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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Gabrielle De Winter

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Gabrielle De Winter

by | Dec 8, 2025 | News & Announcements, Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Gabrielle De Winter

Gabrielle De Winter Designs

Gabrielle is a lifelong artist and creator, starting from making mud pies and beaded jewellery to exploring printmaking, drawing, watercolour, creative writing, and silversmithing.

In 2006 she completed the Langara Fine Arts program in Vancouver, and her passion for art has never wavered since. She discovered her love for surface pattern design and completed the Immersion Course with Bonnie Christine in 2023.

Her creative inspiration stems from her children, her shared love for nature, thrifting, and the creative process. She firmly believe that the key difference between being an artist and not is the execution of ideas. No matter how brilliant an idea may be, it must be brought to life through creation.

My Journey Into Pattern Design…

Gabrielle had just finished writing a fantasy adventure story for her children and was dreaming up ways to illustrate it herself. While exploring ideas, she stumbled upon an ad for the Immersion Course; and that’s when she discovered the world of surface design.

As a child, she had always imagined designing stickers and wallpaper when she grew up, but it wasn’t until she watched one some simple introduction videos that everything suddenly clicked. From that moment on, she was hooked; and she’s been “doing one thing a day” since June 2023.

My Creative Process…

Gabrielle creates beautifully hand-drawn, analog repeating patterns: all starting with the simple tools of pencil and paper. 

She begins by thoughtfully planning her designs on paper, sketching out each motif with care. Using her lightbox, she then brings those sketches to life in ink, marker or watercolour before scanning them and refining everything digitally.

With the help of Adobe Illustrator, she transforms her hand-drawn artwork into vectored seamless, polished repeating patterns.

Why I love the Briefs…

I love the Creative Briefs from the Creative Studio because they’re like a treasure map; clear enough to guide you, but open enough to make the adventure your own.

Plus, they save me from staring at a blank page wondering if caffeine counts as a creative strategy.

My Biggest Win

Since starting with Creative Briefs I am now a designer for Artza & Co!

 

 

My Tip Tips…

My biggest secret weapon is my SPD buddy, Davie Pocstar. She is my ride or die and the one who told me to join Creative Studio. She is my accountability partner and we will give each other constructive feedback and check-ins daily.

Being an independent artist doesn’t have to be lonely. My advice is to get yourself a Davie, if you haven’t yet.

Its okay to be vulnerable, and put yourself out there to connect and find these friendships and partnerships that keep us going.

Want to see more of Gabrielle's work?

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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Kim Hallquist

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Kim Hallquist

by | Aug 11, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Kim Hallquist.

Kim Hallquist of
Kim Hallquist Designs

Kim Hallquist is a nature-loving surface pattern designer who brings the outdoors to life with playful, colorful prints. Inspired by hikes with her family and fueled by puns (the cornier, the better), her designs add a bright, cheerful twist to kids’ clothing and cozy home goods.

My Journey Into Pattern Design…

I was a burnt-out in-house graphic designer who had lost her creative spark. I knew I needed something that felt more ‘me’.

I stumbled into surface pattern design while playing around with art just for fun—and instantly fell in love. It was the creative freedom I’d been missing!

Now I get to blend my love for art, nature, and storytelling in
a way that fuels me every day.

My Creative Process…

My creative process always starts with the great outdoors—hiking trails, wildflowers, lakeside campsites… that’s where I feel most inspired. I’m constantly snapping pics or jotting down little notes when I’m out with my family.

From there, I start sketching and pulling together a colour palette (usually something a little unexpected but still playful and bright). Once I have a feel for the story I want the collection to tell, I jump into Procreate or Illustrator and start building out my motifs.

It’s all about capturing nature’s magic in a way that feels joyful, especially for kids’ clothes and cozy home decor.

Why I love the Briefs…

One thing I actually miss from my corporate design days is working from a solid brief—so these Portfolio Building Briefs are right up my alley!

I love having moodboards, keywords, and a clear direction to design from. But the marketing timeline? Total game changer.

It helps me stay focused and plan collections that actually get seen!

My Biggest Win

I got an inquiry about winter designs and totally panicked at first because I thought I didn’t have anything ready.

Then I remembered the Alpine Brief, sent it over, and ended up selling one of those designs!

Having the briefs really takes so much stress out of the seasons,
total lifesaver.

 

 

My Tip Tips…

Make sure that you use all the resources inside your membership!

I watched the feedback video for the previous art call and it was really helpful, especially in terms of staying true to myself because I kept second guessing what the client might be looking for.

Want to see more of Kim's work?

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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Margaret Cowell

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Margaret Cowell

by | Jul 14, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Margaret Clavell.

Margaret of
Margaret Clavell Designs

Margaret studied graphic design many years ago, then spent 28 years in the police. She came out briefly to take a degree in graphic design which is when she learnt how to use Adobe Illustrator.

Margaret designed her first pattern for a cushion to fit into a friend’s 1970s house and hasn’t stopped designing since.

Margaret takes inspiration from William Morris and Art Nouveau.

Why I love the Briefs…

I love the Monthly Creative Briefs because they help me add to my portfolio.

The Briefs are always on theme, and on trend.

