9 DAYS UNTIL MODULE 1 STARTS - we're LIVE and with you every step of the way!

We’re on the OFFICIAL 10 DAY COUNTDOWN to the start of Module 1: Designing your way.

On February 1, 2016 we’ll welcome students from around the globe for 5 weeks of design fun, to build a supportive community of new friends and show YOU just what this industry can offer!

With just 9 days to go, we remind you that every module we run on-line is ‘LIVE!’

This means, when the virtual doors open on February 1 for Module 1, the Make it in Design team are with you every step of the way for 5 whole weeks of class!

We’re here to offer encouragement and support, share prompts, helpful links and news of opportunities, further resources and fun things we find. We enjoy a bit of banter too and love getting to know each and everyone of you.

We can’t forget to mention that ‘LIVE’ also means you get the chance to ASK Rachael Taylor ANYTHING!

Rachael has been asked hundreds of questions over the last few years, from industry to copyright and technical how tos to the equipment she uses.

Here are a few examples:

Q. How do I decide if my pattern is on the right track? Do you often make patterns yourself and decide they are not going to work and delete them?

Rachael: I never delete my work. I always keep everything as I may go back and revisit it at a later date. I like to think there are no mistakes just ‘happy accidents’. If you are struggling with a pattern, it’s good to take some time out or start a new piece. Revisit it a later date. Just by changing the scale and the colour palette of a pattern you can really reinvent it.

Q. If you want to launch your own label at some point, is it preferable to launch it under your own name or use a company name?

Rachael: It really is down to personal choice, I wanted to use my own name as I worked for a number of design companies for so long as an unnamed artist. However, it can feel a little strange promoting yourself in the beginning when using your own name. I have designer friends who preferred to go with a label name for this reason. Other people cleverly use their names to convey the ethos behind their brand e.g. Lush Designs. It really depends on what you’re comfortable with. Also it might be worth doing a domain URL search to see what’s available and if you want to become a Limited Company/LLC check to see if your desired name is available with organisations such as Companies House (in the UK) or similar.

Q. Which creative software would you recommend for surface pattern design – Photoshop or Illustrator? Which one do you prefer to work with? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?

Rachael: With Photoshop and Illustrator you will all find that you probably prefer one or the other depending on your style. If you want to work with mixed media or watercolour and you want to retain the quality of a scan or pre-existing artwork then Photoshop is best. My personal preference is Illustrator for the way I work – for Image Trace (Live Trace), working with black images, creating repeats etc. It’s so fast it’s fantastic, and it’s so good for re-colouring. Photoshop is equally as good. I just prefer Illustrator for my style. It really depends on your style and the type of things you are going to be using it for. I would say Photoshop is probably better if you are the type of artist or designer who scans in a lot of fabrics, textures, really layered effects etc. In that case it’s best to keep it in Photoshop, as the file size will be smaller. You can bring some elements and effects into Illustrator but I have always been advised to keep these minimal due to the impact on file size.

Q. Is there usually a limit to the amount of colours in a design for material? Or with digital print is it now limitless? How many colours do you usually work with for example?

Rachael: With the technological advances of digital printing it has become a much more favourable method. Years ago the amount of colours you incorporated could restrict the print process e.g. a design with 6 colours or more would be very costly to produce with screen printing. You will notice I use a large amount of colours in my own design work and it has never been an issue for my clients. As long as you save an editable file of your design clients can always re-colour it or reduce the number of colours should they need to.

You’ll be pleased to know that we have pulled together a list of Frequently Asked Questions from all of our past classes so that you can read answers to the questions you may not even think to ask!

During each class all questions and answers are shared with the community and this really does offer a wealth of valuable information and top tips.

Module 1: Designing your way starts on February 1, 2016. Read what this module has to offer, check out the brochure, 50 top reasons to join us, new video based bonus technical workshops and more on the main Module 1 course page.

It’s ideal for anyone interested in a future career as a surface pattern designer, those looking to refresh their design skills or simply rediscover their creative passion.

If you have any questions, check out the FAQ page too (links on the top right of the module page) and if you can’t find the answer to your question, email [email protected] and we’d be more than happy to help!

Hope to see you soon!