Your Sydney based surface pattern design
creative partner.

Here are the six steps to our collaboration process:

1. Discovery

I can’t wait to hear all about your product and what your aspirations are for your new surface pattern design.

After we’ve met and agreed it’s a good fit, I’ll provide a detailed project scope and quote. Once a 50% deposit has been paid and contract is issued and signed, we can get into the fun stuff!

Brown marker drawings of palm trees, a flower, serpentine lines, and a snail on a gray background.
A close-up of fresh, ripe strawberries with green leaves.
View of a large body of blue water with sailboats near a rocky island and lush green trees, seen through a stone arched window.

2. Visual Direction

Simple black ink drawing of a sunset over water with palm trees on an island in the background, and three potted plants in the foreground.
Person holding a cup of mint chocolate chip ice cream and a cone of chocolate ice cream with a waffle cone wrap

A mood-board helps to evoke a particular style. Getting to the heart of what you need is the first step in the design process.

I’ll ask for any examples of similar inspiration that you love and any specific items you need illustrated, so I can get to know where your surface pattern design aspires to be. As illustration takes time, all elements will need to be agreed upon.

3. Design Development

Here is where I get to work. I’ll develop the surface pattern design concepts from the agreed visual direction mood-board including a repeat pattern and/or placement print; colour palette; as well as ‘mocked-up’ examples – e.g. T-Shirt design, so you can see an example of the design applied. You’ll receive a PDF document with these concepts to review and decide how you’d like to move forward.

Watercolor illustrations of various food items including strawberries, a chef's hat, an egg, a tomato, pasta, and wavy lines on a white background.

4. Design Evolution

Once you have reviewed the concepts, I will meet with you again to gather comments and feedback and evolve the final surface pattern design artwork – this is an iterative phase that includes three rounds of changes to get it where it needs to be – perfect!

5. Pattern Refinement

Once you are completely in love with your surface pattern design, I will issue the final document to get your sign-off and begin to create the final design file.

Pattern of hand-drawn illustrations in brown tones, including ice cream cones, strawberries, cherries, flowers in a vase, hearts, a milkshake, a box of strawberries, and the words "Dolce Vita."

“MICHELLE WAS SO ACCOMMODATING AND TAILORED A SEAMLESS SERVICE THAT WAS PERFECT FOR ME, MY BUSINESS AND BUDGET. SOMETHING OTHERS DID NOT DO FOR ME WHICH SHOWED ME THAT SHE GENUINELY WANTED TO HELP. SHE WAS VERY EASY TO WORK WITH AND DELIVERED AS PROMISED. SHE IS SUCH A LOVELY PERSON AND SO INCREDIBLY TALENTED AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK FOR MORE OF HER SERVICES. THANK YOU MICHELLE.”

– Mia, Gem & Mellie

Silhouette of five leaves arranged in a circular pattern.

6. Supply of Final Files

On final payment, I will send through the final surface pattern design. The repeat pattern will be supplied as a high resolution JPG that you can issue to printers and production teams.

Children playing at the beach, some standing on sand, others near the water, wearing swimsuits and summer clothing.

Need to collaborate for something custom made?