From the precise circuits of electrical engineering to the fluid world of textile design, my journey has been discovery, adaptation, and creative evolution. My name is Apoorva Tamhankar, and I am a textile designer based in Washington, DC. Though my academic roots lie in electrical engineering, I found my true calling in the interplay of colors, textures, and patterns that breathe life into fabric and products. I was introduced to textile design through pattern designing. When I first discovered patterndesign, I was amazed to see how many products around me featured patterns, and I wondered how I had never noticed them before. I have always considered myself to have a strong aesthetic sense and a keen eye for color palettes. My interest in interior design began with selecting color themes and accessories for the homes I have lived in, but I never understood the process behind designing home interior fabrics or other decor items until I delved into pattern design. Learning about pattern design opened up a new world for me. I discovered the process of creating motifs and converting them into textile design patterns. A pivotal moment in my journey was realizing that a single pattern could be adapted for a variety of products. I began designing for gift wrapping paper, gift bags, kitchen textiles, fashion, and home decor products such as bedding textiles, chair fabrics, and wallpapers. The first step in my design journey was mastering the Adobe software used in the process. Thanks to my engineering background, working with software programs was not new to me. I quickly learned all the tools and techniques of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. However, the real challenge lies in envisioning a design suitable for a particular product before creating it digitally. Designing involves intuitive decisions regarding layout types, motif sizing, colors,textures, and transparency. This phase marked a significant shift in my thinking process, as I transitioned from data-driven engineering projects to the fluid and creative world of design. To enhance my creative techniques, I invested significant time in sketching and painting and found inspiration in photographs and visuals from platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Design challenges on Spoonflower helped me explore new pattern styles and themes. I also experimented with creating motifs using various mediums such as watercolor, gouache, colored pencils, and brush pens. My designs are inspired by nature and botanicals, drawing from both my surroundings in theUnited States and my home country, India. I also take inspiration from urban settings and seasonal themes such as Christmas, Halloween, spring, and fall. My creative process is guided by values of authenticity, refinement, and elegance. I strive to design patterns that create products with a royal, refined, and powerful aesthetic. Over the years, I have realized that designing comes naturally to me. I have continuously refined my techniques and improved my creative process. My goal is to share my art with the world, designing products that inspire self-love, self-compassion, and self-care. I aspire to work with brands and companies that promote these values and bring meaningful designs to life.