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5 Influential Textile Designers of the Last Century Every Surface Pattern Artist Should Know

Great design doesn’t exist in a vacuum. As a surface pattern designer, knowing where our industry came from can sharpen your eye, fuel your creativity, and deepen your understanding of what makes a pattern timeless.

In this article, we spotlight five of the most influential textile designers of the last 100 years—pioneers who shaped everything from mid-century interiors to contemporary fashion. Their work continues to inspire today’s surface design landscape, and learning from them is a powerful way to grow as an artist.

Let’s explore who they were, why they mattered, and what modern designers can learn from their legacy. Follow Patternfield

1. William Morris (1834–1896)

Key Impact: Pioneered the Arts & Crafts movement, emphasising beauty in everyday objects.

Although Morris lived before the 20th century, his influence permeates modern textile design to this day. With richly detailed floral repeats and nature-inspired motifs, Morris elevated home furnishings into a form of art.

Why it matters today:

Morris’s work reminds us that craftsmanship and storytelling matter—even in repeat patterns.

His seamless blends of art and function laid the foundation for modern surface design thinking.

2. Lucienne Day (1917–2010)

Key Impact: Revolutionised post-war interiors with abstract, organic patterns.

A leading figure in British modernist design, Lucienne Day brought a sense of optimism and movement to mid-century textiles. Her breakthrough print Calyx (1951) introduced bold, abstract motifs into mainstream home decor, shifting consumer taste away from traditional florals.

What you can learn:

Balance playfulness with structure. Day’s designs were vibrant—but never chaotic.

Her ability to connect fine art with commercial design remains a key lesson in versatility.

3. Marimekko (founded 1951, Finland)

Key Designers: Maija Isola, Vuokko Eskolin-Nurmesniemi Key Impact: Bold, unapologetic color and shape that redefined Scandinavian modernism.

Marimekko isn’t a single designer, but rather a design house that nurtured a collective of pioneering textile artists. The brand’s signature use of bright, flat color and oversized motifs helped break the boundaries of fashion and interiors alike.

Takeaway for today’s designer:

Simplicity can be powerful. Big motifs, bold hues, and repeating confidence can become a brand signature.

Think like a brand—not just an artist. Marimekko’s patterns were instantly recognizable across categories.

4. Zandra Rhodes (b. 1940)

Key Impact: Bridged textile design with high fashion.

Known for her maximalist, hand-drawn motifs, Zandra Rhodes injected expressive surface design into haute couture. Her prints weren’t just decorative—they were part of the garment’s structure and identity.

Why she’s relevant:

Don’t be afraid of scale, layering, or unconventional layouts.

For designers interested in textiles beyond licensing—fashion, product design, or custom collaborations—Rhodes is a masterclass in creative risk.

5. Jack Lenor Larsen (1927–2020)

Key Impact: Elevated handwoven and industrial textiles into architectural art.

Larsen blended global craft traditions with modern manufacturing, creating textiles for interiors that pushed aesthetic and technical boundaries. His fabrics graced the homes of architects and cultural icons alike.

For the pattern designer:

Explore tactile storytelling—how a visual pattern might evoke texture, movement, or emotion.

Larsen’s legacy is a reminder that textile design can—and should—be multidimensional.

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Best Textile Pattern Design Softwares for Modern Surface Designers

If you're a surface pattern designer ready to move beyond sketchbooks and Photoshop hacks, choosing the right digital tool can completely transform your workflow. The best textile pattern design software doesn’t just help you draw—it helps you think in repeats, test in mockups, and prepare files ready for clients, printers, or licensing platforms.

Let’s dive into the tools that could elevate your design process with Patternfield.

1. Adobe Illustrator

Best for: Precision vector design and scalable pattern workflows

Adobe Illustrator is often considered the industry standard in digital pattern creation. Its Pattern Tool makes it easy to create seamless repeats, and its vector-based environment is perfect for scaling your designs across different product sizes without losing quality.

Key Features:

Advanced repeat options (grid, brick, mirror, etc.)

Easy colour palette and swatch management

Compatible with most printers and manufacturers

Integrates well with other Adobe tools (Photoshop, InDesign)

Why it ranks as a best textile pattern design software: Its versatility, precision, and global adoption make it a must-know platform for professional designers.

2. Procreate

Best for: Hand-drawn texture lovers and iPad-based creatives

Procreate has quickly become a favourite among illustrators for its natural brushes and intuitive interface. While it’s not designed specifically for repeat pattern making, many surface designers use it to sketch and paint their motifs before transferring them into Illustrator or Photoshop for repeats.

