Sharing a mood board with three new patterns in my Scandinavian print collection. This textured geo collection features a fresh nordic inspired color palette with clean lines. Prints in this collection are available for purchase and licensing. Visit my website for details.

This pattern collection was featured over on the lovely Pattern Observer blog this week. For updates on this collection and other designs, you can follow me at www.instagram.com/chris_coco_olson

Always thankful for the talented photo folks over on Unsplash for the mood photos: Ciocan Ciprian (leaves); Dane Deane (pine cones on table); Jonas Jacobsson (blue door).

Design by Chris OlsonChris OlsonAugust 24, 2018textile design, Scandinavian, Nordic, home decor, Wallpaper, surface pattern designComment

Rainforest Textiles

New seamless repeat designs in my rainforest textile design collection. Visit my Client Login portfolio for details on this tropical collection—available in several color ways and as an indexed print. Fresh designs added to my portfolio weekly. You can find more samples of my designs on my portfolio.

Design by Chris Olson, Surface Pattern Designer, Textile designChris OlsonOctober 27, 2017surface pattern design, tropicalComment

Spotlight on New Floral Pattern: Teagan Wildflower

Spring meadows and wildflowers inspire the pattern story for my Teagan print. The hand painted blooms in this design feel fluid and unrestrained. The print is influenced by the trend of bolder mark-making and heavier brushstrokes for a more expressive approach to the popular floral. This more abstract print style features bold daubs of paint. For details on this print, see the full article below.

Design by Chris OlsonChris OlsonMarch 29, 2017surface pattern design, Design by Chris OlsonComment

Spotlight on: Midnight Garden Collection

My Midnight Garden Collection is influenced by the winter florals trend that is dramatic and a bit moody with layers of bold textures and a rich depth that goes with the darker color palette. I love working with deep plums, burgundies, dark jade greens and blues against a dark background. It's also fun to add that pop of orange into the mix. All designs are hand rendered prints with a digital twist.

Floral and Denim Blues

Textile design, Design by Chris OlsonChris OlsonAugust 31, 2016surface pattern design, floral pattern, textile design

Paradise Wave Textile Design for Activewear

My design inspiration for the new tropical print "Paradise Wave": I love the rich saturated colors and unexpected patterns and textures in the Psychotropical trend for S/S 18. I was drawn to the idea of a psychedelic take on camouflage. I also like the idea of the pattern transporting you to an exotic place where the nature becomes almost otherworldly. In Photoshop I added glossy film layers and textures to my patterns to add an ephemeral and iridescent quality. Synthetic looking brights in the Psychotropical activewear trend pair nicely with the bold Charged Pink. I love the way this pink color palette highlights the youthful energy of this design-- the perfect surface pattern for activewear. This pattern is available for purchase. Details below.

Studio Scene: New Mixed Media Tropical Floral

Here's a new mixed media pattern with a tropical vibe I'm working on in the studio. Each floral design project begins with my camera and some flowers. Finding the best lighting means checking in the blooms at different times of the day. Then I drop the best images into Photoshop. I print the images and play around with them in a collage. Next it's back to Photoshop where I make more adjustments. This process can be repeated as many times as it takes to develop the perfect pattern. Stop by again and I'll share the completed pattern.

Design by Chris OlsonChris OlsonJune 15, 2016textile design, surface pattern designComment

Introducing Aloha Waves

My tropical blue Aloha Waves pattern takes its design cues from sea and surf, tropical plants, polished rocks, hand woven fabric. It is part of my Kahula Collection.

Geos + Sunshine + Waves

My Kahula textile design is a mix of geos, sunshine, and waves. Featuring only the happy blues.

I designed this pattern to add positive energy and fun to your workout with unexpected prints feature a mix of modern basics with bold blue hues. It is part of a textile collection for activewear.

My patterns are available for purchase on my website. Access to my online client portfolio is available to manufacturers, licensees, art directors, etc.

Fashion, Surface Pattern DesignerChris OlsonFebruary 24, 2016surface pattern design, activewearComment

Pink Is Cool Again: Pantone's Color(s) of the Year

For me pink has always been cool. To be perfectly honest, I just like almost every color except that weird avocado color of the 60s. I do like the vegetable though. Getting back to the main point, Pantone announced their Color of the Year for 2016! This year Pantone actually has two colors a warm Rose Quartz and tranquil Serenity. This lovely combo finds it's way into my design work frequently and now my clients think I'm psychic--or maybe just kinda obsessed with colors associated with cake frosting, donuts, and weddings, birthday parties. Anyways. I am happy. Great work Pantone.

Design by Chris OlsonChris OlsonDecember 4, 2015surface pattern design, Pantone, Color, Graphic Design by Chris OlsonComment

Channeling the Milky Way Today

That beloved icy dot called Pluto is in the news this week thanks to photos from the space probe New Horizons. Seems only fitting to channel milky way imagery in the studio today. Here's a sneak peek at my Luliana textile pattern. And as part of the Textile Design Lab over at Pattern Observer I'm sharing a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process for their 21 Days of Sharing challenge. For details on purchasing this pattern go to my surface design page or go directly to my contact link.

Inspiration, New PatternsChris OlsonJuly 15, 2015new patterns, surface design, surface pattern designComment

Dare to Dream

A little inspiration for your Tuesday from my studio. Dreamy design from my Chelsea pattern collection with a bokeh overlay. Text created on my iPhone using the Typorama app.

Pattern Bliss