You’re probably here because you’re wondering if the Immersion course is right for you.

I get it – it’s a big decision, and there’s a lot of information circling the internet this week – and a lot of affiliates promoting the course.

I’m writing this as I enjoy my espresso (uh… my fourth this morning), and I thought I’d write this post as if we were friends meeting for coffee and you asked if I would recommend that you take the course or not. Sound good? Here we go! 🙂

First – what is the Immersion course? The course is an 8 week long, deep dive into all things surface pattern design. Surface design is the application of art and patterns to any surface, most commonly fabric, wallpaper, and stationery, but it could be anything you can imagine, and probably a lot of things that you’ve never thought of. Those cheerful flower towels you enjoy – someone designed that pattern for you!

The course begins with an in-depth training on Adobe Illustrator for pattern design. If you’ve never opened Illustrator or if you’re a seasoned pro – there are tips and tricks that will save you time and provide you with an efficient workflow. From there, the course walks through the business side of surface design. Think: All things marketing your work, pitching your portfolio to dream companies, and what to do when they say Yes (or No), and how to set up your email list to connect with buyers. There’s also a community of some of the nicest people you’ll meet online to support you and offer feedback. You can read more about it here, if you’d like!

But is the course for me? – you might ask.

It depends.

First – let’s get this point out of the way: if the $1997 price point would put you into significant financial strain or money that you need to recoup immediately – No. The course is probably not for you. I wouldn’t recommend that. If you are in this position, it would be better to start a savings account (or a jar for your extra cash) and save for next year. During that time, there are so many free resources that will get you started. (Let me know and I can send some recommendations your way!)

Ok, now that that’s out of the way, let’s talk about whether the course is right for you or not.

Because Immersion isn’t the answer for everyone. No course is. I love it, and I know it works, absolutely, 100%. But, I also love Crossfit and know it works, absolutely – but I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone, and I don’t think it’s perfect for everyone.

Same with Immersion. Whether it’s right for you or not depends on what you hope to get from the course. If you are looking for an efficient way to learn Adobe Illustrator and all the tools it offers to take your art from your drawings, paintings, procreate files and turn them into patterns to place on wallpaper/fabric/products, and you want to save time learning – then yes! This is the perfect course for you!

If you need help beyond that point and need to learn about marketing your work, creating a portfolio, pitching your work to your dream companies, setting up an email list, and all the things you need to know to set up a creative business, this course is perfect.

If you’re also looking for a community of other creative entrepreneurs that ‘get you’ and will support your journey – this course is perfect. The Immersion community is full of the most beautifully kind people that will offer support, insight, feedback and answers to almost any question you might have. It truly is an example of community over competition.

But, what if those earlier descriptions don’t resonate? If you’re a fine artist and you want to grow your fine art business and work with art galleries to sell your work – there are parts of this course that are beneficial, but you might instead want to learn from a fine artist like Emily Jeffords.

If you are hoping for a quick fix, find financial success right away – this probably isn’t the right place. Maybe crypto? I’m kidding. 😊 While there are students who license their work by the end of the course, there are so many factors involved, that you may not want to plan on that outcome.

If you prefer to work in Photoshop only – this may not be the course for you. There are many things that you might find helpful and applicable, but you should know that a significant amount of the course is devoted to Illustrator. Now – it is entirely possible that you could take the course and come to find that Illustrator is a wonderful complement to your Photoshop work, and the marketing modules will certainly help! But this is a factor to consider carefully. 💕

If you’d rather do this all on your own… I would just say, please don’t! Find yourself a community somewhere – we’re better together!

Let me tell you a little of my story

Are you ready to hear some vulnerability?

I took the Immersion course in 2020. My background is in Interior Design, but I had been a stay-at-home mom for 10+ years at that point. I installed Adobe Illustrator the day the course began (at the library because our home internet was SO slow at the time) and was so excited to learn a new skill that I signed up for Immersion at 8:01 am – minutes after enrollment opened. I finally had a dream to chase again!

Over the 8 weeks, I was all in on learning everything I could. Remember that this was 2020 – so shortly after the course began, everything shut down and my kids were home from school trying to do online public school 🤪. I got up at 5 am to watch the lessons while they were still asleep and was immersed in all things surface pattern design. By the end of the course, I felt proficient in Illustrator. It was a new program to me, but but Bonnie is a great teacher, and it came easily – possibly because of my background using AutoCAD.

Now, did I then go on to achieve all my big dreams and goals: license my artwork with a major quilting fabric company and bring in an income that would allow my husband to retire early?

No. As much as I hoped that would happen in the first couple of years, it didn’t. My reality was a little more…real. I wasn’t one of the raving success stories that I hoped I would be.

But, let’s talk about what did happen:

The next year, I came back to Immersion as part of the guide team. This meant I had the opportunity to support the students of the 2021 course and make several new friendships. Since then, I’ve returned each year as an Expert Support for Team Bonnie – opening up a whole new world of touching lives and seeing the transformation that can and does occur within the Immersion course.

We see people every year who come into the course with no confidence in their ability to succeed, and through the love and support of the team and the community, they leave with the confidence to pour themselves into their dreams and succeed. It’s really quite incredible to have a front-row seat to watch this transformation.

What else has happened for me? My work is licensed on towels at Geometry House, on fabric with an online fabric company, and – very soon – a collection with a wallpaper company. I’ve also connected with so many artists on social media and within my own email list – it’s been a beautiful journey – I’ve learned so much, and I can honestly say that I wouldn’t be here right now if I hadn’t taken the course. I might have figured out most of what I know, but it definitely would have taken longer!

But back to you!

Because each of us has a different journey and path in front of us, and a different background coming into this course decision.

If you’re feeling a tug to learn something new, find a new path, to explore that creative dream you had once but has been buried under years of ‘a real job’ and responsibilities, I’d love to invite you to join us in Immersion.

But! If you are feeling the very real feelings of the fear of missing out – but also feel that this course is not the right choice for you or the right time, please know that there are other opportunities available to you! Saying yes to Immersion does mean saying no to other things – other learning opportunities, other time commitments, and it’s ok to step back and consider what is truly best for you right now.

If this isn’t your year for Immersion, it’s ok! Don’t get caught up in the excitement and buzz of the course launch for something that isn’t perfect for you.

If you do feel like it is the perfect fit for you, of course, we’d love to have you join us! I am an affiliate for Bonnie again this year, but I truly only want you to enroll if you’re certain (and I won’t be twisting your arm to convince you 💕). You can learn more about my affiliate bonus workshop here, if you’re interested.

If you have any questions at all, send me an email at jennie@tobogganavenue.com and I’ll respond as quickly as I’m able! Or find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/toboggan_avenue/

Much love to you, and I wish you all the best!

XO, Jennie