Print Life Podcast: For Surface Pattern Designers

How do you turn a passion for print design into a freelance business? In this episode of The Print Life Podcast, freelance fashion print designer Erin Lever joins Leslie to share her journey from studying printed textile design to creating bespoke prints for fashion brands around the world. From internships in London and Stockholm to an in-house role and eventually full-time freelancing, Erin explains how each experience helped her develop the creative versatility and industry knowledge she brings to her work today.

Together, they explore the creative process behind fashion print design—from photocopying flowers to combining hand painting, Procreate, and Photoshop—and why you don’t need to render everything perfectly to create compelling prints. Erin shares how working with print studios and attending client meetings helped her understand fashion trends, what buyers want, and how artwork moves from an initial idea to a finished product in stores.

They also dig into the business side of freelance textile design: finding clients, building repeat business, raising rates, and establishing clear contracts, deposits, and boundaries. Erin explains how sharing experimental process videos on Instagram and TikTok became a way to attract clients while making space for creative play. Whether you’re exploring fashion print design or ready to take your freelance business more seriously, this conversation offers a candid look at building a career through passion, persistence, and professionalism.

In this episode

Erin’s path from textile design student to full-time freelance fashion print designer.
How studio internships and an in-house role strengthened her creative and technical skills.
Creating prints through experimentation, hand painting, Procreate, and Photoshop.
Understanding fashion trends and designing for different brands and briefs.
Finding freelance clients through outreach, industry connections, and social media.
Why raising rates, requiring deposits, and setting clear boundaries changed her business.
Balancing client work with personal experimentation—and finding inspiration in travel, quiet, and boredom.
Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/
Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

What does it take to build a creative career that feels true to you? In this episode of The Print Life Podcast, artist and surface pattern designer Elizabeth Olwen joins Leslie to talk about art licensing, developing a signature style, and staying connected to your creativity as your career evolves. Known for her colorful patterns and playful approach, Elizabeth shares her journey from graphic design to licensing her artwork—and how moving from Canada to Lisbon opened up new space for creative exploration.

Together, they explore the role of color and intuition in surface pattern design, how a recognizable visual style can help build an artist’s brand, and why making room for experimentation matters. Elizabeth also shares how The Artist’s Way, morning pages, and solo creative retreats helped her reconnect with painting and embrace her identity as an artist, leading to her first solo exhibition.

Whether you’re starting a surface pattern design business, exploring art licensing, or rethinking your creative direction, this conversation offers an honest look at balancing artistic fulfillment with a changing industry. You’ll hear Elizabeth’s perspective on moving beyond social media pressure, reaching clients directly, and keeping personal storytelling and human connection at the heart of your work in the age of AI.

In this episode

Elizabeth’s transition from graphic designer to surface pattern designer and licensing artist.
How color and a distinctive visual language helped shape her creative brand.
Why life in Lisbon changed her creative process in unexpected ways.
Reconnecting with play, painting, and intuition through morning pages and The Artist’s Way.
Expanding into teaching, creative retreats, and a solo art exhibition.
Navigating social media shifts, client outreach, and AI without losing connection to the work.
Why Elizabeth sees your relationship with creativity as the foundation of a lasting creative career.

Stay Connected:The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

If you’ve ever felt like you’re spinning your wheels—trying to update your portfolio, pitch to clients, post on social media, and somehow still find time to create—this episode is for you.
Today I’m sharing how I’ve built real momentum in my surface pattern design business… not by doing more, but by doing less—more consistently.
I’ll walk you through how one simple micro habit completely changed the way I pitch, how I use this same approach to nurture clients at The Print Book, and why building self-trust through small actions is the real secret to building confidence as a designer.
By the end of this episode, you’ll know how to:
Choose one big focus that matters most right now
Reverse-engineer it into a small, doable daily habit
Build confidence and momentum by keeping small promises to yourself
You don’t need to overhaul your entire business to make progress. You just need to start small, stay consistent, and let those tiny steps stack over time. ✨
Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

Control is an illusion—but intention? That’s where your real power lies. In this episode, I’m sharing a vulnerable reflection on how life threw me off course and what it taught me about creative flow, focus, and letting go of the hustle.
If you’ve been juggling multiple projects, feeling scattered, or telling yourself “I just need to do more,” this episode is your permission slip to pause and choose what actually matters.
We talk about:
The difference between control and intention (and how knowing that changes everything)
Why staying busy feels safe—but keeps you stuck
The surprising freedom that comes from choosing one clear path (just for now)
What to do when life pulls you off track—and how to come back with grace
If you’ve been craving creative clarity and direction, I hope this episode feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to change your mind. And it’s powerful to choose again—with purpose.
Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/

This week, I had the joy of sitting down with Jesse Rae Akin, a print designer and new mama navigating creativity in the middle of life’s most tender transitions. We talk about how she discovered surface pattern design almost by accident, what it’s been like balancing art with early motherhood, and how she’s finding rhythm in the messiness. Jesse shares honestly about fear, feedback, and forging your own pace in a world that feels constantly rushed. A beautiful reminder that we’re allowed to take our time—and that beauty doesn’t require perfection.
In this episode, we explore:
Falling into surface pattern design (and staying for the joy)
How new motherhood reshapes your creative time and energy
The pressure of pitching your work and the power of just starting
Learning to trust your hand, even when a brief feels like pressure
The emotional boost of a good dress and a beautiful print
🧡 To connect with Jesse Rae Akin:
If you’d like to follow along on Jesse's journey or reach out, you can find her here:
www.jesseraeakin.com
www.instagram.com/jesseraeakin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesseakin/
Stay Connected:
The Print Life Community: https://printlife.io
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/printlifeofficial/