing in Adobe Illustrator 1
    • Drawing in Adobe Illustrator 2
    • Creating the Final Illustration in Illustrator 1
    • Creating the Final Illustration in Illustrator 2
    • Creating the Final Illustration in Illustrator 3
    • Creating the Final Illustration in Illustrator 4
  • U4

    Applications

    • Creating a Repeating Pattern in Adobe Illustrator
    • Creating Additional Products 1
    • Creating Additional Products 2
    • Creating Product Mock-ups
    • Putting Your Products to Work
  • FP

    Final project

    • Surface Design: Turn your Artwork into Collections

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.
Surface Design: Turn your Artwork into Collections. Illustration course by Allison Cole

Surface Design: Turn your Artwork into Collections

A course by Allison Cole
Illustrator and Surface Designer. Providence, United States.
Joined May 2021
  • 233 students