Have you ever wondered how those stunning patterns on prints, fabrics, and everyday products come to life? This course invites you to explore the creative world of design from the ground up! Over this engaging and hands-on course, students will learn the fundamentals of design — including key elements such as line, shape, texture, and colour, as well as core design principles like balance, harmony, and repetition. Through step-by-step demonstrations, guided exercises, and creative exploration, you'll develop your own visual language and learn how to turn simple sketches into meaningful design patterns. This course is open to everyone — all you need is enthusiasm, creativity, and a passion to learn the language of design.
Note: This course is part one of a two-part series where you will create hand-drawn design patterns, and in the continuing course (Design Fundamentals in Digital Outcomes), you will learn how to turn your designs into digital artwork using Photoshop or Procreate.
- How to use organic and inorganic shapes to build strong design structures
- The creative use of texture and how it adds visual identity and depth
- Understanding the colour wheel and applying warm, cool, and complementary colours to your designs
- The process of developing unique motifs and arranging them into repeatable patterns
- Whether you're curious about surface design, illustration, or simply love to create, this course will guide you through the essentials in a fun and supportive environment.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand and apply core design elements: line, shape, texture, and form
- Develop unique motifs and create pattern compositions manually
- Demonstrate the use of design principles in creating balanced and harmonious visual layouts
- Build confidence in visual expression through color, sketching and painting techniques
- Prepare hand-drawn works for translation into digital formats in the second half of the course
- Pencil – 2B & 4B
- Helix Oxford Blue 9-Piece Maths Set (includes ruler, compass, etc.)
- UNI Pin Fine Liner Pens – Sizes 0.3 mm & 0.4 mm
- Crayola Poster Paint Set – 18 pack with brush and color plate
- Round brushes – Sizes 2 & 6 (Recommended brand, Born Round Pony Paint brushes, Officeworks)
- Watercolour Pad – Reeves 300gsm cold pressed (A3 or A4 recommended)
IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.
The following stockists below are examples of places you can buy art materials from:
- Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
- Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney.
- Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
- The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
- The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162
You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.
