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4 Surface Designers Share Tips for Wearing Color and Prints
From mixing prints to finding your favorite colors, these designers understand the role that textiles have in self-expression.
Posted in: Fabric Guides , Makers & Crafts • July 31, 2021
You know that feeling when you spot a bolt of fabric that has your ideal print, one with the best balance of colors and shapes for your style? It's fun to look at a fabric and wonder who designed it—someone took the time to sketch it out and pick all the final colors.
Meet four illustrators who create surface designs for Spoonflower! These designers all have backgrounds in the fashion industry, so they understand the role that textiles have in self-expression. In a series of interviews below, these artists share how they create their designs and give you tips for bringing more prints and color into your wardrobe.
Nelvis Valenzuela
Nelvis is a former fashion designer turned surface pattern designer and illustrator with a passion for color. She describes her designs as expressing feel-good nostalgia. After working for 17 years in the fashion industry, primarily in intimate apparel (including work for Victoria's Secret), Nelvis now creates surface designs and illustrations.
What led you to surface design?
Nelvis: I started my career in the corporate world as an intimate apparel and sleepwear fashion designer. I was always sketching, selecting trims, fabrics, partnering with patternmakers. Almost ten years ago, I transitioned to color and print, working for a globally recognized company. That allowed me to expand my fashion experience beyond the garment design, and get to work on a different aspect. Aside from working with patterns in my day job, it's also my hobby. I'm very passionate about it.
Where do you get inspiration for your designs?
Nelvis: Inspiration comes from a wide range of things, but I think that the common thread between them all is history. I love to look at the intricate, decorative details in wallpapers and textiles from the late 19th to early 20th century. I admire the cover art in vintage novels. The creative imagination of children's storybooks is also something that gets my own creativity going. Lastly, I am also drawn to flowers and woodland critters.
What role does color play in your life outside of your work?
Nelvis: As a creative, I strongly react to colors during and outside of my work. Color is emotional; it's psychological. It affects our mood, the same way songs, scents, and foods do. I often find myself going down the rabbit hole of creating endless pattern colorways. The colors that I choose for my personal designs or my home reflect my personality and mindset. At home, outside of work, colors are very chill. My rooms range from warm earthy terra-cotta to calm dusty blues, and some walls have a light hint of yellow. It gives a calm and happy vibe, just how I try to keep my mindset and mood.
Color is emotional; it's psychological. It affects our mood, the same way songs, scents, and foods do.
- Nelvis Valenzuela.
What do you do when you get stuck while trying to design?
Nelvis: I go to my vintage inspiration boards on Pinterest, or I simply just walk away from the task for a while. Ideas can come to me at any given moment. When stuck, I become observant, and I take photos or notes of anything that sparks interest. If I rush to design, the end result is never one that I feel 100% pleased with. I've practiced controlling my pace, and I now take my time with my own personal work.
Do you ever think specifically of clothing when you design your patterns for Spoonflower?
Nelvis: When I design surface patterns, I always think about the end product. Fashion is usually the first that I cater my designs to, followed by wallpaper, bed linens, and accessories. I like to be strategic and analytical, so I prefer to create full surface pattern collections. Collections allow me to tell a story while also providing the customer with coordinates to mix and match or print mix. There is always a "key print" supported by patterns that are commercial and less complex. It's great to offer some gender-neutral, season-less, classic patterns. 
How do you know if a color or print will feel good to wear?
Nelvis: Great question! I love patterns with good color harmony. I love whimsical illustrative patterns (a.k.a Conversationals) Those are always smile-provoking. If I'm smiling when I see it on a product, I'll probably buy it. Color and print definitely influence an emotional purchase.
If the style is merchandised with coordinating items or accessories, it makes me want to do a happy dance. There is less to figure out, and you'll know that the pieces look cohesive when worn together. Learn which patterns and colors enhance your already beautiful physical characteristics. Figure out what works for your shape, what areas you want to bring attention to or divert attention from.
Do you have any tips for anyone looking to bring more prints and colors into their wardrobes? 
Nelvis: I have many. Think about the silhouette in relation to the scale of the print. Smaller scales tend to work best on small pattern pieces and vice versa. For styles with lots of fabric coverage on the body, choose simple prints that either have enough open space in the background or tonal colors so it won't feel like too much when worn. Next, choose colors and patterns that bring you joy. Lastly, bring some fun to garments by using contrast colors as accents for a fun pop. Try accent colors as binding, piping, covered bottoms, cuffs, hems, straps, lace-up and more.
Do you have any tips for mixing and matching prints?
Nelvis: I love a good print mix. That's one reason why I design surface pattern collections. Mix and match patterns that complement each other in one of these two ways. Mix prints with different patterns and scales but that stay within the same color palette. If you want to mix prints that use completely different colors, I'd suggest ensuring that the print patterns and scale are similar. There really isn't any official rule to follow when print mixing. You have creative freedom, but those were just my personal guidelines.
