Enrollment is closed

You can sign up to the waitlist to get notified when we open next time in autumn 2025

If you need to get in touch with us, email us at [email protected]

The Repertoire Course


Repertoire is a 12-week online training program for surface pattern design students, who want to take the next step in their surface pattern design education and learn to master advanced techniques and complex compositions.


It's a course for you who want to develop your drawing and composition skills - and your abilities to create a wide range of patterns and motifs - in your favorite styles!


This course is for you who wants to expand your pattern design repertoire!

💪 And be able to create any type of pattern you set your mind to!


 

Repertoire will help you:

✥ Become a pattern design expert, who knows a lot about different pattern types, historical styles and motifs.

✥ Expand your skills and techniques for creating sophisticated and complex patterns, in your favorite styles!

✥ Build actual experience as a pattern designer, with a broad pattern repertoire and a large body of work to prove it!

✥ Develop your personal style and teach you how to create original designs, with your own twist.

 

Become a pattern design master

With an extensive knowledge about patterns & pattern composition.

Equipped with the right tools and techniques for creating complex patterns.

Who feels confident in the quality and appeal of your pattern designs.

Who can create any type of pattern you set your mind to.

With actual experience in creating a wide range of patterns.

And feels comfortable with presenting yourself as a professional pattern designer.


"Repertoire was a super-highway to finding my signature style. An absolute fast track!"

~ Wendy Digel, USA


 

Hear from students

 
 

Hi, I'm Bärbel

YOUR REPERTOIRE TEACHER

I'm a surface pattern designer, pattern historian and educator, living in Stockholm, Sweden, with my husband and two teenage kids.

I'm here to help YOU master the craft of surface pattern design.

📖 Through education that gives you knowledge, skills and actual experience with creating a wide range of patterns.

🌟 So that you can feel confident in your abilities as a designer and in the quality of your work.

💃🏼 And have fun creating - effortlessly, with the right tools and a treasure trove of inspiration and ideas!

Learn from the intriguing history of patterns

The timeless styles and motifs that have shaped this craft:

Ancient Egyptian

Ancient Greek & Roman

Ancient South American

Paisley

Indian Floral

Millefleurs

Damask

Chinoiserie

Toile de Jouy

Arts and Crafts

Art Nouveau

Liberty

And more...


"I love art history and Bärbel is a master of pattern history. Repertoire is the best place to learn it."

~ Kata Maraczi, Hungary


 

THE REPERTOIRE METHOD 

Making the difficult EASY

Complex patterns and motifs broken down into steps that will show you exactly how to create patterns in your favorite styles.

Easy to follow drawing techniques and practices, closing the “gap” between what you see in your head and what comes out on paper. 

Pattern tutorials organized by the complexity of motifs and compositions, to gradually and steadily advance your skills.

Introductions to a plethora of historic styles and motifs, patterns and composition types, that will help you diversify your collections and portfolio.

Composition studies and practices to train your eye for what works and what doesn't, so you can create sophisticated and intriguing patterns of your own.


"In Repertoire, the lessons are broken down, step-by-step, and before you know it, you will have created patterns you were once intimidated by!"

~ Karen Gomes, India


 

Student stories

 
 
 
 

MEET

Bärbel Dressler

Accomplished surface pattern designer, experienced online educator and pattern historian

By studying historical patterns and styles Bärbel taught herself advanced pattern design and how to create a wide range of patterns and compositions, from simple and minimalistic to complex and maximalist designs. Her love for historic patterns and styles, helped form her personal style and has opened doors for working with companies around the world.

She has taught over 60.000 students about pattern history and how to create patterns in classic styles, drawing and illustration.

Bärbel lives with her husband and two teenage children in Stockholm, Sweden, where she runs her pattern design and education business Bear Bell Productions.

She has designed patterns for wallpaper, home decor, home textiles, apparel, shoes, accessories and branding for companies in Europe and North America since 2014.

Repertoire in words - by alumni

When asked to describe their Repertoire course experience with one word:

FAQ

Hear from students

"Before taking Repertoire I was creating very simple designs without really knowing where to start. My patterns lacked clear structure and direction.

Now I feel that I'm creating more complex and well-structured patterns. I've gained a better understanding of different design styles and am learning to apply them while adding my own style."

~ Isabelle De Ligne, Australia

"Before Repertoire I knew how to put a pattern together but had no idea how to create anything more complex than a scattered repeat. I was longing to create more complex patterns.

Repertoire taught me SO much. I feel confident creating any style of pattern now, and I credit it with helping me to find my signature style as I created so much while following the course."

