Hey First name / friends!

 

One of the biggest things I've learned in art licensing is that how you position a design matters just as much as the design itself. A small tweak like a color shift, a bit of lettering, or a different layout can open up entirely new product categories.

 

My Sweet Tooth collection is a perfect example. Cakes & donuts were some of the very first motifs I painted back when I was building my licensing portfolio, and they've become a staple ever since. They did well early on as art prints on print-on-demand sites like Society6 and Redbubble, but they really took off when I repositioned them with specific products in mind.

 

 

By shifting the color palette on these donuts and cupcakes toward brighter, bolder pinks, I geared them toward a younger tween audience and they got picked up for licensing on back-to-school supplies and locker decor.

 

 

…then I took the same cake motifs and added lettering which gave the design a totally different energy. Now it works as a kitchen towel or hostess gift!

 

 

And with a little rearranging and lettering, the donuts work as a birthday card, too!

 

It's the same art, but three totally different product categories. And the best part is, I didn't just snag a few art print sales when I first posted them. I've been able to leverage these designs to land recurring licensing deals over the past decade. 

 

Design once, keep earning ongoing. Work smarter, not harder! 😉

 

This week, your challenge is to design some sweet treats for your portfolio! 🍰

 

Bonus challenge! Think about what types of products you may want to see this design on. Then decide how you might shift that design to fit the product better. Maybe it's adding lettering, going for a different color palette than you normally would, or designing a second piece as a companion.

To make sure I'm able to see and share your work, use the hashtag #CreateWithCatCoq and tag me @catcoq in the actual photo so I can see what you make! I can't wait to see your take on this prompt! ✨

Here are a few of the amazing submission from our last challenge! 

 

Make sure to click on the photos to see each artist on Instagram and give them some love! When we help each other grow, we all rise : )

 

Have a fabulous week!