Key Features:

Hundreds of customisable brushes

Pressure-sensitive drawing with Apple Pencil

Time-lapse recordings for content creation

Quick export to PSD or PNG for integration

Pro tip: Use the assisted drawing and snapping tools to create rough tileable compositions on the go.

3. Affinity Designer

Best for: Designers looking for a cost-effective Illustrator alternative

Affinity Designer offers many of the same vector editing capabilities as Adobe Illustrator—but without the subscription model. It’s fast, efficient, and has an active community of textile and surface pattern designers.

Key Features:

One-time payment (no ongoing fees)

CMYK support and print-ready output

Artboards, symbols, and grids for pattern development

Works seamlessly on Mac, Windows, and iPad

Why surface designers love it: It’s reliable, budget-friendly, and fully capable of producing high-quality pattern work.

4. Adobe Photoshop

Best for: Raster-based artwork and texture-heavy designs

While Illustrator excels at vectors, Photoshop is a powerful tool for raster-based pattern design, especially when working with photography, scanned textures, or painterly effects. Its newer Pattern Preview mode makes creating seamless repeats much easier than before.

Key Features:

Non-destructive editing via Smart Objects

Easy layering and blending for complex textures

Pattern Preview mode for seamless tiling

Advanced brush customisation and texture building

Best textile pattern design software for: artists who blend photography, painted elements, or collage-style motifs into their designs.

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Top Textile Pattern Design Software Every Designer Should Know

Choosing the right textile pattern design software can significantly impact your workflow, creativity, and production quality. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned surface designer, the right tool helps you streamline your process from sketch to seamless repeat.

Here’s a quick rundown of the top software options featured on Patternfield:

Adobe Illustrator – Industry standard for vector-based repeat patterns; powerful but requires a learning curve.

Procreate – Intuitive and flexible for sketching and designing on iPads; great for hand-drawn looks.

Affinity Designer – Affordable alternative to Illustrator with strong vector + raster capabilities.

Photoshop – Ideal for creating layered textures and bitmap repeats; especially good for digital painting.

Repper – A fast, browser-based app focused on creating seamless pattern tiles from images.

Each of these tools offers unique strengths depending on your design style, production needs, and budget.

If you're looking to elevate your workflow, exploring a professional textile pattern design software can make all the difference.

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Understanding the Marketplace MVP

Before diving into the development process, it’s essential to understand what a Marketplace MVP is and why it plays a crucial role in the success of your platform. A well-planned MVP helps test your business model, refine key features, and ensure a strong market fit before full-scale development.

Developing an MVP comes with multiple advantages that can determine the long-term success of your marketplace. Here are the key benefits:

Cost Efficiency: Developing an MVP requires fewer resources, allowing you to allocate budget effectively and avoid significant investments in unproven ideas.

Faster Time-to-Market: An MVP enables a quicker launch, allowing you to enter the market ahead of competitors and start building your user base promptly.

User-Centric Development: Early user feedback guides the evolution of your platform, ensuring that subsequent features align with actual user needs and preferences.

By focusing on these benefits, you can make informed decisions while building your Marketplace MVP.

Additionally, having a Marketplace Roadmap is crucial for long-term success. This roadmap outlines the development stages, key milestones, and feature prioritization to ensure a structured approach to marketplace growth.

2. Steps to Build a Marketplace MVP

Building a Marketplace MVP requires a structured approach that balances speed, cost, and functionality. Below are the key steps to ensure a smooth and effective development process.

2.1. Define the Problem and Value Proposition

Before developing your MVP, you need to clearly define the problem your marketplace aims to solve. Your value proposition should highlight why your platform is unique and how it benefits users compared to existing solutions.

A well-defined marketplace business model is also essential at this stage. The right business model determines how revenue will be generated, whether through commissions, subscriptions, listing fees, or other monetization strategies. Choosing the appropriate model directly impacts the scalability and profitability of your marketplace.

2.2. Conduct Market Research

A successful marketplace is built on a deep understanding of market demand. By analyzing existing competitors, identifying gaps, and studying user behavior, you can shape an MVP that effectively meets the needs of your target audience.

2.3. Identify Core Features

Once you’ve defined your market position, the next step is to outline the core features that your Marketplace MVP must include. Instead of overloading your platform with unnecessary functions, focus on the essential features that allow users to complete key actions.

Some must-have features include:

User Registration and Profiles: Allow users to create accounts and manage personal information.

Product Listings: Enable sellers to list products or services with descriptions, pricing, and images.

Search and Filtering: Implement search capabilities with filters to help buyers find relevant offerings.

