Pattern Design & Illustration
A very charming web design was recently pointed out to me. I visited the website and was immediately struck by the relaxed and friendly atmosphere, in addition the high quality of the overall design and colour scheme.
Not only that, but the website is that of a fashion pattern designer/illustrator of the highest calibre, and the portfolio itself was a treat to view let alone the website. Designer and website owner Katie Mantle has kindly agreed to allow me to showcase some of her work for you.
Four Favourites
These are four of my favourite designs, and I’m especially enamored with the flower pattern on the bottom right. It’s stunning!
Very Very Favourite Patterns!
Well these two below (stacked on top of each other)….what can I say, I’m in love. What stunning patterns.
It’s entirely possible they are product illustrations using patterns she has created….about the most beautiful product illustrations I’ve even seen if that’s the case.
I think the Pet Collection is my favourite product range/patterns, but there is a wonderful use of colour in both designs.
Diverse Pattern Design
If you visit the Katie Mantle website you’ll see that Katie proves she’s not just a pretty face churning out ‘cute and feminine’ designs only, she’s one hugely diverse designer who can swing from cute to grunge or Brit rock in an instant.
All About….
I’ve used the image below from her website to introduce Katie to you because I really like it.
I’d emplore you to visit her website and click on the ‘copyright’ link, the pattern there is adorable, and as usual, with a fantastic colour scheme.
Katie lived in London for a long time, and you can see this influence in her work but now lives in LA. She has a BA Hons Degree in Fashion & Textile Design and 12 years experience in the fashion industry.
Having worked for nationwide chain stores to fashion houses and boutiques, Katie now works for lines that sell to high end stores and boutiques such as Kitson and Nordstrom.
Katie herself states on her bio page that she has a great colour sense, I agree – this is one of her major strengths I feel.
3 Responses to “Pattern Design & Illustration”
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Thank you so much for the lovely review of my site!
You are most welcome, you deserve it
People underestimate how hard it is to create certain things that look simply in ‘theory’. For instance your blue, red, and black flower pattern that I really like.
The other day I was creating a flower pattern to integrate into a website design and it was giving me so much trouble.
I’ve created ‘real flower’ patterns on a number of occasions before, but it can be tricky to make these sort of flower patterns without them looking scruffy instead of stylish.
You can base it on the the outline and detailing of a real flower all you want but that doesn’t mean it’s going to look good. You can’t just copy the outline and details and hey presto it looks cool. If if was that easy anyone with the software could create a pattern as good as the flower pattern you have created by just copying the flower.
It’s requires an assessment about what level of detail to include and what level of detail needs excluding to get the right balance I think. Sometimes real flower shapes then need altering to ‘look right’.
Your pattern has a lovely ‘pen etched’ feel to it, and the detail is great without looking fussy or scruffy. It takes some experience to adapt the concept of a real flower into a flower that has the right level of detail and the right balance between realism and illustration/creativity.
Katie! Your site is rockin!!!!!!!! Love love love the designs.