Make and Design with Carina Gardner
Carina Gardner 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 has a Ph.D. in Design and was the Creative Director of Cartabella Paper Co. and MiniLou. She has designed everything from dishware to bracelets under her brand. She currently designs fabric and die cutting files while teaching other designers how to create meaningful design work while making a residual income online.
Episode 531- Feeling Invisible? 3 Marketing Layers You Need
Tired of feeling like no one sees your work? In this episode, Carina Gardner reveals the three essential marketing layers every creative needs to get noticed, build an audience, and turn followers into customers. Simple, actionable steps to make sure you’re no longer invisible in your industry.
Learn more about Carina at www.carinagardner.com.
Episode 530 - Is It Too Late To Start A Design Career?
Think you’ve missed your chance to become a designer? Think again. In this episode, Carina Gardner breaks down why it’s never too late to start a design career, the surprising advantages of starting later in life, and the exact steps to get moving now. Whether you’re 25 or 65, your creative future starts today.
Learn more about Carina at www.carinagardner.com.
Episode 529 - Designing While Momming - How I Built My Business With Kids At Home
Balancing diapers and deadlines isn’t easy, but it’s possible—and even rewarding. In this episode, Carina Gardner shares how she built a thriving design business while raising kids at home. From time management hacks to mindset shifts, you’ll hear the strategies that kept her creative career moving forward without sacrificing family.
Learn more about Carina at www.carinagardner.com
Episode 528 Design Advice I Would Give My Younger Self
In this heartfelt episode, Carina Gardner shares the advice she wishes she could give her younger creative self—back when she was just starting out, full of passion but unsure of the path ahead.
She opens up about the lessons she’s learned along the way, from embracing imperfect work and letting go of the pressure to be “ready,” to the importance of charging what you’re worth and adopting a business mindset early. Carina reflects on how building a successful design career wasn’t about having all the answers, but about being willing to take the...
Episode 527 Why Does Creative Potential Suffer?
Carina dives into a question that affects every artist and designer at some point: Why does creative potential suffer—even when we’re passionate, talented, and full of ideas?
Carina unpacks the hidden barriers that often hold creatives back—like perfectionism, comparison, fear of failure, and the pressure to “do it all.” Drawing from her own journey as a designer, entrepreneur, and educator, she offers practical insights into how to protect and nurture your creativity over time.
Listeners will walk away with a fresh perspective on how to reclaim th...
Episode 526 How to Price Your Design Work When You're Just Starting Out
In this practical and empowering episode, Carina Gardner tackles one of the biggest challenges new designers face: pricing your work when you're just starting out.
Carina walks listeners through the mindset shifts, mistakes to avoid, and strategies that helped her go from undercharging to building a profitable design business. She shares honest insights about how to set your prices with confidence—even if you're not sure what your work is worth yet—and why charging too little can actually slow down your growth.
Whether you're freelancing, creating products, or launching your...
Episode 525 Design Entrepreneurship & Leadership Skills You Can Learn to Do NOW with Vincent Wanga
In this dynamic episode, Carina Gardner sits down with designer and entrepreneur Vincent Wanga for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to lead in the creative world—starting right now.
Together, they explore the key leadership and business-building skills every designer can begin practicing today, regardless of experience. From communicating with confidence to making strategic decisions as a creative business owner, Carina and Vincent break down what leadership looks like when you're still in the early stages—and how to grow into the kind of entrepreneur your design work...
Episode 524 Designing for Profit: Why Some Creatives Make It and Others Don’t
Carina knows in just a few sentences whether a designer is going to be profitable or not. Learn how she assesses a designer’s profitability in today’s episode.
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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, Hobb...
Episode 523 3 Mistakes New Designers Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Are you a new designer finding the road a bit bumpy? Carina shares three common mistakes she sees new designers make—and how to fix them. These simple solutions can help you build a more successful design business!
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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 ha...
Episode 522 Income for Designers: What Really Works in 2025
2025 has been an interesting year for designers. Carina works with hundreds of creatives through her university and Design Suite programs, giving her a front-row seat to what’s actually working right now. Learn more in today’s episode.
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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 desi...
Episode 521 From Hobby to Business: Turning Your Design Skills Into Cash
What’s the difference between someone with a hobby and someone who wants a business from the thing they love? Carina shares the mindset shift you need to turn your design skills into cash.
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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 Bl...
Episode 520 How to Become a Graphic Designer and Work from Home
Want to become a graphic designer and work from home? In this episode, Carina shares the two paths she took to build a successful design career—while also staying home to raise her kids. Discover how she made it work, what she would do differently, and how you can start your own journey as a work-from-home designer.
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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 pa...
Episode 519 Dishing the Tea with Event Coordinator Sarah Cannon
In today’s episode, Carina and her event coordinator Sarah have a fun, honest, and laughter-filled conversation about the University of Arts & Design, family, and work. Watch the full episode on youtube at www.youtube.com/carinagardner. Â
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 b...
Episode 518 Pull the Weeds, Water the Roots: How to Grow a Business That Lasts
Pull the Weeds, Water the Roots, and so much more! Carina gives her 10 tips for how to grow a business that lasts. These gardening tips will help you remember what you need to do to help sustain your design business even when things get tough.
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...
Episode 517 The Marketing Dilemma for Designers
Carina explores the tricky balance between creativity and self-promotion. Carina dives into real stories, practical strategies, and expert insights to help designers market themselves without compromising their artistic integrity.
