The Card Designer Highlight is a sequence that includes impartial makers whose greeting playing cards you will discover in Paper Supply shops. Meet and be impressed by a brand new designer each month on our weblog!
This month we need to introduce our card designer Kim Burks of Ramona & Ruth. Learn the way touring and discovering magnificence on this planet has impressed Kim to create certainly one of a form stationery for every day, intentional moments.
How did you start your card-making profession?
I started my stationery enterprise again in 2009 within the spare bed room of my home with a candy little tabletop letterpress that took me a full yr to search out. Earlier than beginning my stationery enterprise, I used to be in a company design job that left me feeling bored and lifeless. Though I realized quite a bit and it was a good way to begin my profession, I knew it was one thing I didn’t need to do long-term as I wished to begin a enterprise of my very own. Two years in, I made the leap and began my wedding ceremony invitation enterprise whereas additionally working part-time at a espresso store. I labored the open shift (5am – midday), after which devoted my afternoons to rising my invitation enterprise. Placing collectively my passions for design and paper appeared like a match made in heaven! In the present day, my enterprise appears to be like a lot completely different as I’ve shifted in direction of greeting playing cards and desk gadgets and not supply customized providers. I completely love this business and the folks I’ve met alongside the way in which.
The place do you draw inspiration from?
Touring conjures up me immensely. With my thoughts at relaxation and free from my ordinary routine, together with the publicity to completely different environments, that’s when my artistic concepts begin flowing. Most of my concepts stem from what I personally need to see on this planet. That’s how my Day by day Overview Notepad was created. I couldn’t discover a notepad that integrated productiveness in a easy, easy method whereas additionally leaving house for taking a pause all through your day – whether or not that be setting an intention or a second of gratitude. So I created this notepad, and it’s been rewarding to see it resonate with others as properly.
What does your day appear like as a card maker and designer?
I like waking up early. Largely to take pleasure in somewhat alone time earlier than my household wakes up. If it’s throughout the faculty yr, my husband and I take our boys to high school collectively after which normally have a fast espresso date after drop off. As soon as I get into the studio, I do a fast electronic mail verify after which fill out my high 3 priorities for the day to ensure I keep on monitor with my objectives. Daily is completely different, however it normally entails creating new merchandise, discussing studio happenings with my workforce, and producing advertising and marketing content material. After I first began, I did every part myself, from printing playing cards to pictures and order achievement. Now, I’m lucky to have constructed an incredible workforce that permits me to concentrate on what I like most: designing and creating merchandise.
What’s your most popular medium?
After I first began, each card I created was printed on my letterpress. Whereas we nonetheless print our letterpress playing cards in-house, I’ve begun incorporating extra colour and experimenting with completely different mediums that permit for limitless colour use. With letterpress, you print one colour at a time and have to be considerate concerning the variety of colours you utilize, or you could have to run the cardboard by a loopy quantity of instances to realize the specified impact. In the present day, I additionally use Adobe Fresco to create my designs, which actually streamlines my artistic course of and permits me to play with all several types of brushes and colours.
What does your artistic course of appear like?
I create product releases 3 instances per yr, so I carve out time to design at these instances. I create in chunks. I’m always jotting down concepts as they arrive to thoughts and create temper boards with types and colours so when the time involves launch new merchandise, I’m not left watching a clean display. For my greeting playing cards, since I observe a sure launch schedule, it provides me a framework of what themes I must be specializing in, akin to Mom’s Day, Christmas, Love playing cards, and so forth. From there I merely take into consideration what I’d ship to my family and pals.
What are you most pleased with as a creator and card maker?
I’m most pleased with having the ability to affect lives with my stationery merchandise. After I began this enterprise, I didn’t notice how a lot my merchandise would imply to others. Serving to somebody discover the phrases to precise sentiments they might not have been in a position to verbalize is actually particular. The affect can are available quite a lot of kinds. I bear in mind studying a buyer’s remark that stated certainly one of my journals was serving to her by chemo. It was then that I really understood that I might contact somebody’s life with certainly one of my creations.
I’m additionally pleased with how I’ve constructed my enterprise steadily and slowly. Generally it’s exhausting to go searching and see different’s successes and the way they’re rising at a faster price than you, however trying again, I’m pleased I took it sluggish. This has allowed me to construct a robust enterprise basis whereas additionally permitting me to be current with my household. I’m actually proud to consider how far I’ve come!
Any private tidbits? Particular skills/enjoyable information?
I really acquired my first order from Paper Supply in 2014 the evening earlier than my son was born. I used to be thrilled as a result of Paper Supply was certainly one of my dream shops. Nevertheless, the thrill rapidly turned to panic as I used to be a one-woman operation on the time and anxious about how I used to be going to satisfy the order. Fortunately, with the assistance of my mother and greatest good friend, we made it occur!
If I wasn’t a card designer, I feel I’d be an expert organizer! I completely love to arrange, from drawers to closets, you title it, I get such a cost out of it. I assume it’s one other method of bringing magnificence into the world!
Discover Ramona & Ruth playing cards and desk provides, akin to Simple to Rejoice Birthday Card and In the present day Block Notepad at your native retailer or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, observe @ramonaandruth on IG.
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