A Walk Down Memory Lane: How "Hide and Seek, Pause and Play" Came to Be

 

Ever had one of those days where a simple memory just takes over your thoughts? The kind that brings a smile to your face and a warm feeling to your heart? For me, that's the feeling of my own childhood, a time filled with endless afternoons and a kind of freedom that feels almost magical now.

My new collection, "Hide and Seek, Pause and Play", is a love letter to those cherished moments. It’s an invitation to step away from the hustle of adulthood and remember the pure, uninhibited joy of being a kid. The collection wasn’t born from a trend forecast or a client brief; it came from a deep, personal place of nostalgia—a desire to capture the essence of a time when the world was our playground.

I started this project by simply reminiscing. I thought about the thrill of a good game of hide-and-seek, the nervous anticipation of counting to ten, and the victorious call of “Ready or not, here I come!” I remembered the quiet moments too—the “pause” in the middle of a game, when you would stop to inspect a ladybug on a leaf or gaze up at the clouds.

These moments of dynamic energy and quiet contemplation became the two key pillars of the collection. I wanted to create patterns that felt both playful and serene, reflecting the beautiful rhythm of childhood.

The Story Woven into the Patterns

Each design in this collection is a little piece of that memory. You'll find scattered motifs that feel like the random-tossed treasures of a backyard, just like the freedom of an unstructured play. I've used motifs that remind me of finding a perfect hiding spot—the foliage, the fences, and the whimsical shapes that blur as you run. The colours are inspired by the faded warmth of a late afternoon sun and the bright pops of colour you'd find in a kid's art supply box.

There's a pattern that's all about the 'seek' part of the game—busy, energetic, and full of hidden details waiting to be discovered. And then there's a design that’s all about the 'pause'—a calm, tranquil pattern that feels like a quiet moment under a big, blue sky, just watching the world go by.

It’s about more than just repeating shapes; it’s about sharing a feeling. The feeling of being free, of being present, and of finding joy in the simplest things.

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Design Style Description: "Hide and Seek, Pause and Play"

This collection features a playful and nostalgic aesthetic, characterised by a hand-drawn, illustrative style. The designs are intentionally imperfect, with organic lines and a whimsical quality that evokes the unpolished beauty of childhood drawings and imagination.

• Theme: Childhood freedom, unstructured play, and quiet contemplation.

• Colour Palette: The palette is a blend of muted, earthy tones with pops of cheerful, saturated colours. It includes soft sky blues, gentle greens, warm yellows, and a deep, grounding navy, all inspired by the natural world of a backyard and the vibrant energy of a child's imagination.

• Motifs: The patterns are built from a mix of simple, geometric shapes and organic, illustrative motifs. Key elements include stylised trees, leaves, fences, abstracted forms, and simple, scattered objects that suggest a game in progress.

• Repeat Style: The collection primarily uses a tossed or scattered repeat, creating an all-over, non-directional feel. This design choice reinforces the theme of freedom and spontaneity, allowing the motifs to feel like they are floating or dancing across the surface without a rigid structure.

• Overall Feel: The collection is designed to be both energetic and soothing, with hero patterns that are rich in detail and coordinate patterns that offer a visual resting place, much like the dynamic and contemplative moments of a childhood game.

I hope this collection brings back some of your own happy memories and reminds you to find a little bit of time to pause and play in your own life. Which of your childhood games would you love to see in a pattern? Let me know in the comments below! 👇

For licencing, email: kegroupko@outlook.com

instagram: @beauportions