What is Surface Pattern Design Anyway???

November 6, 2020

When people ask me “what do you do?” I always answer “I’m a surface pattern designer.”  Many times people just carry on and don’t ask anymore questions, playing along as if they know what that is. When I know, in reality, they darn well don’t.  Mostly though, I am asked, what does that mean?  

I love this question, because it gives me an opportunity to open up a world that most people have no idea exists!  

I explain it like this: the world is full of patterns.

From head to toe, you wear it. From floor to ceiling your homes, businesses and places you frequent are full of patterns. There’s carpeting, rugs, wallpaper, clothing, bedding, tableware, shoes, and one time I even spotted adorable kitchen fire extinguishers! There are so many more surfaces… What surfaces can you think of?  Let’s invent some!

I joined this career path around 2012 after closing up shop on my small home business “Gosh Golly Goods.” 

GGG was in the business of sewing mostly fabric headbands and small handbags.  It did well, and I had so much fun seeing “me sewn headbands” around town, so I thought it would be fun to see my artwork on the fabric I sewed the headbands with.  Whew, long sentence... I love me a good run-on sentence, I have SO much to say!!!

So with GGG behind me I worked hard to learn Adobe Illustrator and some Photoshop.  Then, my dream of seeing my artwork on fabric came true. In 2018, Paintbrush Studios licensed my first fabric collection Jump, Ride, Spin. 

My work always comes from a place of joy and humor. If I can get a giggle out of someone who receives a Tracey Wirth Designs Greeting Card, then I have done my job.  I wanna wrap the world in happiness, much like Christo, the artist from Belgium who wrapped buildings and famous landmarks… in fabric!!!  I have BIG GOALS, eh?! Better get back to work if I want to achieve them!

Tell me, what surfaces could you see wrapped in pattern? 

Thanks for following along. 

Until next time, Tracey