Presenting Nadia Nurhanifa, a freelance surface pattern designer based in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia.
In her personal project, Galeri Hani, Nadia offers her designs and patterns applied to everyday products, such as foldable bags, reusable masks, pouches, and stickers.
She also works her textiles in a handmade way, with the shibori dye technique, producing monochromatic but nevertheless eye-catching textures.
Botany, nature, and flowers are recurring themes in her art, mainly in the patterns she applies to products. But she also enjoys drawing still life, mainly food and beverages: browsing her social networks is like walking through a food truck fair, it is impossible not to end up feeling hungry!
You can get to know more about her inspiration and the tools and apps she uses in this brief interview.
Since I was a child, I always loved to draw many things. When I was 10 years old, I started participating in Indonesia’s Independence Day Challenge drawing contest, in which I got 3rd best place. Then, I knew I had to do art for life.
Even if I haven’t won, every competition further inspired me to be an artist. But as time goes by, I think illustration and surface pattern design is my expertise.
I didn’t finish my bachelor’s degree. I tried to study at Telkom University majoring in textile and fashion craft. But in the middle, I thought that I wasn’t really suited to be a student, sitting there in the class. So I decided to change my way of learning by attending some courses and practicing things that I loved!
Illustrated foldable bag & reusable mask
Realistic, but a bit cartoon.
I ask the client what the illustration is for, or in the case of pattern design, on what product it will be printed on. And when I have a review from the client saying it’s ok with it, I know that the job is completed!
The project I love the most is when I got the chance to make illustrations for a fabric calendar. When I was a teenager, I wanted to make designs for calendars on my own, so in a way, my dream came true. And the result is awesome!
Well… It is only because I am a food lover!! I usually take photos before I eat them, and upload them to my social media. And one day I thought it would be great if I made those photos as a reference for my illustrations. So that’s how I started!
Croissant and cupcakes illustration in watercolor
Pattern design is very interesting because you can use the same pattern design in different products, as it repeats itself, no matter how long and big the products are.
I learned it from college in the beginning. It is when I first fell in love with pattern design. Currently, I still learn from platforms that provide courses about pattern design.
Yes, I develop my rapports directly on Procreate.
My family! Especially my mom, my father, and my one and only sister. Because when they look at my artwork, they are always happy and love it. I want to see their smile every day.
It is Japanese food art! Because it always gives me cravings hahaha.
Actually, it’s because it is one of the first illustrations that, when I saw it finished, I thought the result is not bad at all! I love that salmon head texture, it’s so detailed. Sometimes, I just can’t believe I drew it.
Yes, habits do help creativity. Every time you practice drawing each day, it will make you progress in your drawing journey.
For me, the hardest part is when I have to search for a brand new idea, sometimes I don’t have any fresh ideas to start with.
Yes, of course!
Botanical waist bag, inspired by growing plants around her environment.
My lecture in college. She teaches surface pattern design. She is the reason I started having such an interest in this field.
It’s Procreate, because it’s very easy to use.
There is progress. Little by little.
I’d prefer to sketch directly on Procreate. I do some raw sketches, then color tests, base colors, and details to finish the final drawing.
Small progress is still progress. No effort is wasted.
Being a food illustrator.
“Campin’ in the mountain” and “Vases” iPad cases.
I ask what they want, and try my best to fulfill the brief… When they still rejected my presented draft, I ask which part of the draft they don’t like or is not suitable for them, in order to modify it and make it more appropriate for my client.
Yes, I do. We make creative workshops together.
I did a collaboration with a friend, who is also a designer, to do a creative workshop. We have two learning subjects, acrylic painting which was delivered by my friend, and a digital illustration demo, which I deliver myself.
The creative workshop was attended online by Zoom platform, and it was a really fun experience!
Shibori handmade printing fabric.
I’ve never heard of it before, but after looking for it, I can say Master Bundles is a good website to find and buy bundles of design and art. It’s really great!
Presenting Nadia Nurhanifa, a freelance surface pattern designer based in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, and her recommendations to budding illustrators.
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