The Make it in Design team love nothing more than to celebrate all of the wonderful work from our talented and amazing community.
The Live Hub – is our monthly membership club that is jam packed full of energy and dedication from our members each and every day.
The group is such a supportive, wonderful, magical place and we want to acknowledge that with our Member spotlight!
Today we showcase the work of Danijela Obst!
- Tell us a little about how you got started in design
I’m a graduated secondary school teacher and I’ve been teaching for twenty years now. Besides other subjects, I also give sewing classes at a secondary school. I often thought it would be great having my own fabric designs and creating products that are fully made by myself.
In 2016, I coincidentally saw a video about an online design course. And this is how I found MIID. At that time, I couldn’t believe that one could learn surface pattern design skills just through online classes. That was a dream come true to me. So, I immediately signed up for all four MIID modules and dived fully into learning. I often practised several hours a day after having done my work for school just to learn all the industry standard programs as quick as possible and to build up my portfolio. I remember it was a pure natural motivation that has led me constantly and still does.
- What brings you joy?’
Besides my family and my dog, I love spending lots of time being creative through surface and interior design. Seeing my designs coming to life on products is just fulfilling to me.
- Which is your favourite market(s) to design for and why?
I love designing for the fashion, fabric, home décor and stationery industry, especially for the women’s and kids’ markets. Basically, these markets fit my personality best since I’m working with young people almost every day.
- What are you working on currently?
I’m currently working on a collection for one of my dream clients. Additionally, I’m preparing to display some of my designs on a new app which will only be made visible to prospective clients.
- How has MIID helped your work evolve /grow?
Since I didn’t know anything about creating surface pattern designs before, I was able to found my knowledge on the basis of what the MIID online classes taught me. I’ve learned to use the industry standard programs Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, how to work on briefs taking the current trends into account, how to export files and make them ready for clients. The broad and solid basis MIID gave me enabled me to elevate further to establish my style. You could say it has laid the infrastructure of my road to professional pattern creation.
- Any aha moments during MIID journey you would like to share?
I loved the fact that we were also trained to work on real briefs given by real companies from different markets in the industry. It’s a very practical approach of learning which is totally mine. Learning by doing is still the key to successful learning. Certainly, aha moments were the positive responses from various actual companies to my designs. This acceptance has shown me that my designs not only work on my drafting table but also in the real world.
- What are your key successes since finding MIID?
Some key successes were collaborating with international fashion companies, arts & crafts collectives, a goldsmith and creating various merchandising products for school. Recently I’ve also been approached by a big stationery company.
- How would you describe MIID to a fellow designer looking to develop their design?
It’s a great source of inspiration where you can receive new input. The different briefs get you out of your comfort zone and broaden your perspective on how to create your designs and by doing so establish your design style.
- What’s your dream design gig?
I’d love to have a fabric collection with my dream textile company which I’m currently working on. In general, making my designs available to a broad audience would be fulfilling to me. As long as my designs bring joy to people I consider every collaboration to be a dream design gig.
- Best tip/advice for MIID students
Show your work on Instagram. Be brave, jump in. You never know who is watching you. I’ve mostly been contacted by companies via Instagram so far.
- How do you stay motivated?
Designing itself is my motivation. I can fully relax in the process of designing.
- How do you balance other commitments and work?
I still work as a secondary school teacher on four days a week which is great because I love working with youths. It also gives me the freedom to be braver in creating my designs since I’m not under pressure to license a certain amount of designs each month in order to pay my monthly fixed costs. In this sense I am fully relaxed in creating my designs mindfully.