My Biggest Win

I have had big wins with my Spoonflower Shop.

Since joining as a Creative Brief Member I have managed to get into the top 100 twice!

In addition to that, I have a sale for fabric or wallpaper from customers almost daily. I also have customers contact me and ask for specific alterations before they make large purchases.

 

My Tip Tips…

Make sure that you use all the resources inside your membership!

I watched the feedback video for the previous art call and it was really helpful, especially in terms of staying true to myself because I kept second guessing what the client might be looking for.

Want to see more of Margaret's work?

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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Eejee

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Eejee

by | Jun 10, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Eejee.

Eejee

Eejee is a multifaceted technical artist with a rich & tapestried cultural background.

During the covid pandemic She transitioned from 3D design to surface pattern design.

Infused with extensive art history insights and a quirky flair, Eejee’s print-on-demand design creations have a sprinkle of oddball humor.

Why I love the Briefs…

I love the Briefs because for me, they act like a safety net and allow me to try new things, whilst knowing that I am on the right track.

In other words, I like to think of the Briefs like mastering a circus act with a safety net—completely doable! You get to keep each Brief, so you can give it another go anytime, even if you missed the perfect moment when they arrived in your inbox.

My Biggest Win

I think of Surface Pattern Design like learning a new language—initially, conversations are a bit clunky, but with time and practice, you start auto-correcting and improving. It’s a journey of observation and mastering, and eventually, the wins will shine through!

My Tip Tips…

For me, the gold nugget in the Brief is the mood board and timeline. It’s like having a crystal ball with a calendar alert—”Time for Spring designs!” or “Christmas is coming!”

The timeline allows me to see the bigger picture for creating and releasing collections.

The other superpower of the Brief? Making connections between my designs. By recolouring and grouping my once-scattered art pieces, the Briefs have brought intentionality to my creations. Thanks to the Briefs, I have realized that even the background players in my portofolio have their own special charm.

Want to see more of Eejee's work?

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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Kristy Vargo

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Kristy Vargo

by | May 12, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Kristie Vargo.

Kristie Vargo of
Kristie Lyn Studios

As a child, Kristie slept with a box of crayons. She invented board games and wrote fanciful stories. She drew colorful pictures and painted with water on sidewalks. She created wooden sculptures from scraps in her father’s workshop.

Now, Kristie is a Chicago-based illustrator who replaced water with watercolor (and more), and is creating designs that tell stories through nostalgia.

Why I love the Briefs…

I love a project and the Creative Briefs are all the best things about projects! The amount of information and knowledge that is shared each month is fantastic.

They have pushed me to be thoughtful about pieces I want to add to my portfolio, and given me direction on trends and pitch timing.

I see them like a Christmas morning gift on the first day of each month – I can’t wait to open and see what’s inside!

My Biggest Win

Although I haven’t had a win with a specific pattern I created
with the briefs, I have had wins BECAUSE of the patterns I added to my portfolio from the briefs.
Because of my professional portfolio, clients have hired me to create custom patterns such as, wallpaper for a coffee shop in Florida, four patterns for a new upscale pyjama company, and pattern for the 2024 advent calendar from a candle company!

My Tip Tips…

When I open a new brief, the first thing I consider is how it will work in my portfolio. If I already have a lot of the subject matter, how can I interpret it differently?

I always filter the brief through my style lens and color preferences.

In the first week of the month, I brainstorm collection ideas, do some visual research, plan out motifs, and consider new pattern styles I want to explore.

Want to see more of Kristie's work?

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We love hearing from & spotlighting our Portfolio Building Creative Brief members!
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Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Fiona Du Plessis

Creative Brief Member Spotlight – Fiona Du Plessis

by | Apr 13, 2025 | Uncategorized

Creative Brief Member Spotlight

We love spotlighting our Creative Brief Members!
Artist Spotlight – Fiona Du Plessis.

Fiona Du Plessis of
KleinFi

Fiona is the Founder and creative brains behind KleineFi, which she runs with her partner and business partner, Riaan.
KleineFi is a small design studio nestled in Cape Town, South Africa, which draws inspiration from the region’s beautiful animals and nature.
With a childlike sense of wonder, Fiona believes in drawing without fear, a philosophy that shapes KleineFi’s unique and playful brand.

Why I love the Briefs…

I love how each Creative Brief offers clear guidance on what to create, and perfectly aligns with what needs to be pitched and uploaded for customers.
The briefs allow plenty of freedom to infuse your own style.
By creating a mini-collection each month, my portfolio is growing much faster and it is so much fun!

My Biggest Win

I have had plenty of wins since becoming a Creative Brief Member.
It’s a game changer for me. The briefs save me loads of time and remove the doubt about whether I am creating and designing the correct prints.

My Tip Tips…

My biggest advice is to try and draw at least two to three motifs in your style from the month’s prompt list each month, with the mindset of allowing yourself to have fun.
By developing this habit, the blank canvas becomes less of a creative blocker, making it easier to stay on track and motivated.
Also, having a creative community to share and ask for advice is such a refreshment.

Want to see more of Fiona's work?

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We love hearing from & spotlighting our Portfolio Building Creative Brief members!
If you are a member & would love to be featured submit below.

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