We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Giovanna Brin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Giovanna, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

To give you a bit of a backstory before diving into how I learned the specifics of surface pattern design, I was born into an artistic family. Drawing, painting, and creating things were a normal part of everyday life for me, so I owe a big thank you to them for influencing me and raising me to freely explore the creative world.
As an adult, I spent 18 years in creative professions such as graphic design, interior design, and home staging. Then, I took a break to become a full-time mom to two wonderful kids! When my kids became old enough to be in school full-time, I was ready to return to the workforce and started looking for interior design opportunities. However, while job hunting one day, I came across an ad from one of the most prominent figures in the surface pattern design world. The ad literally spoke to me, and I felt shaken up by it. I knew right away that SPD was what I was meant to do! So I lost no time and immediately jumped into learning everything I could about this exciting industry!
By the time I started my journey into surface pattern design, I already had experience in design programs as well as painting and drawing, and I had run a small business for a bit. These were great advantages. However, I had to learn specific skills such as how to create seamless patterns, how to pitch to art directors, and how to run a successful art business. For the artistic skills such as pattern creating, I highly recommend Skillshare, an online community for creatives with video lessons on just about any creative field. I looked for my favorite SPD designers on there and learned from the best! Then I put their teachings into practice and worked on developing my own artistic style. Running an art business is composed of many different parts, so I have looked to several different people and industries for advice. I recommend learning from people in the position you dream of being in. The hardest skill for me to learn has been the art of pitching! As an introvert, shouting from the rooftops that my patterns are available for licensing has been quite the challenge. But I keep in mind that we literally cannot grow if we don’t push ourselves to do things that may seem scary or uncomfortable but are essential to moving closer to that dream life.
Currently, there are so many wonderful surface pattern designers who are also educators, offering an array of coaching from free 5-day challenges to intense 8-week courses with one-on-one opportunities. If I could have, I would’ve signed up for one of those extensive courses, which I’m sure save tons of time and guesswork.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an international Surface Pattern Designer based out of Miami, Florida with Italian and Cuban roots.

I absolutely adore creating designs and patterns for baby apparel, beddings and the pet industry. And I love working with brands that align with my aesthetics to bring the prints to life through their products.

Born and raised in Milan, Italy, into an artistic family, I was exposed to different media from an early age, so art and design surrounded me my whole life. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design from Florida International University and professionally I have been an art curator and graphic designer at a French-owned art gallery, an interior architect at global architecture & design firms, and a home stager as an entrepreneur.​ I truly believe that my college education and my professional experience have allowed me to arrive where I am today and where I am meant to be: a surface pattern designer!

​My style is joyous, uncomplicated, minimalist with a hint of tropical Miami.

I love creating original patterns from the lush, tropical environment that surrounds me daily here in Miami. It is a constant source of inspiration, everywhere I turn! I’m also very grateful to have lived my childhood in Italy; the culture, food, history and architecture certainly peek through my artwork every once in a while and I love it.

My goal is to work with art directors who license my patterns for their products to be sold in major retailers.

Have you ever had to pivot?

There was a pivotal moment that drastically changed my career path. I was actively searching for a job in a field where I felt comfortable and experienced when an unexpected opportunity in surface pattern design (SPD) presented itself. This chance encounter felt more like a divine intervention, guiding me towards a completely different direction.
Had I ignored that ad, my journey would have taken a more predictable route, likely leading to a stable and secure position. However, the intense calling I felt towards SPD was too strong to dismiss. I decided to take a leap of faith, setting aside the certainty of a comfortable job for the excitement and potential of a new venture.
This decision to embrace surface pattern design required me to venture out of my comfort zone, learn new skills, and adapt to unfamiliar challenges. Despite the risks, the passion and fulfillment I found in SPD far outweighed the comfort of my previous career. It was a defining pivot, transforming both my professional and personal life in ways I could have never anticipated.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. My primary goal for the next five years is to become a successfully licensed artist with three different streams of passive income. This mission is fueled by a few key motivations:
First, I aim to help sustain our family financially, providing stability and security. Second, it’s about fulfilling my creative drive—being able to immerse myself in the art I love and constantly innovate. And finally, I want to inspire my little ones, showing them that pursuing what you love isn’t just a dream but the very engine of innovation and success. By achieving this, I hope to leave a lasting legacy for them to follow their passions, no matter the path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.giovannabrin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giovannabrindesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559491237719
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanna-brin-designs/