Transaction Processing: Provide secure payment gateways to facilitate transactions between users.

Review and Rating System: Incorporate feedback mechanisms to build trust and credibility within the community.

By concentrating on these fundamental features, you ensure that your Marketplace MVP addresses user needs while remaining cost-effective and scalable.

2.4. Choose the Right Technology Stack

The choice of technology directly impacts the scalability and flexibility of your MVP. Whether you opt for a no-code, low-code, or custom-built solution, ensure that the tech stack aligns with your long-term goals and budget.

2.5. Develop and Launch the MVP

With a clear plan and selected tools, you can now move into development. The goal here is not to build a perfect product but rather to develop an online marketplace MVP that functions smoothly and provides value to users from day one. A phased launch strategy can help test different aspects of the platform before expanding further.

Understanding how to launch a marketplace effectively is also essential at this stage. A well-planned marketplace launch should include marketing strategies, user acquisition techniques, and customer onboarding to ensure an impactful entry into the market.

2.6. Gather Feedback and Iterate

The final and most critical step is gathering user feedback. This data will guide further development, helping you refine features, address pain points, and scale the MVP effectively. Continuous iteration based on real-world user input is key to turning your marketplace into a long-term success.

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How to connect with others in the Surface Pattern Community

1. Understand What You’re Looking For

Before joining any 'Surface Pattern community', take a moment to reflect on your intentions. Are you hoping to get feedback on your work? Are you looking for collaborators, mentors, or simply friends who "get it"? Being clear about what you want makes it easier to find spaces that align with your goals—and helps you approach others with authenticity.

If your main goal is career growth, you might seek out groups focused on business and licensing. If you’re craving creative freedom, communities built around monthly challenges or casual inspiration might feel more comfortable. Knowing this will shape where and how you connect.

2. Share Your Work and Process Regularly

One of the easiest and most effective ways to start building connection is simply by showing up and sharing. Whether you’re posting on Instagram, writing a blog, or uploading your portfolio to a platform like Behance, make it a habit to show not just the finished product but also the process behind it.

When people see your creative journey—your sketches, your colour palette decisions, the moments when things don’t go as planned—they begin to connect with your personality, not just your art. That human element makes people more likely to reach out, start conversations, or invite you into projects.

Remember: your “messy middle” is often where others relate most.

3. Join Design Challenges and Prompt-Based Events

Participating in design challenges is a fun and effective way to meet other creatives while staying inspired. These events usually revolve around themes or prompts and are hosted regularly by platforms like Spoonflower, Instagram accounts, or design blogs.

When you join these challenges, you become part of a moment—a wave of designers all exploring the same theme in their own way. It’s a natural conversation starter and a chance to engage with others by commenting on their interpretations and receiving feedback on your own.

The best part? You don’t need to win. Simply showing up consistently helps you become more visible and involved.

4. Reach Out and Support Others Genuinely

One of the simplest ways to form real connections is to be the person who uplifts others. A thoughtful comment on someone’s post, a message saying “I love the texture you used here,” or resharing their work with proper credit can go a long way.

You don’t need to be loud or overly confident. Just be kind, consistent, and present. When you genuinely show interest in others’ work, you often receive the same in return. Over time, these small gestures lead to conversations, collaborations, and even lasting friendships.

If you’re shy or unsure how to start, try this: next time someone posts something you admire, leave a comment or send a DM with a specific compliment. "I love how you used layering in that floral repeat—it really gives it depth!" feels much more genuine than a generic “Nice work!”

5. Attend Online Events and Webinars

Virtual events are one of the most accessible ways to meet other designers—no matter where in the world you live. From online workshops and panel discussions to live Q&A sessions or portfolio reviews, these spaces allow you to learn, grow, and be seen.

When attending these events, don’t be afraid to use the chat box, raise your hand, or introduce yourself. Mention where you're based or what kind of work you do. These little details help others remember you—and might lead to follow-up conversations after the event.

If the event includes breakout rooms, treat them like you would a coffee chat: show curiosity, listen actively, and ask others about their work too.

6. Be Part of Smaller, Focused Groups

While large communities are great for exposure, sometimes it’s the smaller groups where deeper connections form. These could be invite-only mastermind circles, accountability groups, or even informal group chats among a few designers.

In a smaller setting, people get to know your style, personality, and goals more intimately. You can share resources, brainstorm ideas, and even navigate challenges together. These groups don’t need to be formal—sometimes all it takes is reaching out to two or three designers you admire and suggesting a monthly Zoom check-in.

If you’re struggling with motivation or feeling creatively stuck, a small, supportive group can provide the push and reassurance you need.