FayeBrownDesigns: jolene heckman

Almost a year ago I enrolled on an online course called The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design ran by entrepreneur Beth Nicholls and the fabulous designer Rachael Taylor. The course was broken down into 3 modules - Designing your way, Creating your professional identity and Monetising your designs. Having spent 10 years working in design and animation I initially wondered how useful I would find all the modules but I soon realised the world of television and motion graphics is quite different to Surface Pattern Design! I knew Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator pretty well but the course included technical tutorials specifically for setting up repeating patterns, preparing your designs for production and quite a few other tips and tricks I had no idea about. The tutorials were also very clear for complete beginners.

As you may have guessed, I can't recommend this course highly enough for anyone wanting to get into Surface Pattern. Along the way we shared our progress with fellow students in a private flickr group, entered live competitions and read many interviews from inspiring designers and studios. Everyone took it at their own pace, fitting it around full time jobs, new babies, family life and even traveling!

So as I launch my brand new website www.fayebrowndesigns.com and this brand new blog it seems fitting to kick off with some gorgeous work from graduates and new friends from the course...