Meet Claire Templer

Before starting my journey with surface pattern design, I was (and still am) working as a colour consultant and interior designer. I’m a full-time creative, but the deeper dream was always to build my own homeware brand, one centred around botanical-inspired wallcoverings and products. I had the ideas and many sketches, but I didn’t yet have the direction, confidence, or technical skills to turn those ideas into a cohesive collection.

I discovered Bonnie Christine through Instagram, and it couldn’t have been better timing. I was already gathering inspiration from nature, pressing and sketching plants and weaving that research into my interior design and colour consultancy work. I just didn’t know how to turn those small seeds of ideas into something real for products. Bonnie’s workshops opened my eyes to what was possible - Illustrator, repeat patterns, and the wider world of licensing and surface design. From that moment, taking Immersion made perfect sense.

Even so, I waited a year before joining. I needed to save, and I wanted to give myself time to work through Bonnie’s smaller course and feel comfortable before taking the leap. I’m grateful I did, because when I finally joined Immersion, I was the right time and the transformation was remarkable.

What changed for me was everything: I created a full collection, learned how to build a brand with intention, gained clarity around licensing, and found an incredible sense of community and belonging. The structure, the teaching, live calls, and support from Bonnie’s team all helped me move from “I hope” to “I can.”

Since completing Immersion, I've achieved things I once only daydreamed about. I designed my debut wallpaper collection, Apothecary, and my new website is currently underway, set to launch alongside it in January 2026. I began my email list! I have 9 subscribers so far, and I love creating meaningful content for them. I now use Illustrator confidently, and I’m building a small but growing body of work that reflects my love of nature, colour, and home.

The skill I cherish most is learning how to create collections and build a creative business with intention. It’s given me the foundation I needed to step forward with clarity. I also joined Pattern + and this is just invaluable in terms of further progression, community and industry insights.

What’s next is incredibly exciting: launching Apothecary and my new website in January 2026, expanding my wallpaper line, exploring new homeware products, continuing to grow my email list (teaching my subscribers how to curate colour in their own homes), and stepping into the world of licensing with confidence.
Immersion didn’t just teach me new skills, it's so much more than that. It helped me move closer to the creative life I’ve always imagined. Thank you so much, Claire.