

Make and Design with Carina Gardner
Carina Gardner
Carina Gardner, Ph.D. unravels the everyday joys and dilemmas of design, making, and business. This inside scoop into fabric design, paper design, die cut design, and crafting will help bring more creativity and joy in your life. Carina Gardner is the founder and CEO of the University of Arts & Design. She was the Creative Director of Cartabella Paper Co. and MiniLou. She has designed everything from dishware, sewing patterns to bracelets under her brand. She currently designs fabric for Riley Blake Designs and die cutting files for Silhouette while teaching other designers how to create meaningful businesses with their design work.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 1, 2025 • 22min
Episode 507 Marketing Hacks with Susan Smith
Carina interviews Susan Smith who teaches quilters. Learn more about her launch methods and running a creative business.Listen to her podcast at Measure Twice Cut Once and visit her www.stitchedbysusan.com.Episode 507 Marketing Hacks with Susan Smith___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Mar 25, 2025 • 10min
Episode 506 Sweet Life of A Designer
The Sweet Life of A Designer Summit is coming NEXT MONTH! Carina tells you why this summit is different and what you can expect from this awesome virtual event. To get your free ticket, join us at https://www.designsuitecourses.com/sweetlifesummitEpisode 506 Sweet Life of A Designer___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Mar 18, 2025 • 14min
Episode 505 The Lighthouse Keeper’s Mistake
DescriptionIt is the small things that can add up FOR US and AGAINST US. Carina talks about the Lighthouse Keeper’s Mistake as a cautionary tale for our own design businesses.Episode 505 The Lighthouse Keeper’s Mistake___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Mar 11, 2025 • 14min
Episode 504 The Cobbler’s Shoes
Have you heard the old proverb about the cobber’s shoes? As a designer and artist, we need to be sure and be taking care of the most important things first. Sometimes this is really hard to do as other people ask us for things. Carina talks about the cobbler’s shoes and oxygen masks in this episode as a reminder and challenge to take care of yourself first.Episode 504 The Cobbler’s Shoes___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Mar 4, 2025 • 14min
Episode 503 Quilting with Amy Smart
Carina interviews Amy Smart who is a fellow Riley Blake designer and blogger. Her quilt blog is a popular resource for many sewing enthusiasts. Learn more about Amy’s creative business in this episode. Find more about her at diaryofaquilter.com.Episode 503 Quilting with Amy Smart___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Feb 25, 2025 • 17min
Episode 502 AI Could Be Your Best Friend
Instead of worrying about AI, what if we took it as a resource that could help us in our businesses? Carina goes over several ways we can be using AI and practical examples of how it can help us build a business faster!Episode 502 AI Could Be Your Best Friend___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Feb 18, 2025 • 14min
Episode 501 How You Are Losing Creative Power
Your creative power is an important part of who you are as a maker, artist, and designer. But many times things can get in the way of that power. Carina walks you through some of those key things that can bring you down so you can avoid the traps that keep a designer from doing their best work!Episode 501 How You Are Losing Creative Power___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Feb 11, 2025 • 25min
Episode 500 How to Time Manage Your Life Sustainably with Moda Fabric Designer Vanessa Christensen
Carina’s friend and fellow designer Vanessa Christenson talks about owning two businesses. As a moda designer and coach, Vanessa inspires others to create the life they want.Learn more about Vanessa at https://vanessachristenson.com/Episode 500 How to Time Manage Your Life Sustainably with Moda Fabric Designer Vanessa Christensen __________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampTags: business, design, designers, makers, women, crafting, craftsGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Feb 6, 2025 • 11min
Episode 499 3 Products Your Should Design For in 2025
Wondering what new products you should be considering in 2025? Carina walks you through some of the products she is seeing make a splash on the design scene! Learn more in today’s episode!Episode 499 3 Products Your Should Design For in 2025_____________________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Jan 28, 2025 • 14min
Episode 498 Quilting on the Side with Andi Stanfield
Carina talks to Andi Stanfield about being a quilter and owning a creative business. For all quilters and creative business owners, Andi talks about life lessons and what she is working on now.Learn more about Andi at https://www.quiltingontheside.com/Episode 498 Quilting on the Side with Andi Stanfield__________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in the creative fields. Carina is also the CEO of Design Suite, a surface pattern and crafting design program that teaches designers how to create a business as they learn to design. She has designed for Nordstroms, Riley Blake, Silhouette America, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Deseret Book, and more.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comCheck out her most popular program Design Bootcamp here: http://www.carinagardnercourses.com/designbootcampGet my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional


