The Art of Immersion

In an industry where technical function can overshadows artistry, Allison Gouterman, Livtec designer for Continental Surface Solutions, has carved a niche as a pool liner designer whose work speaks both to aesthetic elegance and engineered excellence.

From printmaking to pools

A James Madison University graduate, Gouterman didn’t always envision herself working in aquatics.

“I actually studied art and printmaking,” she says. “I got lucky that I found something that perfectly fit my major and something that I was passionate about.”

That passion now flows into the intricate designs she creates, merging fine art with the science of functional materials.

Her journey into the visual arts wasn’t linear. Surprisingly, she stopped taking traditional art classes in seventh grade. “But I did everything creative — writing, theater, choir,” she says.

Graphic design became her reentry point into the visual world, eventually leading to an infatuation with printmaking techniques like screen printing and relief printing, which laid the foundation for her current work.

Where trends meet technique

Every liner Gouterman designs starts with fact-finding. “I start with a lot of trend research — online, in magazines,” she says. “I literally have an inspiration board on the wall of our office.”

Her design process pulls from a broad cultural palette: interior design, pop culture, tile and flooring trends and even aboriginal artwork from her hometown museum in Charlottesville, Virginia.

She travels to trade shows like the International Services Show in Las Vegas to stay ahead of home design trends that influence outdoor living. “The pool is still part of the home,” Gouterman says. “I’m always designing about one year ahead. … I’m starting my design work for 2026 right now [in January].”

The spark behind Starlight Swirl

One of Gouterman’s most ambitious and celebrated designs is “Starlight Swirl” — a liner nearly three years in the making. Inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” and indigenous dot-style artwork she encountered in Charlottesville’s Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, the design is a striking blend of motion and light.

“I love playing with the movement of the water and the design work,” she says. “Starlight Swirl especially utilizes that movement in the shapes of the design.”

But this wasn’t just an aesthetic project. A major breakthrough came in the form of specialty ink — two types, to be exact — that added shimmer and depth to the final product. Sourcing and integrating those inks was a technical challenge.

“That’s absolutely part of the R&D side of it,” she says. “How can I lay it down? How can I put it on the vinyl? How much [ink] can I have? How little can I have? How can I make it look the best possible?”

Working closely with the research and development team, Gouterman tested ink compositions to ensure they could bond correctly with the vinyl, hold up underwater and still produce the eye-catching shimmer she envisioned. “[The R&D team] usually at least humor me,” she laughs, “and we work together to find something that really works.”

In the field and at home

While her designs grace pools nationwide, Gouterman doesn’t always get to witness the final product firsthand.

“One of my other award-winning designs, Sea Glass, was installed in our head of R&D’s pool,” she recalls. Starlight Swirl is set to debut this summer in the pool of the company’s head of sales. “It’s spectacular, especially under moving water and good sunlight.”

Designing liners isn’t just about what looks good on a table. Gouterman often educates internal teams and customers on trends, providing the vocabulary and visual language they need to connect with homeowners. “I want them to know what’s on that Pinterest board before they even step into the room.”

Working with sales and R&D teams, she embraces feedback as part of her process. “Sometimes they’ll say, ‘That looks like this other thing.’ And I’m like, ‘OK, that one’s dead,’ ” she laughs.

She also does her own “mini testing,” borrowing a friend’s pool in summer to drop in samples and observe how the designs behave under natural conditions — an artist’s final brushstroke, tested in nature.

Rooted in passion, focused on the future

In her hands, pool liner design becomes more than utility. It’s storytelling — immersive, inspired and deeply intentional.

“I’m really happy with where I landed,” she says. “I have a great team of people that I adore, and I’m proud of the products I’ve been able to make over the last almost six years.”