The world of surface design is thriving, and with it comes an exciting opportunity for creatives to sell patterns & designs and earn passive income. Whether you specialize in seamless patterns, textures, or bold illustrations, your work can find a place on various products—from fabric and wallpaper to digital templates and home goods. Thanks to a growing number of online platforms, selling your patterns and designs has never been easier. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best websites where you can upload and sell patterns & designs, helping you build a steady stream of income while sharing your creativity with a global audience.
What types of Patterns and Surface Designs can I sell?
A well-crafted pattern or surface design can transform a simple object into something visually compelling, whether it’s on textiles, wallpapers, packaging, or digital backgrounds. These designs serve both decorative and functional purposes, helping brands and consumers express style, emotion, and identity. The possibilities are endless, but it’s essential to approach your designs with the end user in mind. Take some time to explore the marketplaces listed below, such as the illustration section, which offers a space to sell illustrations and surface designs. Additionally, if you specialize in fine art or have educational content to share, consider exploring the fine art and courses sections, respectively. Pay close attention to the kinds of patterns that are trending or frequently purchased. Are there specific themes, color palettes, or styles that stand out? Then, dig deeper to find gaps – designs that buyers might want but aren’t widely available. While there’s no guaranteed formula for success, understanding what’s currently in demand can help you shape a pattern collection that has a better chance of standing out and selling.
‍Where can I sell Patterns and Surface Designs online?
In order to sell your patterns and surface designs online, you’ll need to find digital marketplaces that specialize in these types of creative assets. You’ll have better results if you focus on platforms where buyers are actively searching for patterns—whether for fabric, packaging, wallpapers, or digital products. In other words, it’s smart to sell where your ideal customers already shop.
There are a variety of websites that allow you to upload and sell your patterns and surface designs. Most platforms let you sell individual designs or offer them as part of themed collections. To help you get started, we’ve gathered some of the most popular pattern marketplaces available today. Since many of these platforms allow you to retain rights and sell non-exclusively, it’s a good idea to experiment with a few and see where your work gains the most traction.
1. Surface Pattern Marketplace
​The Surface Pattern Marketplace is a UK-based platform that connects surface pattern and textile designers with global buyers seeking fresh, contemporary designs. It offers a curated selection of print-ready, royalty-free, and exclusive licensed designs suitable for various applications, including fashion, home interiors, and stationery. Designers can provide customization on premium designs and create bespoke patterns to order, catering to specific client needs. This marketplace serves as a valuable resource for both emerging and experienced designers aiming to showcase and monetize their work in the surface design industry .​
Start selling on Surface Pattern Marketplace
2. Spoonflower
​Spoonflower is a leading print-on-demand platform that empowers artists and designers to transform their patterns into custom products like fabric, wallpaper, and home décor. Founded in 2008 and now part of the Shutterfly family, Spoonflower offers a global marketplace where independent creators can upload their designs and earn royalties on every sale. With over a million unique designs available, customers can order made-to-order items without needing a large inventory or upfront costs. This model supports sustainable production and provides artists with a passive income stream while reaching a worldwide audience.
3. Patternbank
​Patternbank is a leading global marketplace for textile and surface pattern design, connecting independent designers with businesses across fashion, homeware, stationery, and more. Founded in 2012, the platform offers a curated collection of over 75,000 royalty-free and exclusively licensed designs, ranging from florals and geometrics to abstract and conversational prints .
For designers, Patternbank provides an opportunity to showcase and sell their work to a worldwide audience. The platform supports various licensing options, including non-exclusive and exclusive rights, catering to different commercial needs . Additionally, Patternbank offers trend reports and insights, helping designers stay informed about current and upcoming design trends .​
For buyers, Patternbank serves as a comprehensive resource to discover and license high-quality designs suitable for various products and markets. The platform’s user-friendly interface and extensive search filters make it easy to find designs that align with specific themes, colors, or styles .​
Overall, Patternbank stands out as a dynamic hub for both designers and businesses seeking innovative and trend-forward textile designs.
4. Pattern Design
PatternDesigns.com is a curated platform specializing in high-quality, royalty-free seamless vector patterns for professional use. Founded in 2010, it connects designers and manufacturers through a stock platform focused on seamless patterns.​
Each design undergoes a rigorous 14-step quality check to ensure it meets industry standards. Designs are available in various formats, including SVG, EPS, PDF, and JPEG, and can be customized in color .​
Designers can join the platform to sell their patterns, which are offered to a wide audience via the platform and its integrations with various online shops.​
PatternDesigns.com also provides an API for integrating its design database into web-to-print shops .​
Start selling on Pattern Design
5. Etsy
Etsy is a popular online marketplace known for handmade, vintage, and unique digital products. It’s a great platform for artists, designers, and crafters to sell custom goods, including digital downloads like art prints, patterns, and even NFT-linked files. With a global audience and a user-friendly setup, Etsy makes it easy to open a shop, list your products, and connect with buyers who are looking for creative, one-of-a-kind items. It’s especially well-suited for surface designers and digital artists who want to monetize their work in a creative marketplace.
6. Design Bundles
​Design Bundles is a digital marketplace launched in July 2016, offering a vast array of affordable design resources such as graphics, templates, mockups, patterns, illustrations, and craft files. With over 1.6 million products created by more than 8,000 independent designers, it caters to crafters, designers, hobbyists, and business owners seeking high-quality assets at discounted prices. ​
The platform provides flexible licensing options, including personal and commercial use, ensuring that users can confidently utilize the resources for various projects. Additionally, Design Bundles offers a Plus Membership, granting members access to exclusive products, discounts, and tools like DesignScape and Illustrate AI.
Whether you’re looking for SVG files, sublimation designs, fonts, or other creative assets, Design Bundles aims to support your creative journey with quality resources and dedicated customer support.
Start selling on Design Bundles
Start selling your Patterns and Surface Designs
Creating and selling patterns and surface designs online is an excellent way to generate passive income as a designer, but it’s important to do your homework first. Once you’ve chosen the style or theme of your designs, begin creating high-quality patterns that stand out. Then, select a few platforms that cater to surface designs and offer both exclusive and non-exclusive selling options. It will take time to see results, but with persistence, you’ll discover which marketplaces are the most profitable for your work. With great design skills and a bit of patience, you’ll be on your way to earning passive income from your patterns and surface designs.
Sell more than just Patterns and Surface Designs
There’s a wide range of digital design assets you can sell online beyond just patterns and surface designs. If you’re a versatile designer, consider branching out and offering different types of creative products to increase your earning potential. From fonts and illustrations to templates and mockups, the possibilities are endless. Check out our categories page to discover 16 other types of digital assets you can start selling today for passive income.