Don’t know how to unleash your creative edge to convert your passion into profits?
In this episode of Influence By Design, Samantha interviews Carina Gardner to discuss the importance of cultivating creativity in business.
Carina shares her journey from studying communications and marketing to unexpectedly falling in love with design and pursuing advanced degrees in the field. She dispels the “starving artist” narrative, emphasising that, with the right mindset and approach, creatives can monetize their talents across diverse mediums and markets.
Carina introduces her four-step design process model and they talk about breaking these steps into manageable segments, employing gamification tactics, and celebrating small wins to maintain motivation. They also discuss the value of leveraging existing platforms, such as Amazon, Etsy, and marketplaces suited to one’s niche, eliminating the need for a massive audience.
Throughout the conversation, Carina shares some practical tips on nurturing your creative genius to supercharge your business. She encourages listeners to embrace their innate ingenuity, lean into their unique creative perspectives, and intentionally nurture their talents to propel their businesses forward.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL DISCOVER:
- Carina’s backstory (02:00)
- How to make money with your art (05:16)
- Carina’s four-step design process model (11:43)
- Tips for moving from Ideation to Implementation (15:33)
- Tips to help creatives push through the Production phase (22:12)
- Tips for the Sales phase (27:09)
- Carina’s catalyst for transitioning to working with designers and helping them make money (30:07)
- All about Carina’s new book, Make Art That Sells (36:16)
QUOTES
“Understand that there’s a framework, that you can’t just go into doing something that you’re passionate about and expect to make money.” – Samantha Riley
“The problem almost always, for most of us, is we’re not looking at format, we’re not looking at medium. And if we could make that change in our brain — How do I take this art that I’m making and make it usable? That’s when everything changes, that’s when you can start making money.” – Carina Gardner
“At the beginning, we’ve got to get really good at the thing that we’re supposed to be really good at – that we’re the expert at. And if we can get really good at that, then we can start working on the audience.’ – Carina Gardner
“People are craving connection, and they want to be connected with people that are on a similar journey to them. Someone that understands the challenges, the losses, and they want to be inspired and motivated by other people that are doing what they want to be doing.” – Samantha Riley
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ABOUT CARINA GARDNER
Carina has a Ph.D. in Design from the University of Minnesota. She taught design at the University of Minnesota and the Arts Institute before starting her design business. The Carina Gardner brand has been on dishwater, jewelry, prints, clocks, sewing patterns, and holiday products. Carina also is a well known fabric designer for Riley Blake Designs and die cut designer for Silhouette.
Carina was the Creative Director of Carta Bella Scrapbook papers. Her kids brand Mini Lou has sold products for Nordstrom, Peek Clothing, and 500 independent retailers and museums in the US.
Carina is the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to make money as they learn to design. Her popular Make and Design Podcast teaches aspiring designers how to make the transition from crafter and hobbies to profitable designer.
Carina Gardner, Inc. was established in January 2008.
Carina is originally from Clarksville, Tennessee. She currently lives in Sandy, Utah with her husband and three children.
WHERE TO FIND CARINA GARDNER
- Website: https://carinagardner.com/blog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carina.gardner.designs/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carinagardner/?hl=en
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carinagardner/
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClHluSlZP7N8AsAXPr7ct0w
- Freebie giveaway: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells
CONNECT WITH SAMANTHA RILEY
Facebook: Samantha Riley
Instagram: @thesamriley
LinkedIn: Samantha Riley
Twitter: @thesamriley
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