What product customers are craving.

WOW. It just clicked.

I made a recent eye-opening discovery when I shared some photos from inside Fig Hill Studio. It really revealed why Australian art and surface pattern design is important now more than ever!

I made a recent eye-opening discovery when I shared some photos from inside Fig Hill Studio. It really revealed why Australian art and surface pattern design is important now more than ever!

I wanted to invite my followers and art collectors into my studio for a cuppa and a chat. But because they are scattered all over Australia (and my studio is quite small), it’s kind of out of the question. The next best thing? Inviting my lovely photographer friend, Madi Lee Photography, into my studio to take photos of me working and drinking cups of tea so that when people visit my website, it feels like they’re visiting my studio!

I was so excited when I received her photos I shared some on my social media platforms.

BOOM.

So much engagement!

I’ve known for a while that I get a lot more engagement from my personal posts and anything that has my mug on it. Why?? Is it because my face is prettier than my art? Um. NO. Haha! I know for sure that there are plenty of better looking influencers and models that people can follow instead if that’s what they’re into.

The reason why my branding photos (and Helen’s face photos) get so much more attention is because they create CONNECTION.

People aren’t just there for the art. They are there for the story behind the art. The person behind the art.

It’s the same with products. Customers are far more interested in products where they feel like they have been invited into the design process. Invited into the studio.

In a world where AI is booming and major cheap, nasty, international, unethical retailers are taking over small business, I believe that there is a particular demographic of customers who are even more intentional and receptive to receiving offerings from small, ethical, well-made Australian businesses. That’s where Australian Surface Pattern Designers and Australian products developers can work hand in hand to create something truly unique and special that the big guys could never achieve. It’s our superpower!

As a Surface Pattern Designer, I don’t just provide a hand-crafted repeat pattern and leave it at that. I provide social media content of the story of the design from start to finish so that customers can feel like they really ARE sitting right there in my studio, watching me work. I also offer branding packages that the brands I collab with can use to show their customers just how special it is and how much intentional work has gone into producing it.

The customer can truly see the value of slowly, intentionally made products. THIS is what sets a product apart from products that have been made with the same old stock images.

If you’d like to take your brand to the next level and collab with me, you can find more info HERE.

If you’re pushed for time but would still like something completely unique from an Aussie artist, you’re welcome to check out my PATTERN LIBRARY HERE.

I’d love to work with you on a special collab. The biggest thrill of my job is connecting with my customers and the beautiful brands that I work with. The absolute best bit is watching the brands that I’ve collaborated with absolutely winning when it comes to product launch time!

xo Helen