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...
Episode 516 Dishing the Tea with Daughter Felicity
In this heartwarming episode, Carina sits down with her daughter Felicity for a candid chat about growing up with a mom who is a designer and business owner. From behind-the-scenes family moments to design inspiration, this mother-daughter duo dishes the tea on creativity, life, and everything in between. Don’t miss this special glimpse into their world! Full episode available on youtube.com/carinagardner.
About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Ma...
Episode 515 The Grasshopper and The Ant
Right now is the best season for designers to really bulk up their sales. As we prepare for the coming season we need to act more like the ant than the grasshopper in Aesop’s Fable. Learn more about how you can really prepare for winter (literally).
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 an...
Episode 514 Recap of the Design Business Conference
This is a recap of the Design Business Conference we held at Ashton Gardens in Lehi Utah in March 2025. The original video can be found at youtube.com/carinagardner. Learn more about what we do in our live events!
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...
Episode 513 Drowning in Too Much Too Do
Do you feel like you are drowning in your design business? Carina uses one way to make sure that she doesn’t spend every day putting out fires in her business. Instead she focuses on the things that are the most important. Use her tactic for getting organized!
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 Su...
Episode 512 Dishing the Tea with Daughter Felicity
Carina sits down with daughter Felicity to talk about growing up with a creative business household. Learn some of the sassy and sweet things Carina’s 17 year old has to say about design and business. This episode was originally aired on youtube.com/carinagardner.
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 pr...
Episode 511 Simple Traffic Tricks with Pinterest with Nadalie Bardo
Carina sits down with Pinterest expert Nadalie Bardo to dive into the powerful strategies she uses to drive traffic and grow a brand through Pinterest. Nadalie shares insider tips on optimizing pins, creating content that gets clicks, and leveraging Pinterest’s algorithm to attract the right audience.Â
Find more about Nadalie at https://yourpincoach.com/pin-popular/
About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters deg...
Episode 510 You Were Meant to Fly
In this episode, Carina shares an inspiring quote from Charlie Mackesy’s beloved book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and explores its deeper meaning. She reflects on the idea that we are all meant to "fly"—to embrace our potential, lean into our uniqueness, and rise beyond our fears. Join her for a conversation about self-discovery, creativity, and the power of recognizing what makes you truly special.
About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of t...
Episode 509 5 Tips For Starting Your Design Business with the Design Suite Coaches
In this special episode, Carina sits down with her expert design coaches to share their top five tips for starting a successful design business. They break down the essential steps every new designer should take, from building a strong foundation to finding your unique style and landing your first sales. Whether you're just getting started or looking for insider advice, you'll hear firsthand how they would launch a business today and the exact strategies they teach Design Suite members to set them up for long-term success. Don't miss this behind-the-scenes look at what really works in the world...
Episode 508 4 Ways to Gamify Your Design Process
Struggling with the not-so-fun parts of the design process? In this episode, Carina shares four creative ways to gamify your workflow, keeping you motivated and inspired. From tackling design roadblocks to getting those perfect "dopamine hits" of excitement, these fun techniques will help you stay engaged and make designing a joy! Tune in now!
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...
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
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About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in...
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/sweetlifesummit
Episode 506 Sweet Life of A Designer
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About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design. The university offers certificates and Masters degrees in...
Episode 505 The Lighthouse Keeper’s Mistake
Description
It 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
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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 fiel...
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
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About Carina Gardner, Ph.D...
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
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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...
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
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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...
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
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About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:
Carina is the CEO of the University of Arts & Design...
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 ChristensenÂ
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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...
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
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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 th...
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
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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...
Episode 497 How Do I Make Money From My Art?
The number one question Carina gets asked is “How do I make money from my art?” The answer is both simple and complicated as Carina talks about making money from artwork.
Episode 497 How Do I Make Money From My Art?
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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...
Episode 496 New Year's Resolutions To Fill Our Cups
Have you created New Year’s Resolutions that make you a better person? How about creating New Year’s Resolutions that fill your cup? Carina talks about the difference in today’s episode and how she is using goal setting to bring her fulfillment this coming year.
Episode 496 New Year's Resolutions To Fill Our Cups
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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 surfac...
Episode 495 I'm Getting My Own Office Space! Updates on the New Barn
Carina has been keeping a secret! For all of 2024, she has been building a new office space called the Barn in her backyard. Learn more about how she plans to use the space and progress on it in today’s episode.
Episode 495 I'm Getting My Own Office Space! Updates on the New Barn
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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 an...
Episode 494 Morning Routines Revisited
Carina not only revisits morning routines but also 2024. Learn about many of the fails and wins we experienced this year at Carina Gardner, Inc.
Episode 494 Morning Routines Revisited
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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...
Episode 493 Christmas Traditions and Other Thoughts
Ever wondered what some of Carina’s Christmas traditions are? Carina talks about some of the things her family does and talks about the past year.
Episode 493 Christmas Traditions and Other Thoughts
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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 Bl...
Episode 492 Caring Community with Design Suite Member Jennifer Burba
Carina talks to Design Suite member Jennifer Burba about creating her design business with twelve kids in tow and starting a Bachelor’s degree. Her work ethic will inspire you in your own creative endeavors!
Episode 492 Caring Community with Design Suite Member Jennifer Burba
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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 bu...
