What to Include in a Pattern Design Mini Collection

ART TUTORIALS

14 Nov

Being able to create mini collections is as important as being able to create full collections. Not all customers or companies want to purchase or license a full collection, so having some mini ones with just 3-4 patterns is ideal. We’ll be looking at what goes into a mini collection and the factors you need to consider when designing.

The main features of a mini collection

They have a cohesive theme or concept
Have variety in scale from larger to smaller motifs & details
They usually have 3-6 patterns
They usually has a limited colour palette of 3-6 colours (though as designers we get to break the rules so don’t fret it if your collection has more colours than this, mine does!)

It’s important that your hero print stands out as the most detailed and complex pattern in your collection. In the above example, my main print has a lot more detail and variety than the other two prints. There’s more to look at, keeping the viewer more engaged with it.

The secondary print is quite simple, as is the 3rd pattern (blender print) but they use the same colour palette throughout, which ties them together and creates cohesion and balance.

I could easily create a full collection if needed from the hero print, as there are a lot of details and motifs I could use.

What to include in your Hero print

aim to have at least 4-6 different motifs. if you can do more than this, then great! I always try to have around a min of 8 motifs to give me flexibility in the future. Your hero print not only will look more interesting and varied, but it gives you the option later on to increase the collection if needed, as you’ll have a lot more choice to select from. For example, if you use only 4 motifs, it may limit what you can create from it.
You can choose any layout you wish for your hero print. In my example it’s a 1-directional print, meaning it only goes in one direction (upwards). Go with a layout you like and what feels comfortable for you at this time.
Use a cohesion colour palette across all of your designs to tie them all in and create balance

Factors to be aware of

Define a clear theme and colour palette
Hero Print: This should be the most detailed and intricate design, representing the essence of your theme. Make it bold and visually engaging.
Secondary Print: This should complement the hero print yet be able to stand on it’s own too. It will usually be scaled down and have fewer colours.
Blender Print: These are the simplest patterns and usually have 2-4 colours. They can be geometric, abstract or use 1-2 motifs from your hero pattern.

2. Scale and flexibility

Vary the scale of your motifs across the collection:

Hero Print: Large motifs, detailed and layered.
Secondary Print: Medium-scale motifs with less complexity.
Blender Print: Small-scale or textural designs.
This variation creates visual interest and ensures your designs work well across different applications.

3. Think about cohesion

Aim for a mix of contrast and harmony:

Use shared elements or motifs across the hero and secondary prints.
Balance detailed areas with open space, especially in the blender designs, to avoid visual clutter.

By keeping these principles in mind, your mini surface pattern collection will not only look polished but also be functional and appealing to your target audience.

When you’ve created your mini collection you have plenty of options as to what to do with it or who to send to it. You could upload it to a print on demand site like Spoonflower to sell directly to customers, or opt to pitch the collection to any number of companies. Only you can decide what the best decision for you and your goals with your patterns.

If I were sending this collection to a company, I’d put the patterns onto what we call a ‘sell sheet’ so it looks more professional like in the image below.

How you display your images as a collection doesn’t have to be complicated! Keep it simple and just show the patterns so they can easily see them. If in doubt, keep them at a larger scale. No company or art director wants to be struggling to see what the design is if it’s too small.

Remember to include your details on the sell sheet like name, web address, email etc so a company will know how to contact you if they’re interested in licensing it.

I hope this post has given you a few things to think about when you’re next designing a mini collection. You can create a mini collection from a full collection easily, by selecting just a few prints. You may even come up with a new layout or motifs to try that could give you even more flexibility and versatility. Have fun designing!