Surface Design: Turn your Artwork into Collections
A course by Allison ColeIllustrator and Surface Designer
A course by Allison Cole, Illustrator and Surface Designer
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.
What will you learn in this online course?
18 lessons & 20 downloads
Idea Creation: Brainstorming Your Interests
2 minutes, 35 seconds
Composition Overview
7 minutes, 16 seconds
Drawing in Adobe Illustrator 1
18 minutes, 31 seconds
Creating the Final Illustration in Illustrator 4
15 minutes, 27 seconds
Creating a Repeating Pattern in Adobe Illustrator
15 minutes, 5 seconds
Creating Additional Products 2
10 minutes, 16 seconds
What's included in this course?
Dive into the world of surface design by creating a cohesive collection of products from a single illustration. Develop the skills to brainstorm unique ideas, sketch captivating compositions, and refine your artwork using Adobe Illustrator. Discover how to craft a final illustration filled with motifs that can be adapted to various products. Learn the art of creating repeating patterns, expanding your design into a sticker, greeting card, and notebook.
Expand your professional portfolio with mockups that showcase your unique designs. Gain insights into promoting your work, whether showcasing it in your portfolio, offering it as giveaways, or selling it to potential clients. This course offers a comprehensive journey from idea creation to product application, helping you transform your artistic vision into tangible items. Enhance your understanding of composition, color theory, and digital illustration, equipping you with the tools to bring your creative concepts to life and explore new avenues in surface design.
Recommended software & tools for this course
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.
Reviews
- 29 days ago
Bien explicado el curso por parte de Allison.
- 5 months ago
Very interesting and well explained course.
- parrishinkPLUS5 months ago
Great course with good explanations for using illustrator. Will take her other course.
- 6 months ago
Thank you so much Allison Cole <3 You are a wonderful skilled teacher!
- 10 months ago
Allison Cole is a wonderful teacher, she made me feel very capable. Her approach to planning multiple compositions to be able to transform her illustrations into different products has made me rethink my own workflow.
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
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.
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
Surface design involves creating artwork that can be applied to products like textiles, stationery, and home goods. It merges illustration with product design, allowing artists to see their work on real-world items.
Yes, this course is designed for intermediate illustrators who want to develop skills in surface design, product illustration, and building a market-ready portfolio.
You’ll need basic drawing tools, a computer or iPad, and software like Adobe Illustrator and Fresco. Access to mood board platforms and reference image sources is also recommended.
You’ll learn how to design, produce, and market handmade products, understand pricing and profit strategies, and leverage online platforms to sell your illustrated goods.
The course guides you through creating product-focused artwork and cohesive collections, using mockups and photography to showcase your portfolio to potential clients or licensing partners.
Yes, you’ll use mind mapping and visual brainstorming to generate and refine illustration ideas, ensuring your creative process leads to unique, marketable products.
Absolutely. The course covers designing motifs, creating die-cut stickers, and developing custom notebook covers, including workflow tips for both digital and print production.