Where to Find Inspiration for a Modern Surface Pattern Design Collection

When it comes to building a surface pattern design collection, inspiration can come from anywhere—but the key is knowing where to look and how to translate those sparks into bold, modern work. For my upcoming collection, I’m focusing on abstract art, minimal design, and vibrant color stories, and I’ve been curating a mix of resources and experiences that feed directly into this vision.

1. Abstract and Minimalist Art

Modern abstract art has a way of reducing form and color to their essentials. I like studying the works of artists who play with geometry, bold brushstrokes, and unconventional palettes. Visiting galleries or browsing digital archives helps me think about how to deconstruct shapes and rebuild them as repeatable motifs.

2. Street Style & Cultural Movements

Fashion is a huge influence on surface design. I’m particularly drawn to how personal style movements interpret culture and identity. For example, the upcoming Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibit on African American dandyism is on my inspiration list. The dandy tradition celebrates individuality, boldness, and elegance—qualities I want to echo in my designs through color, pattern, and texture.

3. Nature with a Twist

Autumn leaves, branching trees, and organic textures never go out of style. But instead of drawing them literally, I look at ways to abstract natural forms into simplified lines and shapes, layering them with bold color blocks for a modern finish.

4. Travel & Everyday Surroundings

Textures on city walls, tile work in architecture, even the arrangement of objects at a café—these small details can be the seeds of a pattern. I like snapping photos of anything that catches my eye and later sketching them into motifs.

5. Color Stories Everywhere

Color is often the soul of a collection. I pull palettes not just from fashion and art, but also from film stills, street murals, and seasonal trends. Pairing unexpected hues—like deep oxblood with electric teal, or muted beige with fiery orange—can push a design into the bold, modern territory I’m after.

Inspiration is less about finding one “big idea” and more about layering influences. For this collection, abstract art, minimal design, and the elegance of cultural style movements will converge into a series of bold, modern patterns.

Happy designing! XOXO