Surtex 2016 Preview: Hollie McManus

Surtex, the only show in North America solely devoted to selling and licensing original art and design for all types of products, is almost here! Each year we bring you a series of Surtex previews and we are extremely proud of many of “The Art and Business of Surface Pattern Design” e-course students who have featured and continue to feature at the show.

We are delighted to share with you previews of the talented designers showing at Surtex on the Make it in Design blog – enjoy!

Today we feature ABSPD graduate Hollie McManus and a member of the design collective Dot & Flow with whom she will be exhibition with in Booth 244!

About you as a designer:

I studied Illustration at University and have always loved cute characters and patterns. I struggled to find a place for my love of patterns and it didn’t occur to me that I could be designing those patterns myself until I discovered the ABSPD courses. Now I have found my passion! I love using nature, people, animals and textures that I find and make myself as inspiration for fun, quirky, colourful designs.

Which ABSPD course(s) have you taken?

All of them! I started with the first 3 modules and couldn’t get enough so I signed up to do the brand new Ultimate portfolio builder course when it was released. I really believe they changed my life as there is no way I would be exhibiting my work at Surtex if it wasn’t for them.

How have you been preparing for the show?

Along with the other members of Dot & Flow, we have been preparing since we decided the to do the show last year! We have had numerous video chats and constant messages between us all to get planning and also to support each other through new designs, portfolio building, banner designing and booth planning.