This summer (2023) I joined the Textile Design Lab of the Pattern Observer in an effort to focus a little more on my pattern designs & skills. In doing so I took part in the “Slow Design Challenge” in which we were guided to focus on developing one hero pattern during the month of August. Upon choosing a theme -I was drawn to the lobster theme because I had long wanted to feature these creatures somewhere in my art and/or design work.

And so I began collecting inspirational images for my mood board, which would guide me in creating my pattern. I wanted my design, and any collection that might (and did!) evolve from that, to have a light, summery and abstract style. It was pretty hard filtering all the inspirational images I collected! But eventually I did and created the mood board you see here below. 

I began with creating mostly placement designs and illustrations finding it quite hard at first when I tried developing repeats from them and thought I would just stay with the placements. But eventually, upon trying several options, which I have included in this collection, I came up with my favourite hero pattern.