Overview

Join me, Di Ujdi, and discover "Key Principles for Making Amazing Patterns" which is a full-circle journey course that will take you from better understanding your work and improving it, to creating your pattern design, and finally getting it ready for clients. In the first part of the class, I gathered all my experience as a pattern designer into a set of key principles that will guide you through your design process and help you better understand your work and improve it. I organized these principles into 3 main chapters, so we’ll cover: what makes a cohesive pattern, what makes a good repeat, and what makes a professional pattern design. In the second part of the class, you’ll put all this into practice and create a pattern design that you’ll proudly place in your portfolio and license to clients. I’ll show you 2 ways of doing that, one is using only Procreate, and the second one using Procreate and Photoshop. And not only that, but once you finish your pattern design, I’ll show you how to showcase it to potential clients and what kind of file you’ll be sending after you sign the licensing agreement. I would recommend this class for intermediate or intermediate beginner levels. It is important that you have at least some experience in making patterns so that you can now take all that to the next level. Instructor bio: Di Ujdi (Nina) is an illustrator and surface pattern designer best known for her bold floral motifs and playful, stylized illustrations. Inspired by nature and color, her work celebrates the beauty of the world in a bright, joyful way. As a Skillshare Top Teacher, Nina is passionate about sharing her creative process and helping others discover their own artistic voice. Through teaching, she hopes to inspire and support learners on their creative journey while continuing to learn and grow herself.

Syllabus

Course Orientation & Core Concepts

In this foundational module, you’ll explore what makes surface patterns truly stand out. You’ll assess real-world pattern designs to understand why some succeed and others don’t, diving into how layout, color, and repetition influence a pattern’s impact. You’ll learn to identify the essential traits of cohesive, repeatable, and professional patterns, setting a solid base for your design journey. By the end, you’ll be able to articulate key design principles and recognize high-quality patterns.

Designing Patterns in Procreate

This module guides you through the hands-on process of creating your own surface patterns using Procreate. You’ll sketch, refine, and finalize patterns, mastering both artistic expression and technical accuracy. You’ll also learn to apply full-drop custom actions to automate your workflow, enabling you to create seamless, repeatable patterns efficiently. This module equips you with essential digital skills to bring your pattern ideas to life with confidence.

Combining Procreate and Photoshop

Building on your Procreate skills, this module teaches you to seamlessly integrate Photoshop into your pattern design workflow. You’ll develop finalized surface patterns using a hybrid approach, enhancing and editing your designs for professional presentation. You’ll also master transferring and integrating pattern elements between Procreate and Photoshop to streamline your creative process and produce polished, client-ready results.

Finalizing & Sharing Your Work

In the final module, you’ll focus on polishing your work and preparing it for the professional world. Reflect on your creative process, plan your next steps for growing your design portfolio, and learn how to export client-ready pattern files that meet industry standards. You’ll also design promotional mockups to showcase your patterns in context, empowering you to confidently share and market your creations.