Kids Trends Online Workshop

During week one, you will become acquainted with the most relevant trends for 2018. You will spend the week creating graphics for your kid’s collection with a specific age group in mind. New: Lecture + tutorial by Sabina on creative techniques for brainstorming and innovating. Learn about picture book trends! Art materials challenge – play& draw daily with our trend inspired prompts! A video case study by Denise Holmes that includes tips on how to draw cute animals for the kids market. Resources: Trends 2018 Workbook, creative drawing worksheets by Sabina, PDF tips by Denise, useful links and recommended readings.

Week 2 is all about focusing on pattern design. You will spend the week creating a collection of patterns informed by trends in the Kids Market. Includes a lecture on best practices for designing unified pattern collections. Tips for approaching dream clients and designing with a specific client in mind. Lecture on licensing basics. Pattern tutorial by Denise. Resources: Dream client spreadsheet, licensing terms guide, and recommended readings. Bonus content: complete the first-week assignment to access bonus content.

The final week is all about typography. We will learn how to mix hand lettering with trends! Fun assignments will sharpen your lettering skills this week and will help you create a relevant collection. We will also provide tips for best lettering practices. Resources: Worksheet, recommended readings, and inspiring lettering artists. Bonus Content: complete assignment 2 and view more bonus content.

We have an exclusive interview with Sarah Betz of Little Cube, who works with companies like Paperless Post, Cloud9 Fabrics and Plumeti. Her designs have been licensed as wallpapers, home decor, fabric, temporary tattoos, children’s apparel, stationery and greeting cards. Sarah offers valuable tips on how to make it in the kids market. Website: little-cube.com

Flora Waycott is a UK-born designer and illustrator who lives and works in Sydney, Australia. Her designs are inspired by nature, her travels and her home. She is represented by agent Lilla Rogers, and some of her clients include Harper Collins, Flow Magazine, Madison Park Greetings, The Land of Nod, The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA), Mollie Makes, Oopsy Daisy, Lilipinso, American Greetings, Papyrus. Flora will share with us some of her tips and impressions of designing for the kids market, finding inspiration and a bit about her creative process. Website: florawaycott.com

Stephanie is an illustrator, designer and teacher based in West Virgina. She works in Photoshop and Illustrator and has developed a style that blends both digital and traditional elements. She enjoys playing around with patterns, textures and brilliant colors. Stephanie is represented by the Bright Agency and her clients include Chronicle Books, Mudpuppy, Up With Paper, Caterpillar Books, Ladybird Books, American Greetings, Papyrus, Noel Tatt, and Highlights. Stephanie shares about her experience designing for the kids market, working with trends, licensing her work and more. Website: stephaniefizercoleman.com

Lizzy Dee

“I’ve found more value in Sabina’s classes than the 4+ years of online illustration classes I’ve taken prior. She teaches how to properly research themes and incorporate them into your work. I worked and watched as my work quickly bloomed into a style I had been trying find for years. I’m more than grateful for Sabina’s teaching style. She sets you up for continued success. A pattern I made from the Kids Trends class was recently licensed for stationary and paper products in Scandinavia! Clients are attracted to the work I’ve made in the classes which has led to other illustration and design work. Design Garden classes have become a part of my illustration routine and I look to them to expand my portfolio every season.”

Website: www.lizzydeestudio.com

Neelam Kaur

“Design Garden Classes had been a great resource for me, from content to the delivery, I found it really engaging and beneficial in my journey of being a designer. It was last year in 2016 that I first enrolled in the Kids Trends Workshop and since then I had created numerous pieces, I improved a lot overall and sold couple of prints created post workshop. However what is most interesting for me to share with you is that now I have an Agent to represent my work (hopefully I would be making a debut at Surtex 2017). Kids Trends Workshop 2016 had not just made me understand trends however made my work commercially viable and I always recommend Design Garden Classes to fellow artists.”

After the workshop:
1. I am shortlisted as Designer for Texitura 57 (2017) and my work is now part of Texitura Box 57.
​2. Besides, my work is also featured as Contributing Designer on Emily Kiddy AW 2018|19 KidsWear Trend Publication​.
Website: link

MaJo Bautista V

“Trend research takes time, and paying trend sites are expensive as well as trend reports sold separately. I think the selection of kids trends included in the workbook, were amazing. The workbook truly reflected Sabina and Denise’s hard work and experience into putting together their own version of a trend report from their own research. Having that information available not only saves you time, but also makes you feel constantly inspired. Plus, once you are aware of the trends, you start noticing whether they are already in the market, or starting too. It also makes you a bit more sensitive towards new trends that might be emerging. The class is totally worth it just for the workbook itself. If you also count the tips you get from Sabina and Denise, then you are getting a total bargain. Can’t wait to next year’s trend workshop!”

After the workshop:
I used the patterns which I created in the Kids Trends Workshop for my new line of dog accessories MONSHULS. I found that the cute designs are also suitable for pets and fit the taste of my customers.
Website: www.majobv.com