I am having so much fun in the Make It In Design Summer school! I have learned about 5 new techniques in Photoshop, really happy about that. Very simple techniques, but major “Aha” moments.

For the Beginning track, our assignment was “Tropical Paradise”. I decided to update an old pattern of mine. I have wanted to do this, and it seemed the perfect reason. I changed the palette, and added textures to the design. You can see the original here.

First I had to create the textures. I used textured fun foam craft sheets and ink pad to “stamp” the designs. Then I scanned the paper into the computer and digitally removed the background (paper) so I was left with just the dots, or waves. I also created some textures digitally.

My submission will probably give you a craving for a creamsicle. I decided to go soft and mellow with the new version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can see the complete gallery for the Beginner track here. Everyone really had fun with this theme. We also created swimsuit mock ups.

My submission for the Intermediate track, “Retro Geometric” is a classic Persian design that I tweaked a bit. I was very glad that for this assignment, we did not have to turn in a repeating pattern. The size of canvas I was working on was not large enough to show the repeat. I can easily take this design and add to it, to create a repeat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UUGGHH! I just realized I submitted the wrong design. Laughing at myself. Oh well! This is the first version I did (orange), and I just wasn’t feeling the colors. We were given a palette, but we were allowed to use tints as well, so it was pretty open. This was my submission.

And this in the cool tones, is what I meant to turn in.  (Hmm, sorry it is so blurry.) Which palette do you like better? I also did a design based on an old Native American rug.

 

The MIID site went down when we were all trying to submit our designs, and I am guessing in the middle of all that… brain fart.

You can see the Intermediate gallery here.

For the Advanced track, I created this design, based on a vase I have in my studio. Honestly, I just wasn’t coming up with any good ideas for the “Water Rays” theme.

I drew a bunch of line patterns, and circles, scanned them, and then pieced them together in Photoshop. This is not a repeating design, and that was not required for the assignment.

I was really second guessing this one towards the end. I had just the fish with the texture, and I thought if I added eyes, I would need to add a mouth, or more details to the body for balance. I was thinking that I did not want to add many more details, because the background is already so busy. When I added the eyes… the design just popped.

I really like how it looks on the suit! You can view the Advanced track gallery here.

Participation in the Make It In Design Summer School, gives each designer the opportunity to win a free spot in their upcoming course, The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design. They are giving away three spots, one for each track of the summer school. Exciting!

We get our assignments for the 2nd Brief on Monday, and I can’t wait! It is an achievement for me, to create 5 designs in one week, Whoa! And Whew!