Surface Design Immersion 2026 is HERE!
Surface Design Immersion 2026
A creative career you’ve probably never been shown
Ever feel like there’s a creative path out there for you… but nobody handed you the map?
Surface Design Immersion (SDI) 2026 is an 8-week online course created by Bonnie Christine that teaches you how to turn simple sketches into polished patterns and learn the business of licensing, royalties, and getting paid for your work.
Enrollment closes February 24 and won’t open again until 2027.
Learn more + enroll in SDI 2026 →
What is surface pattern design?
It’s the art behind the prints you see every day on fabric, wallpaper, gift wrap, stationery, and more. Every one of those designs started as someone’s idea and yes, companies pay for this kind of work every day.
Why I’m sharing this here (without turning my fabric shop into a billboard)
San Diego Sewn will always be a fabric shop first. Full stop.
I’m sharing SDI because it’s genuinely helpful for the creative humans who hang out here, especially if you’ve ever thought: “I want to design the fabric, not just sew with it.”
- Makers who want to learn Illustrator + pattern design step-by-step
- Quilters and sewists curious about licensing and building a portfolio
- Quilt pattern designers who want original prints to match their patterns and mockups
- Artists who want a clearer path from “I make things” to “I get paid for my work”
What you’ll learn inside the course
Module 1: Gather Inspiration
Find inspiration in your own story and build a meaningful foundation for your work.
Module 2: Make Motifs
Start with simple lines, shapes, and doodles, then refine them into illustrations ready for pattern design.
Module 3: Digitize in Adobe Illustrator
Bring your artwork into Illustrator and transform it into clean, colorful digital designs. Feeling nervous about tech? Bonnie’s teaching style is calm, clear, and beginner-friendly.
Module 4: Create Patterns
Create seamless repeating patterns, the kind you see on fabric and wallpaper.
Module 5: Design Collections
Build cohesive, story-driven collections with palettes, hero prints, and supporting coordinates.
Module 6: Build Your Business
Learn how surface designers make income, including licensing and royalties, and create a pitch-ready portfolio.
For quilt pattern designers (and other “I make things” people)
If your brain runs on seams, blocks, and “what if I made this in a different colorway,” SDI can be a powerful skill-builder that supports what you already do.
- Create your own coordinating prints for quilt mockups and covers
- Build a cohesive “brand world” across patterns, fabric, and marketing
- Explore licensing opportunities with fabric and home goods companies
- Design collections that can extend beyond fabric into stationery, wallpaper, or packaging
No prerequisites (really)
No art degree required. No fancy portfolio needed. No need to be “good at tech.” What you do need is a willingness to learn one step at a time.
Student wins (testimonials)
- Monique Beaudin: Left corporate, embraced freelancing, and landed top 10 in a Spoonflower design challenge.
- Emily Grogan: Shifted into design full-time and collaborated with a European fashion brand.
- Amanda Harris- That's Me!: Transitioned from a 26-year dental career to selling designs online: “Every single day since I started, I’ve enjoyed my life like never before.”
- Betsy Mitten: Learned Illustrator in her 60s and grew her audience significantly.
- Seiko Sisco: Launched a handmade baby shop and received a Spoonflower Small Business Grant.
View additional success stories + enroll
Enrollment note
If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing your art on real products, calling yourself a designer, or building a creative income stream, this is a strong place to start.
Enrollment closes February 24 and won’t open again until 2027.
Disclosure: I’m an affiliate for Surface Design Immersion. If you enroll through my link, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share resources I genuinely believe are valuable to makers and designers.
