the full story

I was never able to draw a straight line freehand.

At the age of 10, when I brought my first homework to an art class, my teacher - an eccentric, elderly, strict, academic painter - yelled at me in front of the whole class because he was convinced my parents had done my homework. I tried to explain that wasn’t the case, but the more I tried, the angrier he got. I went home in tears and told my mom what happened. She tried to convince me it was a compliment. But I was devastated.

My mom worked as a teacher in that same elementary school and the next day during break she spoke with my art teacher. She told him that both my sister and I had been raised to be independent, and that my mom and dad didn’t know what our homework was most of the time. The art teacher apologised and explained that it really looked like the work of a grown‑up.

Several months later, we had to bring a photo of a black & white church to the art class. The assignment was to draw its outlines in pencil. The girl sitting next to me had this superhuman ability: she drew a hand‑drawn line so straight it looked ruler‑made. My lines were crooked - they looked a little wobbly.

When our art teacher approached her desk and started yelling at her, I braced myself for another traumatising episode. ‘If that’s how he yells over her perfectly straight lines,’ I thought, ‘wait until he sees mine.’ He looked at my work, got quiet, started nodding, and said, “Good. Good. Keep going.” After that, he walked on to review the next work in progress. I couldn’t understand that twisted logic with my young brain: how could my crooked lines be better than my schoolmate’s ruler‑straight ones? It made no sense.

But it turned out to be the first lesson in the beauty of imperfection.

Today, that shaky crookedness has a name, shape, and a bold identity: Spookniq.

Spookniq is the place where art meets eccentricity. It's the pattern design studio for unique tastes, based in Berlin.

Taken to an extreme and transformed into a signature style, the kooky, spooky & unique aesthetics remind us that our flaws are our biggest assets.

Spookniq is for those who dare to think different, who see beauty in imperfection, and for the black sheep who celebrate existing outside the norm as is their greatest strength.

what is surface pattern design?

Surface pattern design (or SPD) is the art of creating visual artwork or repeating motifs that decorate just about any surface: fabric, home décor, walls, stationery, notebooks, mugs, and bedding are common examples. It’s not just about beautiful prints, but about giving ordinary objects personality.

At Spookniq, we do SPD differently:

It’s black & white, Berlin-raw, imperfect in line and form, where crookedness and irregular shapes are not mistakes but signature.
Our patterns aren’t polished to look perfectly symmetrical: instead, they carry distinctive and intentionally curated character, asking you to abandon established norms of beauty.
Each design is both art and identity: made for people who see beyond pastel-coloured florals, and make a conscious choice for boldness, authenticity, and craftsmanship.

Join us in building a unique design brand, and prints with character you’ll be proud to show off.