Floor Designer Highlight: Mel Armstrong

Please be a part of us in celebrating this month’s highlight floor designer, Mel Armstrong. We all know you’ll discover her story inspiring!

Please introduce your self.

I’m from Wellington New Zealand, which is the place I used to be born, however I spent most of my life in Australia. I’ve twin Australian/New Zealand citizenship. I’m captivated with wildlife, sustainability and following your inventive ardour to stay a satisfying life.

I’ve at all times been inventive. I began out my profession as a ballet dancer, after coaching on the Australian Ballet College.

I then obtained a College diploma in Laptop Engineering and labored within the company world however obtained burnt out and located myself simply eager to create fairly interfaces slightly than code applications, and the hours I used to be working had been killing me.

I managed to get myself again into the inventive world by performing some graphic artwork and net design alongside performing as I used to be actually lacking the stage. I did a lot of theatre, T.V. and movie in Sydney, Australia earlier than shopping for a home within the Southern Highlands about 1.5 hours out of Sydney, the place my accomplice and I settled all the way down to have children.

Inform us slightly bit about your design journey.

My journey into Floor Sample Design and Illustration began in 2013 after I was pregnant with my first baby. I needed to search out some material to make some garments for my child, however couldn’t discover something that was gender-neutral and interesting to me, so I googled “design your individual material” and stumbled upon Spoonflower. With my background in graphic design I made a decision I’d give it a strive, so did a number of on-line programs then utilized for the Make it in Design scholarship, which I ended up successful. I accomplished the Make it in Design course and that basically was the place my profession was born.

In that first yr, I obtained my first licensing settlement with a shoe producer in Australia and I haven’t regarded again since. Over the following few years, I slowly grew my Illustration/Floor Sample Design enterprise while slowly letting go of my software program engineering and net design enterprise, till round 5 years in I used to be able to say I used to be a full-time Illustrator & Floor Sample Designer.

What streams of revenue are you specializing in proper now?

My most important revenue stream is artwork licensing (material, children merchandise, stationery, dwelling decor, and many others). Lots of my licenses have royalties, that are ongoing and develop annually, which is a considerable quantity of my revenue. I additionally illustrate kids’s books, which additionally usher in royalties.

Lastly, I share my information and abilities by educating on-line. I’m a Prime Instructor on Skillshare and I additionally put up quick tutorials on YouTube.

What do you love to do moreover designing?

That is my full-time enterprise, however my different inventive loves are knitting and stitching, which I want I had extra time for. I’m additionally a mum to 2 stunning kids.

Do you’ve got a favourite portfolio design or shopper collaboration?

I collaborated with an Australian canine equipment enterprise final yr referred to as Indie Boho, which I simply cherished. The merchandise are attractive and I’m so happy with the artwork I created. The connection with them was so great and ongoing so I’m hoping to do one other vary with them sooner or later.

The place do you get inspiration on your artwork?

Largely from nature, animals and the humorous issues my children say. I like happening lengthy bush walks, which fortunately for me, in New Zealand there are various and they’re a relentless supply of inspiration.

While you look again at your design journey up to now, what are you most happy with?

Sticking with it. There have been a few factors in my profession, particularly once we moved again to New Zealand from Australia when cash was actually tight, and I began in search of one other job as I didn’t suppose I might proceed with “the dream.” Even with my years of expertise in software program, web sites and artwork, I couldn’t get a single interview, so I needed to put my all in and make this enterprise work. I’m so glad I did. I realized methods to be extra proactive at approaching shoppers and negotiating contracts and actually specializing in constructing my abilities as an artist. I believe it actually paid off as I’m now in an excellent place constructing a lot of nice shopper relationships and persevering with to construct my artwork abilities and portfolio.

Who’re your favourite artists?

Oliver Jeffers (Creator/Illustrator)
Lizzie Pannell (Artist)
Lisa Congdon (Artist/Illustrator/Creator)

When you might provide recommendation to different designers who’re struggling, what would that be?

Create and draw on daily basis. Concentrate on 1-3 revenue streams solely and audit them yearly. Whereas constructing your artwork abilities, construct your online business abilities too.