Designing for Christmas in July: How to Get in the Festive Spirit

For designers, the holiday season starts much earlier than it does for everyone else. While most people are lounging by the pool or enjoying beach days, designers are busy crafting Christmas patterns in the middle of summer. Designing for winter holidays when the sun is blazing can be a bit challenging, but with the right mindset, it’s totally doable. Here are my top tips for anyone struggling to get into the festive spirit.

1. Set the Mood
It might be 25 degrees outside (this is the UK!), but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a winter wonderland indoors. Put on some Christmas music, light a pine-scented candle, or even watch a favourite festive film to get those Christmassy vibes flowing. Surrounding yourself with holiday inspiration will help spark the creativity needed for those snowy scenes and jolly characters.

2. Look at Previous Holiday Trends
Sometimes, the easiest way to jump-start your holiday designs is by revisiting past trends. Browse through old holiday collections, Pinterest boards, or social media to see what worked well last Christmas. It’ll help you remember what makes the season so magical and get you thinking of new twists for this year’s designs.

3. Break It Into Small Tasks
Designing an entire Christmas collection in the heat of summer can feel overwhelming. Instead, break the process into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on one element at a time, whether it's reindeer illustrations, snowflake patterns, or festive colour palettes. Tackling it piece by piece makes it more fun and less daunting.

4. Use Summer for Inspiration
Strangely enough, summer can help. Think of the bright, joyful energy of the season and use that to inspire lively colour schemes or whimsical holiday designs. Maybe blend a tropical twist into some winter motifs; imagine penguins in sunglasses or Santa on a surfboard. It’s a fun way to merge the two seasons and create something unique.

5. Start Small and Build Up
If jumping into full-on holiday mode feels too intense, start small. Begin by working on winter-neutral designs like snowflakes, woodland creatures, or cozy knit textures. These elements can transition easily into holiday themes once you’re in the flow.

Designing for Christmas in the heat of summer can be tricky, but with a little creativity and some holiday spirit, you’ll be ready to deck the halls in no time!