~ Katie Beardsley, UK

I really feel that pattern designing has become my new superpower. I have used what I've learned in Repertoire to take my designing up many levels, and I've started to see my own interpretations of the historical styles expressed quite spontaneously."

~ Katherine Moffat, Canada

I learned so much about the mechanics of building more complex patterns, and the fascinating history behind them.  I especially loved the drawing tutorials, as it was real hands-on learning that I could put into practice straight away.

During Repertoire I created my very first portfolio, and that portfolio got me my first client contract! It's a huge start to my career, and I owe it all to Bärbel and her amazing Repertoire course"

~ Anna Black, Portugal

 
 

Repertoire helped me make a portfolio I am truly proud of and gain the confidence to start pitching. I feel truly like an educated expert in pattern design now. "

~ Mairin Kareli, USA

"Through Repertoire, I learned not only how to create patterns properly, but also a spectra of different types of patterns. I learned how to plan a repeat instead of just trying to put a bunch of motifs together in Illustrator.

Now I truly feel that I can design any type of pattern and I understand the different structures.”

~ Karen Gomes, India

Repertoire isn't just about acquiring skills; it's about pushing yourself creatively.  The course may require time management and dedication, but the rewards –  growth, confidence, and a fulfilling creative outlet – are absolutely worth it."

~ Katia Galante, Italy

“My designs have improved significantly and I even got two commission jobs, one for acanthus scrolls and one for an Indian Floral wallpaper. I am in the process of compiling my portfolio to start reaching out to companies for licensing and I wouldn't have gotten the confidence to do so without Bärbel's help and seeing improvement in my designs."

~ Sampada Phadke, Canada

"The techniques that we learn are just awesome! This is something I could never achieve on my own. I’ve managed to create a solid body of work that I am confident to send out to companies and I’ve started to pitch to wallpaper companies.”

~ Joke Seys, Belgium

And from two dear friends ❤️

 
 

More student stories

" I love that this class is more like a college art class where you learn so much more than just how to make a pattern. This is the best class to take if you want to take your patterns to the next level. It teaches how to make your art stand out rather than looking like everything else that's out there."

~ Kim Sharp-Leyba, USA

 

"I had the technical skills to create a repeating pattern, but mostly created conversationals and was missing the broadness and depth to create really good designs and collections. Now I create many different types of patterns, from simple dots and line patterns to the more complex Damask, Mughal Boteh and Renaissance Foliage. The most exciting thing is knowing what they are. Being able to look at a pattern and have an idea of what type it is. It makes you feel clever - a more informed designer."

~ Jane Harbison, Australia

 

"I mostly created basic repeats or half drop repeats in Photoshop using my digitized watercolors before, and had zero knowledge about using Adobe Illustrator. But even though Repertoire is not for Illustrator newbies like I was, I took the risk and now I can use it to create my favorite patterns, like  trailing florals."

~ Kata Maraczi, Hungary

"I feel like I have so many resources at my disposal now. I can (and do) access the lessons regularly. My mind has been opened up to so many new sources of ideas, inspiration and design tools. I love when another artist or designer says, "how did you do that?"

~ Wendy Digel, USA

"The Repertoire course has been an enriching experience for me, expanding my knowledge of patterns. The content is endlessly fascinating and has truly transformed the way I perceive patterns.
I’ve also learned some great techniques for preparing my sketches better, have improved my sketching skills, enabling me to create more refined designs. I've also gained the confidence to explore and create patterns in different styles by following the step-by-step instructions provided.”

~ Ilka Zuijderland Varnes, USA

 “My favourite things about Repertoire are the well structured lessons, video tutorials and an international community of like-minded designers. It has helped build the confidence to refine my patterns and I’ve started my own fabric company!”

~ Susan Standen, Australia

Taking part in Repertoire was a real eye opener for me and so productive. It was wonderfully rewarding to focus so intently over a fixed period of time on all the different types of patterns the course covers. Being totally immersed in the history and practicing the techniques being taught, through the robustly structured and explanatory lessons, was invaluable to me as a pattern designer and artist."

~ Lorna Bates, UK

"Before joining Repertoire I only created 2-3 basic pattern types in Adobe Illustrator. As I learned to interpret historical styles by reinventing and mixing up elements in my way, I can now transform them easily to create something new. This is "creative freedom". Now I am able to create the most intricate historical patterns.

~ Agnes Onody, Luxembourg

Do you have questions that are not answered here?

You are more than welcome to email us at [email protected]