

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

Oct 2, 2024 • 22min
Episode 477 The Lies I See on Social Media…It’s a Game of WereWolf
Carina talks about some of the “untruths” she sees on social media and how a game of werewolf tells us most about the one thing most of us are missing when we enter the design business world.Episode 477 The Lies I See on Social Media…It’s a Game of WereWolf_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 30, 2024 • 31min
Episode 476 Design Suite Maker Conference with Brenna Powell, Tracey Rinaldo, and Kim Thomas
Carina talks with Brenna Powell, Tracey Rinaldo, Kim Thomas in a live panel for the Design Suite Maker Conference about their design businesses, shops, and why they decided to start their own design businesses.Get the All Access Pass to this conference here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/design-suite-maker-conference-all-access-pass-4Join a Design Bootcamp to learn more about Design Suite here: www.designsuitecourses.com.designbootcampLearn more about the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.educationEpisode 476 Design Suite Maker Conference with Brenna Powell, Tracey Rinaldo, and Kim Thomas_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 25, 2024 • 9min
Episode 475 Idea Rich, Time Poor
Do have tons of ideas but don't have the time to implement them? Being idea rich and time poor can sometimes feel disheartening. Learn what you should do with those ideas!Episode 475 Idea Rich, Time Poor_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 23, 2024 • 8min
Episode 474 The Multiple Streams of Income A Designer Experiences
Most design businesses have multiple streams of income. Sometimes this includes client work, online platforms, manufacturer deals and more. Learn more about the best ways you can utilize multiple streams of income in your first years to become a profitable design business.Episode 474 The Multiple Streams of Income A Designer Experiences_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 18, 2024 • 46min
Episode 473 Design Suite Maker Conference with Tiffani Hawkins, Viveca Chenoweth, and Jennifer Burba
Carina talks with Tiffani Hawkins, Viveca Chenoweth, and Jennifer Burba in a live panel for the Design Suite Maker Conference about their design businesses, shops, and why they decided to start their own design businesses.Get the All Access Pass to this conference here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/design-suite-maker-conference-all-access-pass-4Join a Design Bootcamp to learn more about Design Suite here: www.designsuitecourses.com.designbootcampLearn more about the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.educationEpisode 473 Design Suite Maker Conference with Tiffani Hawkins, Viveca Chenoweth, and Jennifer Burba_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 16, 2024 • 11min
Episode 472 Real Life Costly Mistakes in Business
Carina gets real about the mistakes that she has made in business in the hopes that it helps you in your own business. Episode 472 Real Life Costly Mistakes in Business_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 11, 2024 • 20min
Episode 471 Crafting Creativity Design Suite Insights with Aja Sharia Julie
Design Suite Coaches Aja Fillmore, Sharia Morton, and Julie Thompson sit down to share the juiciest details about their favorite aspects of the Design Suite program. From celebrating members' big wins to revealing insider tips on sparking creativity, these coaches offer an inspiring and behind-the-scenes look at what makes the Design Suite experience truly exceptional.Episode 471 Crafting Creativity Design Suite Insights with Aja Sharia Julie_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 9, 2024 • 24min
Episode 470 Dealing with Unrealistic Expectations From Clients
Have you ever had a client who had unrealistic expectations? They wanted A LOT for very little? Or maybe a client who asks for revision after revision after revision. Or maybe a client who demanded things happen in a timeline that was unreasonable. Welcome to owning a business! Carina breaks down some of these circumstances and what you should think about and avoid.Episode 470 Dealing with Unrealistic Expectations From Clients_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 4, 2024 • 14min
Episode 469 How Do You Go From Novice to Ninja Designer
Have you ever wondered how many hours you REALLY need to put into your design business to get it going? Carina talks about your hours and how you can go from being a beginner to an expert.Episode 469 How Do You Go From Novice to Ninja Designer_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

Sep 2, 2024 • 32min
Episode 468 Behind the Scenes with the Leadership Team with Carina, Sarah, and Lisa
During a leadership retreat for Design Suite, Carina Gardner, Sarah Cannon, and Lisa Baldwin take a moment to spill the tea on what’s really happening behind the scenes. Get ready to dive into their exclusive conversation as they reveal the latest insights, surprises, and exciting developments within Design Suite.Episode 468 Behind the Scenes with the Leadership Team with Carina, Sarah, and Lisa_________ Have you ever wondered what makes art sell? In her new book, Make Art that Sells!, Carina shares how to think like a customer and create art that people want to buy. She offers practical tips on market trends, pricing, and self-promotion. By understanding what buyers are looking for, you can make your art more appealing and boost your sales. Click below to learn morehttps://www.designsuitecourses.com/makeartthatsells__________About Carina Gardner:Carina Gardner is a fabric designer, paper designer, and design educator who is passionate about helping other designers fulfill their creative dreams by teaching them her strategies for making money as a designer. She has a Ph.D. in Design and taught design at the University of Minnesota before starting Carina Gardner, Inc.Carina Gardner, Inc design brand has been featured in dish ware, holiday decor, sewing patterns, and more. Her exclusive Design Suite Program helps creatives make money designing as they learn to design. Her programs include Illustrator and Photoshop training, surface pattern design, paper design, Silhouette & Cricut file design, and running a design business. She started the Make and Design Podcast so that she could share inspiration, stories, and experiences about design and life with crafters and designers.Find out more at https://www.carinagardner.comWatch this episode as a video at https://www.makeanddesign.com/Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional


