Meet Katie McEachern

Before beginning my journey with Surface Pattern Design, I was working as a commercial artist. I earned my B.F.A. in Art and Design: Illustration and spent time designing products for global home décor and gift retailers.

During a career shift brought on by COVID, I realized I had no ownership of my art, no portfolio, no work to show, and no clear direction of what was next. When Immersion began appearing on my social feed, it felt like the perfect invitation to invest in myself and rebuild the creative future I truly wanted.

Everything shifted after taking Immersion. I discovered efficient, professional workflows in Illustrator, built a portfolio I was proud of, launched my own design business, and began seeing real opportunities open up. I also found community, clarity, and more confidence in my creative direction.

The best part was the combination of structure and community. The framework gave me a clear roadmap, and the people I met along the way kept me inspired, motivated, and growing.

I cherish the improvement of my Illustrator skills the most. I went from being mostly self-taught to feeling truly empowered, efficient, and creative in the program. That skill alone transformed what I believed was possible for my career and how I made art.

Since completing Immersion, I launched Katie Lyn Designs, secured a long-term design contract for a wholesale importer, released a handful of products on Faire, polished my portfolio, launched my website, and most recently secured a licensing deal with FIGO through my Pattern Plus submission.

I’m looking forward to expanding my licensing partnerships, growing my product offerings, and continuing to build a business that gives me creative, financial, and lifestyle freedom. Each year of Immersion has opened new doors, and I’m excited to step through the next ones.