Hey Reader!
Happy Thursday!
If I had a dollar for every time someone in my Momentum coaching calls said 'My patterns are great, but my portfolio isn’t getting me noticed,' I could retire tomorrow.
And 9 times out of 10, the issue isn't the patterns themselves, it's how they're being showcased through mockups. And I know a lot of you might be feeling the same way, so I decided I needed to put together the definitive guide for Everything Mockups! ✨
This is going to be that one email you bookmark and come back to every time you're creating a new portfolio piece or preparing a client pitch.
After diving through all my previous mockup advice (and adding some brand new insights), I've compiled everything into what I'm calling "The Pattern Designer's Mockup Bible."
This covers everything from the technical stuff that trips up beginners to the psychological tricks that make art directors stop scrolling and start reaching for their wallets.
Whether you're just starting out or you've been doing this for years, there's something here that'll make your next portfolio presentation significantly stronger. No like, really strong.
Let’s dive in! 🔥
|
|
🪟 @whimandjoystudio – Spooky Windows:
- This design has big potential as a full pattern collection: imagine expanding the windows into a whole haunted neighborhood story.
- I’d totally see this printed on kids’ pajamas, trick-or-treat totes, or even quirky wrapping paper.
- The bold outlines and playful colors make the windows pop. It feels spooky but still lighthearted.
|
|
|
🎨 @chanellkristen – Halloween Collage:
- Art challenges like this are creative fuel—they push you to try prompts you’d never think of on your own.
- Even if you don’t finish every prompt, you come away with fresh ideas for collections and portfolio pieces.
- Plus, it’s a great way to build community—nothing sparks inspiration like seeing how 20 different artists tackle the same theme.
|
|
|
📚 @jessmariecreative – Cozy Autumn Reads:
- This could totally branch out into a collection — think “Autumn Kitchen,” “Autumn Garden,” and “Autumn Bookshelf” all tied together.
- I can see this on stationery sets, recipe cards, or even mugs! Perfect for cozy fall giftware.
- The warm browns and pops of orange really nail that seasonal vibe without feeling overdone.
|
The ONE statement I keep repeating to all my students is that mockups aren't just "pretty pictures" of your patterns on products.
They're psychological bridges.
When an art director sees your floral pattern floating in digital space, their brain has to work to imagine it on actual products. And they’re busy people! They don't want to work harder than they have to.
So your job is to make it easy for them.
Show them the same pattern beautifully staged on bedding, wallpaper, or stationery (more abouy which one later in the tips). And now suddenly they're not just seeing a pattern, they're seeing their customers falling in love with products featuring your design.
That's the difference between a pattern that gets filed away and one that gets licensed.
So today, I'm sharing 2 tips to help you use mockups the way they were intended - as powerful sales tools that do the heavy lifting for you.
Tip #1: Master The P.O.W.E.R Mockup Framework 💫
I learned this the hard way after showing one pattern on TWELVE different products.
(The client's eyes glazed over faster than donuts at a police convention.)
The magic number is 3-5 mockups per pattern.
Because if you’re putting it on just 1 or 2, you miss out on showing versatility. It makes them go: "Is that all you got?" Your potential clients need to see that your gorgeous botanicals work on more than just a throw pillow.
BUT you start putting them on over 5 mockups, and they go "I GET IT ALREADY." Your audience has the attention span of a golden retriever puppy. Don't waste it.
When you're limited to just a handful, each mockup needs to EARN ITS SPOT.
And this is where my P.O.W.E.R framework comes in handy:
The P.O.W.E.R Mockup Framework
P - Pattern Relationships: Show how your patterns work as a family.
Create a "scene mockup" with multiple products, like a bedding set with your hero pattern on the duvet, smaller scale pattern on sheets, and a geometric blender on the pillows.
O - On-Brand Presentation: Match the visual language of your target industry.
Fabric companies want to see fabric rolls; stationery companies want stationery sets. Study how the top companies in your dream industry present THEIR products.
W - Wow Factor: Include one "hero mockup" that stops the scroll.
This is your money shot. The one that helps clients imagine their customers falling in love with products featuring your pattern.
E - Essential Details: Include one close-up mockup that reveals craftsmanship and intricate details.
Show texture details, clever repeats, or intricate elements that might be overlooked in full-product views.
R - Reality Check: Make your mockups believable.
Check scale (is your pattern realistically sized?), perspective (does it wrap correctly around curves?), and lighting (do shadows fall naturally?).
Remember: Every mockup needs a purpose. If it doesn't serve one of these functions, cut it.
Tip #2: Create Industry-Specific Portfolio Presentations That Convert 🎯
One portfolio doesn't work for everyone.
