Surface Design, Illustration, Product Design, Branding
Inspired by the diverse fungi of the Pacific Northwest, 'Mushroom Moments' is a surface design collection that blends the coziness and charm of hand-drawn illustration with the limitless possibilities of production-ready designs. Created for the stationery and home decor markets, this collection is perfect for those seeking a bit of whimsy and nature in their everyday life.
Objective:
To design a cohesive, scalable pattern collection that explores a conceptual theme through color, storytelling, and texture. A goal was to showcase the ability to design for both digital and print media.
To design a cohesive, scalable pattern collection that explores a conceptual theme through color, storytelling, and texture. A goal was to showcase the ability to design for both digital and print media.
Timeframe: 8 weeks
Roles:
Brand Designer, Digital Illustrator,
Surface Designer, Researcher
Surface Designer, Researcher
Tools:
Procreate, Adobe Illustrator,
Adobe Photoshop, Google Suite
Adobe Photoshop, Google Suite
Audience:
This collection targets the Millennial and Gen Z demographic. It lends itself well to Goblincore, Cottagecore, and Granola aesthetic lifestyle markets, as well as current media trends. These patterns resonate with people who appreciate mycology/nature, foragers, environmentalists, and outdoor adventurers.
This collection targets the Millennial and Gen Z demographic. It lends itself well to Goblincore, Cottagecore, and Granola aesthetic lifestyle markets, as well as current media trends. These patterns resonate with people who appreciate mycology/nature, foragers, environmentalists, and outdoor adventurers.
Research:
Following my passion for nature, I began with a broader theme of 'Life and Decomposition'. I then focused specifically on 'Mushroom Moments' to ensure stronger visual cohesion.
This shift prompted further research into the kingdom fungi, with numerous hikes to inspire motifs and bring my illustrations to life. The Pacific Northwest's transition from autumn to winter left me with an abundance of visual material to draw from.
Insights:
I've learned that committing to a singular project outcome is an important skill. I thrive in a world of many iterations; writing down thoughts allows me to 'park' extra ideas and focus on the task at hand without losing future inspiration.
This project was an intensive deep dive into digital illustration, cross-software processes, and the surface design industry.
Early iterations revealed the challenge of balancing high-detail illustrations with seamless tiling. Transitioning to a Procreate-to-Photoshop workflow revolutionized my capacity for composition adjustments and technical refinements.
This breakthrough began with my 'Mushie Medley' pattern, and allowed for the finalization of the other 4 patterns easily and efficiently. This increased workflow allowed a collection expansion of five total patterns, exceeding the projected three.
Through this project, I've discovered a new passion for surface design. It is a medium that allows me to bridge the gap between digital illustration concepts and physical products. It has expanded my technical abilities and shifted my approach to how design can create physical experiences.