I’m proud to introduce this month’s spotlight designer, Audrey Dostes. It’s been a pleasure to watch her design style evolve over the past year – she’s proof that it doesn’t have to take forever to develop your skills.
Please Introduce Yourself
I’m from France and I live in Italy with my husband and my two daughters.
I always used to draw as far back as I can remember but started designing digitally in the early 2000’s as graphic designer.
Tell us a little bit about your design journey.
I always created handmade things, crochet, painting, diy…but started making pattern design during the first quarantine. I began to post my artwork on Instagram and to explore the world through Instagram because I saw people create beautiful stuff and I would like to be part of it!
And now thanks to a good organization and ideas mixing creativity and efficiency, I can now offer patterns with sophisticated and charming designs, specific to bed linen and home decoration.
![Surface Design by Audrey Dostes](https://sketchdesignrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Audrey-Dostes-folksy-floral.jpg)
What advice about the surface design industry has been most helpful to you in your career so far?
Finding your niche seems to be powerful advice, and this: “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
When you look back at your design journey so far, what are you most proud of?
At the end of the day, I am happy when I have balanced my family life and my time spent creating and inspiring myself. I feel like a better mom when I’m satisfied with my job and I feel like a better designer when I’m satisfied to be a mom.
![Surface design by Audrey Dostes](https://sketchdesignrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/By_audrey_dsts_summer_dress_mockup.jpg)
![Surface design by Audrey Dostes](https://sketchdesignrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Ginkgo_pattern_Coral_by_audrey_dsts.jpg)
What advice would you give to surface designers who are struggling?
Practice, test, learn, and never give up
… then repeat.
Where can we find you?
Website: www.audreydostes.com
Instagram: @audrey_dsts
![Surface design by Audrey Dostes](https://sketchdesignrepeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Audrey-Dostes-watermelon.jpg)
P.S. If you’d like to be featured on the SDR blog, you can always submit your story right here!