We’re the industry’s first (and best) surface pattern design school, offering specialty online textile design courses taught by a cracking team of professional textile designers. We’re part of Longina Phillips Designs, one of the world’s leading fabric design studios. For over 30 years, we’ve been selling our designs globally to clients like Givenchy, Zara, Seafolly, H&M, Anthropologie and so many more.

If you love surface pattern design, then The Print School is for you. We have courses for creative designers in every stage of their career – from fresh newbies looking to break into the fabric design industry to experienced professionals looking to upskill and leap ahead. Because in design, there’s always something new to learn.

No, not at all. We’ve designed our classes for everyone, from beginner to advanced skill levels, so just find what works for you. Our courses will take you through techniques that you practice, develop and ultimately use in your own designs.

Yes, you sure can. As creatives, we should never stop learning and growing. We offer a wealth of knowledge from a talented and mixed bunch of designers. We’ve all learnt lots of different skills over our years, and we share them all within our courses. Enjoy learning tricks and tips that will blow your mind.

It’s easy. Once you’ve been through the shopping cart process, you’ll have instant access to your course via an email confirmation. Simply sign in and get started.

If you’ve purchased more than one course, you’ll be able to find them in your ‘library’ on the website.

Our courses aren’t one size fits all, so the costs vary depending on the complexity and requirements of each course. But we’ve tried to keep our prices reasonable and offer a range of courses to suit every budget.

Yes, take as long as you need. The online courses are designed for you to work through them at a pace that suits you. Because we all have busy lives, and our students have different abilities. So embrace your inner tortoise, practice as you go and get the most out of each chapter.

And remember, if you get stuck, head on over to our private Facebook page and ask us anything.  Our friendly team and your fellow students are always there to help.

Yes, but aren’t we all these days? We used to hold in-house sessions when the school first started, but when COVID-19 we moved 100% online. And we haven’t looked back.

Going digital means the courses are accessible anywhere at any time – you just need a computer, phone or tablet and internet connection. If you’re using a smart device, you’ll also need to download the Kajabi app and you’re ready to go. Easy.

yes, you'll need adobe photoshop.

Oh, you'll also need a Facebook account to access the private group.

Yes, you probably will. Each course is different so check out your course page for an itemised list. Many of our students already have a well-stocked kit, so you don’t need to buy new gear if you’ve already got it. Unless you want to, of course. Then it’s the perfect excuse to go shopping.

We offer lifetime courses so, yep, that means forever. That means you can take your time, do the course as many times as you'd like, and they’ll always be there for you to refer back to year after year. And you also have the Facebook community at your fingertips for as long as Zuckerberg says.

Our Facebook group is a community of current and graduate students of The Print School. We have a friendly bunch there to encourage and help you whenever you need it. Tap into like-minded souls anytime, anywhere, and enjoy always having someone that understands what you’re going through – whether it’s the frustration of a tricky technique you’re struggling to nail or the high of landing your dream job. Our teachers are also on-hand to give you a boost and answer any questions you may have.

No, we wouldn’t do that to you. Because stress and creativity don’t go hand in hand. Finishing the course, learning new skills and seeing your work improve means you come out on top, always.

Yes, you certainly do. Just finish your course and fill out the final form to receive your commercial certification, signed by our head design honcho, Longina Phillips. Pop this baby in your CVs or graphic design portfolios and show it off to the world.

Yes, on the higher-level courses you can split the cost over multiple payments. Just see each course for details.

Yes, as well as a credit/debit card you can also use Pay Pal.

No, please don’t. Really. Your log-in details are only for you so you can’t share your details with anyone. We can see multiple downloads and we’d hate for you to be locked out if someone else tries to access your account.

If you have a friend or work colleague that would benefit from The Print School courses, please encourage them to sign up.

You can, but shockingly, many courses found on the home of cat videos and Baby Shark sing-alongs aren’t taught by experienced working textile designers. Our teachers are industry professionals flexing their design muscles in the real world, every day. And they share their up-to-date industry knowledge and insider know-how to help you learn what the fashion and lifestyle industry is wanting right now.

Plus, it’s all in one place here, so you can stay focused and keep on track. No need to trawl the internet wading through who-knows-what content or slip down a rabbit hole.

Unfortunately, the platform we house our courses on does not allow for multiple currencies. As the US dollar is the most commonly used and our students come from all over the world, we've tried to make it easy for everyone.

We’re sorry, as a small business we don’t offer refunds. But, if you get to the end of the course and really feel it wasn't for you, we have 100% money-back guarantee.

Yes, we guarantee it. That’s right, with our 30-day money-back guarantee, if you don’t love it, it’s free. How can we be so confident? We have over 1400 satisfied students.

