Last week I sat down with Bonnie Christine for an in-depth Q&A where we did a deep dive into the world of surface design and answered all your juicy questions! 

 

This Q&A was so fun because we dove into topics and questions that neither of us have answered in past interviews! 

 

If you couldn’t join us live, I’m excited to share that there is a replay available! It’s only going to be available for a limited time, so make sure to watch it ASAP so you don’t miss out on these valuable surface design industry insights! (Trust me…you’ll want to take notes!)  

You’ve heard me talk about Immersion over the past week and I've shared the story of my first art licensing deal, but today I wanted to another behind-the-scenes look at my own journey and why I think this course is so impactful. 

 

When I was studying graphic design and illustration at University, I was on a singular creative career track. I’d work at an agency out of school, get promoted, and eventually become an Art Director. That was the dream! (Or so I thought…)

 

After college, things went according to plan: I got that agency job– the one I’d always dreamed of. Everything seemed to be going just as I’d planned it– I started as an intern, was soon hired into the agency as a designer, and then –the big dream– I was promoted to Art Director! 

 

This was everything I’d ever wanted! I should be happy, right? Well… not exactly.

 

Don’t get me wrong– I felt incredibly grateful to be working at my “dream job”. But I just didn’t feel as happy or content as I thought I’d be. To put it simply, I just wasn’t passionate about the way my life was going: 

 

I was 27 years old and working and living twenty miles from the home I grew up in in Kansas. I’d always wanted to travel, the two weeks annually I earned for vacations barely scratched the surface of all the places I wanted to visit. 

 

I found myself discontent with my job, too– I was bored of designing logos and websites and I started to feel every designer’s nightmare creeping in –creative burnout. I realized in that moment that I’d lost my passion for being an Art Director.  

 

It wasn’t until I stumbled upon the print-on-demand site, Society6, that the surface design wheels started turning. It blew my mind to learn that I could make one piece of artwork and license it on hundreds or thousands of products across the globe without holding any inventory or incurring any costs!

 

This was the catalyst for me leaving my agency job. I knew I was burnt out at work and it wasn’t fair to the team (or myself) to continue struggling along. I decided to leave my agency job and went full-time as a surface designer. To be blunt, I felt absolutely terrified.

 

 

 

 

Turns out, my worries were for naught. I was so happy to have the freedom that comes along with self-employment. I began traveling the world full-time, running my business from my laptop and painting all the cool things I encountered on my travels.

 

Still, so much of my time was consumed with trying to learn how to navigate the surface design world. I was brand new to the industry and desperately wanted to do things right. Stumbling through it on my own was a recipe for making costly mistakes that could have been avoided if I had a little more guidance. 

 

This is why I stand behind Immersion and why I’m SO excited to share it with you.

 

This course is what I wish I had when I was navigating the surface design industry on my own. Immersion is a comprehensive eight-week online training program for those who want to learn Adobe Illustrator, the art of surface pattern design, and how to create a sustainable business as a creative entrepreneur. 

 

If you’re ready to get structured guidance on how to build a successful career as a surface designer, Immersion just might be the perfect fit for you. 

 

I'm a proud affiliate of Bonnie’s programs, which means I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you join Immersion. : )

 

In honor of the Surface Design Immersion course, this week’s #CreateWithCatCoq challenge is inspired by my first design that got picked up by a major company! 

 

I licensed my “Good Vibes” design to Urban Outfitters after they found it on Society6 and it’s been a top seller ever since! (Read the full story of how that licensing deal went down in this blog post!) 

 

Your challenge this week is to create an illustration with a positive message like this one. Positive quotes have been a huge part of my licensing portfolio, and aside from the perk that this type of art sells well, it also just makes you feel good to create positive illustrations! 

 

Share your artwork on Instagram with the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq so we can spread the positive vibes! 

I hope you have a great week! Whether you are interested in Immersion or not, make sure to check out the replay of my Q&A with Bonnie Christine before I take it down! There are some serious art licensing value bombs in that interview, and I can’t wait for you to check it out!