Illustration & Surface Pattern Design
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by Heidi Vilkman

I help artisan and heritage brands tell their story through hand-drawn, biophilic print design - so they can stand out without relying on trends.

I combine award-winning storytelling with design excellence to create narrative-led illustrations and surface pattern designs, available for bespoke commission or licensing.

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My Design Principle

Whether I am creating a signature illustration or a pattern collection, I begin with a story. Stories are remembered 22x better than facts alone. This is why telling a story is the foundation for my designs.

When I am creating a bespoke brand design, I follow my own Roots to Bloom™ methodology - a process rooted in research that uncovers the bones of your brand, what values it embraces, and what makes it distinctly yours.

My hand-drawn style sits between nostalgic realism and intentional maximalism - creating unique visual expression, whether the outcome is an illustration or a repeat pattern. A selection of my story-rooted designs is available for licensing through my Folio.

commission a custom design LICENSe FROM my FOLIO

My cottage is my design story

I'm a designer, who finds endless inspiration in the natural world - from my childhood growing up in a Finnish forest - to this day living in a lush Yorkshire valley - nature remains my best and most beautiful muse!

I love telling stories and helping brands stand out from their competitors with timeless patterns and illustrations. I care deeply about the environment and work with companies to whom sustainability is an intrinsic value, not an afterthought.

more about me

Heidi Vilkman on the roof of a natural cottage she built in Finland

Testimonials

What my clients say

"Working with Heidi exceeded my expectations, her professionalism and vision are unique.
She has a beautiful way of understanding the emotion behind a project and translating
it into design. I would definitely work with her again."

C. Sanches - Veluna Baby

"Heidi Vilkman is a brilliant combination of creative magic and professional precision. She worked quickly and imaginatively to meet the design brief, hit every deadline, delivered on budget and the outcome exceeded expectation. A rare thing indeed to have the full creative package and she was an absolute delight to collaborate with. Will definitely be working with her again and again. "

Helen Meller, Director - Arvon Lumb Bank

“We needed attractive designs within the brand style to put a fashion collection together. Heidi has a charming and beautiful style that can enhance your brand look. She is professional and creative and can deliver to your requirements quickly."

L.Lim - Singapore

“Our business was just launching and we needed an illustrator for our tableware project. Heidi is a talented illustrator that was able to understand my vision quickly. I loved the final designs: the aesthetic, detail and colours were just what I was hoping for. Her beautiful sketches really sold me."

A Gilet - London

"I collaborated with Heidi on the design of two tea sets for our licensed merchandise. From start to finish, she was professional, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. Her creativity and attention to detail brought my two design briefs to life, and she delivered the final designs on time and within the agreed budget.
I am very happy with the results and would work with her again on future projects."

S. Nixon, President of Luxury Product Brand

Galleries

Portfolio of work

A selection of my illustrations and surface repeat patterns for different markets. My designs always start as hand drawn pencil sketches, which I refine further with watercolour paints, ink markers or by colouring digitally. My work follows a clear creative process and is always rooted in a story.

To request access to my entire portfolio (trade only), please connect through my portfolio page or email me at: info@heidivilkman.com