Surface Design Success: Why Finding Your Niche is the Key to Thriving | Elizabeth Silver

[@shellyjoanne1835]

Definitely works. Thanks Elizabeth ❤

[@ElizabethSilver]

You're welcome 😊

[@user-xu1dd4zp5r]

Niching keeps it all simple.

[@ElizabethSilver]

agreed!

[@ramonawickstrom8562]

I began your Successful Licensing Collections course last night so I am working on assignment #1. Uffda! (Picking Themes is always my biggest challenge! But I digress.) Office Supply stores are my favorite places to spend time, so when the quiz told me I am a Home Decor Hero, I was pretty excited. Looking forward to the rest of this “trip”!🌻

[@ElizabethSilver]

Yay! Welcome to SLC! I totally get it, choosing themes can be hard, but I'm cheering for ya!

[@bahramdae9490]

This was very helpful.thank you very much.please make content about getting clients through linkedin. Getting freelance job

[@ElizabethSilver]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@shellpaulette]

The quiz is awesome! Very helpful!

[@ElizabethSilver]

Glad it was helpful!

[@azzuparis]

This is a very helpful video. I’m starting to really see the importance of finding a niche and I’ll definitely use your resources. Thank you !

[@ElizabethSilver]

Awesome, glad it's starting to click!

[@AnjaSteiner-d8w]

Thank you for this helpful video! I think the most difficult Thing is to choose the right niche, that fits ones style

[@ElizabethSilver]

I totally understand, but try to remember it's not an all or nothing choice. You're not getting married, you're agreeing to go on a date :) Give one thing a go for a while and if it isn't working it's okay to move on.

[@Helenjojoful]

Very helpful tips. Thank you so much for sharing

[@ElizabethSilver]

You are so welcome!

[@ariesblgh]

Gold, thank you

[@ElizabethSilver]

You're so welcome!

[@whatisthis6162]

So I have a really dumb question and I don't remember if you talked about it or not. If you make greeting cards do people usually license them or do they sell the copyrights? Because i saw that they are sold usually for 100-500 dollars or something like that and I was wondering what do people usually do? Sorry if the question doesn't make sense

[@ElizabethSilver]

Not a dumb question! Both happen regularly...some companies license art for greeting cards, some purchase it, and still others have freelancers create it to their specifications! Just depends on the client.

[@explorerbrittany]

Great advice! I am having trouble as a new designer continually coming up with new patterns for my portfolio. How many should I have in my portfolio? I signed up for your workshop and can’t wait! Thanks for all you do in this community!

[@ElizabethSilver]

You're very welcome, I hope you enjoyed the workshop. I say start with 10 strong pieces...ideally a few have a couple of coordinating designs to go with them. Even if your work isn't quite ready, it's great to start making connections and forming relationships with Art directors sooner rather than later.

[@explorerbrittany]

@@ElizabethSilver Thank you for they response! The workshop was great!! I am working on getting a list of directors now! I missed out on the scholarship for your SPDB course but I am continuing to apply and I look forward to more of your courses in the future!! Thanks again you are a huge help!!!

[@spiritualcosmeticss]

Starting out I wanted to get my art on stationery and wallpaper but I heard it was easier to get into fabric so I pitched to some fabric companies last year and got my first licensing opportunity but I don’t want it to be my first and last so right now I’m kind of stalled. although I have designed some patterns this year I haven’t completed any collections this year and I haven’t pitched to any companies this year. I have been working on other projects and it is a bit overwhelming! I probably should use some your resources…Ok I just took your which niche quiz and got the home category lol 😂.

[@ElizabethSilver]

Well if you have a deal with a fabric company, you're going to want to continue that relationship, so I wouldn't move on just yet- Create some more art and pitch it to that same company, but yes, even with an ongoing fabric deal you will probably need another source of income.

[@AndeeSaraDesigns]

I looked at my current set of art and really asked myselfnwhat I could see it on. Its wallpaper. I was thinking children's clothing. But now I think its more of a wallpaper design. Or wrapping paper.🤣 Time to start designing to those niches.👍

[@ElizabethSilver]

It's not always easy, but it's worth it...now look at what's happening in wallpaper currently and see if it's in the same general arena as your portfolio!

[@AndeeSaraDesigns]

@@ElizabethSilver thank you so much for the tip!!👍👍

[@christinhebron4184]

Do you have a list of specific product categories? I think my patterns are kid-like. I draw animals and flowers, but they seem to be in two different categories in your Quiz. How do you decide in this case?

[@ElizabethSilver]

I would lean toward the one that interests you the most for now, and you can always expand from there.

[@christinhebron4184]

@ElizabethSilver is there a place to ask questions in your Successful Licensing Course or is it completely self directed?

[@ElizabethSilver]

Great Q- currently it's self directed, but I do sometimes offer a live version where we have critique sessions and I may be adding a community soon. You can get on my newsletter list to hear updates about when I offer those options, or if you do decide to sign up, as someone in the course you will be the first to hear about those opportunities.