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20 Summer Pattern Themes for Surface Pattern Designers

Ensure Your Portfolio is Summer-Ready!



Seasonal patterns are incredibly important for us as surface pattern designers because the marketability of our work often revolves around the seasons and the kinds of products companies are selling throughout the year.


That’s why it’s so important to have a selection of seasonal patterns in your portfolio, on your Instagram feed, and in your POD shops.


Art directors, manufacturers, and customers are always looking for fresh seasonal artwork for products like fabric, stationery, home décor, gift wrap, and clothing.




When is the right time to make seasonal patterns?


One question I hear all the time is:

“How far ahead should I be creating seasonal patterns and collections?”


The truth is — there’s no single right answer!


Different companies work to completely different schedules. Fabric companies, for example, may work over a year in advance, while smaller independent businesses might only plan a few months ahead.


If you're uploading prints to Spoonflower, individual customers may be buying seasonal prints in the season itself!


Because of this, I don’t think there’s ever a wrong time to create seasonal artwork. The most important thing is simply that you have seasonal designs ready in your portfolio when opportunities arise.


As a general rule, I like to create seasonal collections during the actual season itself. I find it easier to gather inspiration, stay excited about the theme, and create authentic colour palettes and motifs. Then, those collections are ready for larger companies planning far ahead, while also sitting on my Instagram feed and portfolio for smaller businesses to discover later.


So if you’re ready to refresh your portfolio, here are 20 summer pattern themes to inspire your next collection!

 



Coastal and Nautical Themes:


  1. Coastal Cottage – sea shells, weathered stripes, fishing boats, crustaceans

  2. Mediterranean – olives branches, citrus fruits, fish, colourful tiles

  3. Tropical Holiday – palm trees, cocktails, bold florals, exotic birds, poolside motifs

  4. Vintage nautical – anchors, vintage maps, rope textures, light houses

  5. Under the sea – Crabs, jellyfish, whales, star fish, coral, octopus





Floral Themes:


  1. Wildflower meadows – regional wildflowers, butterflies, bees, insects

  2. English garden party – roses, tea cups, cakes, hydrangeas, ribbons, strawberries

  3. Tropical Flowers – monstera leaves, hothouse flowers, tropical butterflies





Food Themes:


  1. Picnic – gingham, strawberries, lemonade, cherries, picnic baskets

  2. Farmers' Market – Eggs, herbs, flowers, onions, fish, oils, tomatoes

  3. Ice Cream Parlour – ice creams, popsicles, lollies, sprinkles, polka dots





Nature and Outdoor Themes:


  1. Camping – Tents, campervans, camp fire, marshmallows, mountains, pine trees

  2. Lake Life – Compass, fishing, canoes, guitars, bears

  3. Desert – Cacti, sun motifs, cowboys, lizards

  4. Gardening – Flower pots, insects, gardening gloves, watering can

  5. Allotment – seed packets, seedlings, fruits, vegetables





Lifestyle Themes:


  1. Surfing – surf boards, beach vans, ice creams, hibiscus flowers, retro typography

  2. Festival – guitars, tents, floral crowns, musical motifs

  3. Road Trip – maps, camper vans, postcards, desert highways

  4. Retro Poolside – cabanas, retro swimwear, rubber rings, cocktails, fruit, sunglasses, ice lollies


 


I hope these themes have given you plenty of inspiration to start creating your own summer patterns and collections!


To make your work even more marketable, try designing several coordinating patterns within one theme to create a mini collection.


Mini collections are a fantastic way to showcase your skills as a surface pattern designer whilst also making your work more appealing to clients and customers.


Collections are great for a number of reasons:


  • They give sewists and fabric buyers the option of purchasing coordinating prints on Spoonflower and other POD sites

  • They look polished, cohesive, and professional in your portfolio

  • They create a beautifully curated look on your Instagram feed when posted together

 


Speed up your process by using a template


If you’d like to speed up the collection building process, using a template will help you increase your productivity in Procreate.


Many of the templates in Template Pack are versatile enough to work with almost any motif or summer theme.


You can explore the template pack by clicking the image below. (You can see how I used one of the templates to create this summer strawberry pattern!)



If you've enjoyed this post, or have a question or comment, feel free to leave a comment below and I'll get back to you!


 

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