I see this mistake SO many times. To show versatility is painfully misunderstood by beginners to mean they gotta put their patterns on wallpapers, duvet, journal, and a kids dress. It literally hurts my eyes.
It’s the like sending the same resume to become a kindergarten teacher AND a nightclub bouncer.
It doesn’t work like that!
You hear a story of a pattern designer (ahem- me), about how a pattern they created for home decor got picked up by a kids apparel company, and your mind goes “I need to show my patterns everywhere!”
NOOOOOO.
Even when happy accidents happen, they are accidents.
But the designers (again, me) were confident in owning a lane. Picking ONE market, and sticking to it. You adapt when you need to. Not by throwing your pattern like spaghetti on the wall and hoping something sticks.
Phew.
So now that the rant is over, here's my 3-step system for creating targeted presentations that make art directors reach for their contact lists:
Step 1: Choose Your Industry and Create Custom Portfolios
Create tailored mini-portfolios for different markets:
For Wallpaper Companies:
- Show patterns in room settings
- Include close-ups of repeat details
- Demonstrate how patterns work at large scale
For Children's Markets:
- Use age-appropriate product mockups
- Show patterns on clothing, nursery items, toys
- Include lifestyle shots with kids (if possible)
For Fabric Companies:
- Display patterns on fabric swatches
- Show drape and texture
- Include coordinating pattern families
For Stationery Companies:
- Create stationery set mockups
- Show patterns on various paper products
- Include gift wrap and packaging applications
Step 2: Perfect Your Presentation (Make Art Directors' Lives Easy)
You can have the most stunning pattern in the world, but if it's drowning in visual chaos, nobody's fishing it out.
I spent my first two years wondering why my incredible patterns weren't getting attention. Turns out, I was sabotaging myself with chaotic presentation.
Here's how to fix it:
Create Visual Breathing Room:
- Use consistent white space between mockups
- Limit one pattern collection per page/slide/post
- Choose a clean, neutral background that doesn't compete with your patterns
Build A Visual Hierarchy:
- Lead with your hero pattern on your strongest mockup
- Arrange secondary patterns in a logical flow
- Use size variation strategically – bigger for hero patterns, smaller for coordinating designs
Keep Everything Cohesive:
- Use consistent photography style and lighting across all mockups
- Choose props that complement but never compete with your patterns
- Maintain a cohesive color palette in your presentation
Step 3: Optimize for Mobile Viewing
Art directors aren't just reviewing portfolios at their desks.
They're checking out potential artists during coffee breaks, between meetings, or while commuting. So if your portfolio isn't mobile-friendly, you're losing opportunities.
Test your presentations on actual devices and make sure your mockups look just as compelling on a phone screen as they do on a monitor.
Remember: a confused mind always says no, and a squinting art director definitely says no.
Starting out and don't want to invest in expensive mockup templates yet? I've got the perfect solution for you.
Use Printify to create your first mockups.
This hack is brilliant for two reasons: it's completely free, and you can test how your patterns actually look on products before you finalize them.
Here's the step-by-step process:
Step 1: Export Your Pattern
Finish your pattern in Procreate or your design software and export as a high-quality JPEG (at least 300 DPI).
Step 2: Login, Upload, Repeat!
- Log into Printify (free account) and choose any product you'd like to see your pattern on
- Upload your pattern
- This is crucial: Switch to "Repeat mode" in the design editor!
Step 3: Scale to Perfection
- Adjust the scale slider to around 60% (experiment with what looks best for your specific pattern)
- Try different scale options to see how your pattern transforms at various sizes
Step 4: Preview All the Things
- Scroll through all the mockup options to see your pattern on different products
- Take screenshots of your favorites to add to your portfolio!
You get gorgeous mockups for your portfolio and social media without spending a dime on fancy mockup templates! AND you can spot scale issues, color problems, or repetition flaws (if any) before finalizing your collection.
I run every single pattern through this "reality check" before finalizing my collections. It's saved me from countless embarrassing product launches where the scale was way off or elements got lost in the repeat.
Have you tried this pattern reality check method?
Or do you have another way to test your patterns on products?
Hit reply and let me know your favorite techniques!
Your Mockup Action Plan!
I know this feels like a lot, so here's my challenge: pick ONE tip from today's Eduletter and implement it in the next 48 hours.
And just so it’s easier for you, let’s make the decision of which one you will pick together!
| 💟 Select the mockup strategy you that you feel most excited to try: |
|
|
|
|
|
Whichever you choose, momentum is everything. One small step can transform how you present your work.
If you know a fellow pattern designer who's struggling with portfolio presentation, please forward this to them.
Sometimes one strategic shift makes all the difference.
Until next Thursday,