What computer software do you teach in your online surface pattern design courses?

Adobe Photoshop. We 100% believe it’s the most essential software to learn if you want to become a surface pattern design professional. And, as working designers, it’s the one we use every day, so we know it and we love it. We’ll teach you how to use the tools you need, as well as really handy things like all the best shortcuts.

What about Adobe Illustrator, you say? We’re often asked if we teach illustrator, and while we may in the future, we currently only offer Adobe Photoshop courses. In our everyday lives, Illustrator is just something we use occasionally, and often then it’s only when a client asks for it. So we’re confident that by getting Photoshop-ready, you’ll have more than enough skills to tackle a career in surface pattern design.

Are your courses available to attend in person?

We love being able to share our knowledge with anyone, anywhere in the world, so currently our courses, including Adobe Photoshop classes, are taught online. In the past we’ve invited students to our studio for Photoshop training and drawing instruction, and we may do so again in the future because we love seeing your work in action and being able to share our space with the next generation of surface pattern design specialists. But for now, we’re concentrating on delivering the best possible online painting, drawing and Adobe Photoshop classes on the market.

What is the most important program for a surface pattern designer to learn?

Adobe Photoshop. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Adobe Photoshop is simply the most versatile program for any surface pattern designer – whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been around the design block. It allows you to work with the widest range of design styles, which is so important to building a long, successful career. While vector-based designs are also used, they are far more limiting. And we’re not just talking from past experience (although we’ve got plenty of that), we’re speaking from current practice. Adobe Photoshop is what our team uses the most in our working studio to create designs which sell all around the world. Whatever stage of your career you’re at, quality Adobe Photoshop training will help take you to the next level.

What design programs do you use at Longina Phillips Designs studio to create surface pattern design?

We practice what we preach! We use Adobe Photoshop every day. Although, yes, occasionally a client might require a vector design, and in that instance, we’ll open up Adobe Illustrator. But Adobe Photoshop is our bread and butter (and it will be for you, too) as it’s simply the best program for creating surface pattern designs, day in, day out. But even we don’t rest on our laurels – like any digital tool it’s important to stay up to date, so we’re constantly giving our in-house designers Adobe Photoshop training.

How much Adobe Photoshop training do you need before you can work professionally?

Like with any profession or craft, the more you know, the more you can do. But there are plenty of designers out there who start with just very basic Photoshop training, often self-taught. So there's no reason why you can't start working after taking just one of our Photoshop courses, even without knowing ‘all the things’ yet.

That said, while there’s a certain amount you can achieve without proper training, when you do get that industry-level training, there’s no limit to what you can achieve. The better your Adobe Photoshop training, the better your chance of landing and keeping good clients. And the broader your abilities and technical know-how, the more money you can make in the surface pattern design industry.

Is there really enough work out there for all of these surface pattern designers?

Take a look around your house. That pillow. That tea towel. Those curtains. Head to your wardrobe or step out to meet friends. Your cute floral dress. Their latest bold print tee. Al. of that, ALL of that, started as a little idea, a little spark of creativity, from someone just like you. Textile design is a $146.5 billion industry. Billion. That’s a lot of creativity. And that kind of creativity needs a lot of designers. Why not you?

What is the definition of surface pattern design?

If you’re a creative type (and we know you are), you’ve probably been told that design might be a good career for you. But the world of design covers a lot. Along the way you might have heard terms like textile design, fabric design or surface pattern design. They sound interesting, but are they all the same?

Yes and no. Fabric design, as the name suggests, is design for fabrics. It’s the term most commonly used in America. In Australia, we tend to use textile design (fabrics are textiles, right?).

Surface pattern design is a little broader. While it can be used for fabric or textile design, it also extends to other items that aren’t fabric but have a surface on which a design can be applied. Think stationery, dinnerware, homewares, things like that. If it has a surface, you can put a surface pattern on it.

What makes being a surface pattern designer so great?

We could talk all day on this. There’s something special about being paid to make something, being paid to create. All those hours spent doodling in class, sketching in your notebook, working with a paintbrush to capture colour and light to transform a blank page into a work of art – you can combine all of that into designs that sell. You get to monetise something you love to do and make something beautiful in the process. You can get to work on amazing and diverse projects that sell all around the world. And you can enjoy flexibility, especially as a freelancer, able to choose your own hours and steer your own ship.

What does it take to be a successful surface pattern designer?

We can teach you skills and techniques (and even shortcuts to help you finish your work quicker with even better results), but you still need to bring something to the table. You need to bring a passion for creativity. You need to understand how important the process is and work logically, either by yourself or part of a team. You need to be able to work with a brief to help a client reach their vision. And you need to be willing to put in the effort to get the job.