Collection planning
We have selected our product, chosen a theme, shaped a story, and created a moodboard that conveys the aesthetic direction of the collection. Now it’s time to gather everything we’ve prepared so far and begin planning the actual structure of the collection.
This stage happens before any real sketching. It is about organising ideas, building visual balance, and giving ourselves a guide for the creative phase.
Brainstorming
The first step is simple: I brainstorm every idea that comes to mind.
Motifs, textures, shapes, coastal scenes, objects, emotions — anything connected to the theme.
At this stage, nothing is filtered. Everything is welcome.
I like to talk with my girls in this phase to see if they have some other ideas, that I didn’t think about. They frequently point out things I hadn’t considered, and many of their suggestions spark interesting directions.
Creating a mind map
To organise all these ideas, I create a mind map.
This visual tool helps me:
- group motifs into families (flora, fauna, objects, textures…)
- identify potential compositions to explore
- note visual elements that came up in the moodboard
- observe patterns in what I’m drawn to
- detect any gaps in the collection’s potential variety
Here is the mind map I created for the Coastal Normandy collection:
This map is not a commitment — it is simply a space to explore the world of the collection. None of these ideas are final, and at this point, I still haven’t begun any real drawing. I may make a few tiny thumbnail sketches if the process of brainstorming sparked an idea and I don’t want to forget it, but the sketching stage comes later.
Planning the Structure of the Collection
Once the mind map feels complete, I begin planning the number and variety of patterns I want to include. This stage helps me build a cohesive yet dynamic collection.
I take another sheet of paper and draw a series of squares — each square representing a potential pattern. For the Coastal Normandy collection, I created ten squares. The final collection may include fewer patterns, but having more options at this stage gives me flexibility and creative freedom.
Looking for variety
My goal is to create a visual rhythm across the collection.
To do that, I consider:
- scale variation (large vs. small motifs)
- density variation (full patterns vs. airy patterns)
- composition styles (directional, tossed, structured, flowing)
- diversity in motif families (florals, coastal elements, textures)
- contrast between detailed and simplified designs
This is not the stage where I discuss specific pattern “types” — that will be part of another blog post — but here I simply focus on balance: making sure the collection doesn’t feel repetitive.
My pattern plan
Here is the plan I sketched for the Coastal Normandy collection:
In this plan, I envisioned:
- a toile-de-Jouy
- a landscape pattern
- a dense trailing floral and/ or trailing seaweed pattern
- more airy floral in structured repeat
- a damask
- a tossed pattern with traditional coastal life motifs : seashells, seaweed, and coastal fauna
- two geometrical patterns : stripes, waves, and fan-shaped motifs that echo coastal patterns
- and a tile-inspired design referencing the decorative house-number or house-name tiles found on Normandy houses and fences
This plan is a guide — not a rule.
It helps me visualise the collection as a whole, check for balance, and notice if certain motifs or styles are missing or inversely repeated.
But creativity always evolves. I may not keep everything from this plan, and I often create patterns that were not on the initial list at all. Some of my designs have come from spontaneous exploration.
Why Planning Matters (Even When You Stay Flexible)
Planning a collection is not about restricting creativity — it’s about building a strong foundation that actually makes creativity easier. And it is also to avoid the fear of the blank page.
A plan helps:
- reduce decision fatigue
- maintain visual cohesion across the collection
- ensure variety in complexity and scale
- avoid repetition
- support your creative identity
- verify that your collection is suitable for the industry and adapt your work if needed
Different industries expect different kinds of collections. Planning helps me design intentionally depending on the final purpose.
But flexibility is essential. Planning is a direction, not a destination.
You are free to abandon it, evolve it, or reinvent it entirely as the patterns begin to take shape.
With the plan in place, the most exciting stage begins: bringing the patterns to life.
This is where sketching, drawing, and exploring motifs begin.
In the next posts, I will walk through how I develop some of individual patterns for this collection and I will also share how I approach different pattern types in more depth.
The collection is now ready to grow from ideas into artwork.