What is The Design Agent (TDA)?
The Design Agent (TDA) is an online platform that allows retailers and manufacturers to purchase designs from creators who are part of The Pattern Cloud network.
How does it work?
Once a studio links their account to The Design Agent the designs are automatically added to TDA's sales platform, where a global customer base can view and buy them. TDA offers strong sales growth and frequent marketing opportunities through its expanding customer database.
Key Benefits:
1. Global Exposure and Sales Growth
TDA has a large, growing customer database, and sales have increased over 250% since last year.
By connecting with TDA, designs gain visibility to a worldwide audience.
2. Effortless Sales Process and Customer Growth
Once you’ve accepted TDA’s terms, each new design you make live is added to TDA’s platform automatically, where customers can view and purchase it.
An invoice is automatically generated when a customer buys your design, and TDA handles the payment process, ensuring quick payments (within a month for credit card transactions).
The studio receives the customer details (name, company, and email) to help them grow their own customer database.
3. Promotions and Marketing Support
TDA promotes designs through email marketing, social media, and custom pin boards to reach more customers.
Studios are also featured in TDA’s marketing campaigns to increase visibility.
Pricing and Discounts on The Design Agent
Pricing
Studios have full control over the prices of their designs. All pricing is set independently by each studio, and The Pattern Cloud does not alter or interfere with these prices. Nevertheless, TDA is available to offer guidance based on industry benchmarks and standard pricing trends.
Discounts
TDA may occasionally apply discounts (up to 10%) to encourage purchases, but only if the studio has opted in. If you prefer not to offer discounts on your designs, simply turn off Allow agent to discount.
To enable or disable discounts: open Business Operations › My Agents, click The Design Agent, then Settings. Choose whether to Allow agent to discount, and click Save.
If discounts are enabled, eligible customers will see the discounted prices when browsing your designs.
Discounts are not available to all customers. They are specifically designed as an incentive for high-value, recurring buyers who purchase in larger quantities. This means casual buyers will not have access to discounts, helping studios maintain pricing integrity while still rewarding their most loyal and valuable customers. This approach supports long-term relationships between studios and regular design buyers, benefiting both parties.
The Design Agent Commission
The Design Agent will take a 25% commission fee for selling the design. There are no monthly fees or upfront costs, our platform only charges a commission when a sale is made, so you only pay when you earn.
How to Join The Design Agent?
To link your account to The Design Agent:
In the menu, open Business Operations, then My Agents, and click The Design Agent. The first time, Settings opens by itself (later, click Settings):
Tick the box that says I wish to share selected design to the agent, to accept the terms.
Under Design Prices, enter your price in each currency. Please ensure your prices are correct and every currency is filled in.
Choose whether to Allow agent to discount. If you allow it, customers browsing your designs will see the discounted price reflected. Then click Save.
Once you have set this up, you don’t need to do anymore! From then on, each design you make live is shared with The Design Agent automatically. To share designs you already have, or to stop sharing one, use SHARE and UNSHARE on the agent’s page (see Connect an agent). Only exclusive designs can be shared with an agent.
Important
If you are a new studio and plan to connect with The Design Agent, please link your account before making your designs live to ensure they are shared automatically.
Watch our short video guide: Connect an agent
Get Featured! Showcase Your Designs in TDA’s Promotional Materials
We love celebrating the creativity of our community, and we’d be thrilled to feature your designs in The Design Agent's marketing materials! This includes promotions, social media content, and other marketing campaigns that highlight the incredible work of our designers.
If you’d like to participate, here’s what we need from you:
Original, high-quality images.
Any captions or descriptions you’d like us to include.
Your consent to feature your work by filling out this form: Marketing Image Usage Consent
By submitting your images, you’ll have the opportunity to gain visibility and connect with a wider audience.