ArtsDesignLeisureCrafts

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.

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23 episodes
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Avg 18 min
English

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Tuesday · 11 min
Episode 582 Taste Is The Product
Today it’s about dishing the tea on Figma and the 18% Lie. Everyone assumes that AI is eating design jobs, but the data says otherwise. Learn more in today’s episode. Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
August 25 · 10 min
Episode 581 Fresh Starts
Carina talks about the power of creating your own fresh start. Jumping into something new requires several “new” things including environment, objects, and people. Learn more about how to create your own fresh start in today’s episode. Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
August 18 · 19 min
Episode 580 Collaborative Design with Brooke Shankland
Carina talks to Art Gallery Fabric designer Brooke Shankland about her collaborative design group, quilt design, and so much more. This is a cut from an hour-long interview Carina did with Brooke for the University of Arts & Design’s DES 610 course. Learn more about Brooke at https://eudaimoniastudio.com/ Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
August 11 · 9 min
Episode 579 Your Blue Bowl
What is your ‘blue bowl’? The thing that makes your design or art business unique and memorable? Carina talks about how you should be creating your ‘blue bowl’ business so that people know exactly what you offer and where to find you. Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
August 4 · 21 min
Episode 578 Founding the Craft Industry Alliance with Abby Glassenberg
Carina talks to Craft Alliance Industry Founder Abby Glassenberg about starting an association, the benefits it offers, and business advice to new business owners. This is a cut from an hour-long interview Carina did with Abby for the University of Arts & Design’s DES 610 course. Learn more about the Craft Alliance Industry at https://craftindustryalliance.org Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
July 28 · 10 min
Episode 577 The Most Unglamorous Part of Sewing
Carina has been quilting a lot recently and has been reflecting on the parts of sewing she doesn’t really love and how it relates to the parts of a design business that are hard to do…not because they are undoable but because they are boring. Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
July 21 · 9 min
Episode 576 Charm Bracelet Reflections
Have you ever made a charm bracelet too fill, too big, or too tight? Carina talks about how building a charm bracelet is a lot like building your art or design business. Learn more in today’s jewelry inspired episode! Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
July 14 · 18 min
Episode 575 Layers to a Fabric Business with Jill Finley
Carina talks to fellow Riley Blake fabric designer Jill Finely. Learn how Jill works in fabric, retreats, notions, and so much more! This is a cut from an hour long interview Carina did with Jill for the University of Arts & Design’s DES 610 course. Learn more about Jill at https://www.jillilystudio.com/ Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
July 7 · 19 min
Episode 574 Being Brave with Amy Smart From UAD's DES 610 Course
Carina hosts Amy Smart for an indepth interview on starting and running a business for her DES 610 Creative Perspectives Course. This is a 15 minute cut from that interview for you to learn more about Amy and how to be brave. Learn more about Amy at https://www.diaryofaquilter.com/ Learn more about this course, degrees, and our new Continuing Education Program at the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Join a Design Bootcamp at www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
June 30 · 12 min
Episode 573 Learning By Doing
Carina has never believed in waiting until you feel ready. In this episode she talks about learning by doing, and why the creatives who just start making things beat the ones who wait until they think they know enough. Design Bootcamp: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/ Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
June 23 · 14 min
Episode 572 The Old Trout, The Young Trout, and the Salmon
There's an old Aesop fable about an old trout, a young trout, and a salmon. In this episode Carina connects it to where designers really are with AI right now, and what it means for anyone deciding whether to adapt. Design Bootcamp: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/ Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
June 16 · 23 min
Episode 571 The Series of Lucky Coincidences and Tiny Decisions That Led To Me Becoming A Designer
Carina didn’t start out with a desire to become a designer. In this episode she walks through the lucky coincidences and tiny decisions that changed her whole direction, and why the path almost never looks like you think it will. Design Bootcamp: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/ Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
June 9 · 17 min
Episode 570 Here What You Need To Know About the State of The Design Industry Right Now
Is design still worth it? Is AI about to take it all? Carina pulled some research along with her own AI experience to tell you what the state of the industry looks like right now. In this episode she breaks down what the research really says about design and business, where AI fits, and why the designers who get it are about to pull way ahead. Design Bootcamp: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/ Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
June 2 · 19 min
Episode 569 How Julianna Hukill Combined Quilting and Scrapbooking
Carina Gardner caught up with Julianna Hukill at H+H Americas in Chicago. Julianna is an MFA student at the University of Arts & Design, and she is bringing scrapbooking ideas into the quilting world. At the show she shared her new book written for quilters and showed off her 3D printed quilt blocks. She has been building a real design business while she earns her degree. In this episode, Julianna talks about how she blends quilting and scrapbooking into one creative practice. She shares the story behind her new book, why she started making her 3D printed quilt blocks, and what it really takes to grow a design business while you are still in school. Julianna's work: www.shaylily.com Design Bootcamp: designsuitecourses.com/designbootcamp University of Arts & Design: www.uad.education Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
May 26 · 8 min
Episode 568 Broadcasting From H + H Americas
Carina shares some of her thoughts from the Creator Studio at H + H Americas in Chicago May 2026. Learn more about the craft industry and university updates! Learn more about the University of Arts & Design at www.uad.education Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
May 19 · 32 min
Episode 567 How One Small Tip Tripled Barbie Mills' Business | H+H Americas 2026
Carina Gardner sits down with Barbie Mills, founder of the Quilting Mill, at H+H Americas 2026 in Chicago. Barbie has been longarm quilting since 2012 and designs modern digital pantographs for computerized longarm quilters. She sells her designs to quilters around the world and teaches pantograph design. She is also an MFA student at the University of Arts & Design. In this episode, Barbie talks about what makes her work stand out, why building a unique creative business is the key to real profits, and the one small tip from Carina that tripled her business. Visit the Quilting Mill: https://www.thequiltingmill.com Learn more about the University of Arts & Design: https://uad.education/ Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
May 12 · 24 min
Episode 565 University of Arts and Design Masterclass: What No One Tells You About Starting a Design Business
Join Carina today in this special episode where she talks about the 3 Gaps for designers, the three things no one tells you, and the research behind design and business education. Furthermore, Carina interviews graduate Katie Winn who talks about her experiences at the University of Arts & Design. Learn more about UAD's degrees and certificates at www.uad.education. Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
May 5 · 9 min
Episode 564 Don't Let Them Fool You. Everything is Always Changing.
Be wary of anyone who gives you a strategy and tells you it always works because if there is one thing Carina has learned it is that everything changes. Today Carina is at the H + H Show and she talks about the evolution of shows during her time in this business and changes she continues to see in the design and art industries. What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com University of Arts & Design: http://uad.education Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
April 28 · 37 min
Episode 563 Book Club From Sweet Life of A Designer Summit
Pulled from our March Sweet Life of A Designer Summit, this youtube live features some of our presenters “Favorite Books.” Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/live/JW9JZz5XRns?si=S08Bn_KfCgRMtJM3 What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com University of Arts & Design: http://uad.education Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional
April 21 · 11 min
Episode 562 Updates At The University of Arts & Design
Carina gives you some updates from the University of Arts & Design. As we approach the 2 years anniversary of the university, Carina talks about some of the discoveries and changes she is making to help create a better university. What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com University of Arts & Design: http://uad.education Get my free gift to you here: https://www.designsuitecourses.com/intentional

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