Ulla Clark
i. I work as a: Screenprinter and graphic/product designer.
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ii. I do this creative work because:
I enjoy working with my hands and being able to live and work on my own terms while also expressing my creativity in what I do.
I enjoy working with my hands and being able to live and work on my own terms while also expressing my creativity in what I do.
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iii. Personal qualities that help me in my work are:
Ability to problem solve, hustle, self-motivation, multi-tasking, love to learn new techniques, processes and skills, as well as find ways to constantly be creative.
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iv. The greatest challenges around doing this work are:
Similar to above, finding ways to constantly be creative, as well as the constant hustle of being a (creative) small business owner that relies on their own ideas and creations to make a living. This can be empowering as well as terrifying.
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v. Creative childhood hobbies:
I constantly sewed outfits for my dolls as well as built things with my hands. My parents always had us working on projects that required hammers and nails and my sisters and I learned early on that we were capable of using our hands to create.
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vi. Other creators who inspire you:
Both past and present designers and creators I admire include Lucienne Day, Maija Isola, Stig Linberg, Sanna Annika, Orla Kiely, Alvar Aalto, and many more. On a more local level, I admire the many creators that are doing what I am also trying to do, which is creating and making a living while also raising a family and enjoying this life right now in the present. A show I take part in called Shiny Fuzzy Muddy, every December, has a slew of these amazing people in its lineup that inspire me to keep on going in this line of work/life.
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vii. Training that has helped me in this career:
I was initially educated in Forestry and Science, but switched careers in my late 20’s after 15 years in that field. This training and work taught me about hard work and perserverence, as it was long days, outside in nature, often working alone for days on end. This is not unlike being a creative and working as a designer/maker with your own company. Many aspects of it cross over. I have also been trained in screenprinting and am a self-taught graphic designer/illustrator.
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viii. A common trap that can hurt people in this career:
I am not sure there is one common trap, but in my field of screeprinting and design, it is a long hard road to become an established designer and a skilled screenprinter where it is possible to make a living.
I am not sure there is one common trap, but in my field of screeprinting and design, it is a long hard road to become an established designer and a skilled screenprinter where it is possible to make a living.
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ix. Some proud career moments:
-Having photos of my work published in some magazines early on in my design career, such as Dwell, House and Home, Style at Home.
-Working with a number of Art galleries and Museums on custom designs over the last few years has been really enjoyable.
-Working as the main designer for Ontario Parks merchandise collection over the past 5 years, and more recently creating the designs for their Crest Project this past year where I designed a Crest for every park in the Province (over 100) and created a Passport booklet for people to collect the crests in. This project challenged me to dig deep to constantly be creative, as well as work with a large organization with deadlines and input on what I was creating.
-Having photos of my work published in some magazines early on in my design career, such as Dwell, House and Home, Style at Home.
-Working with a number of Art galleries and Museums on custom designs over the last few years has been really enjoyable.
-Working as the main designer for Ontario Parks merchandise collection over the past 5 years, and more recently creating the designs for their Crest Project this past year where I designed a Crest for every park in the Province (over 100) and created a Passport booklet for people to collect the crests in. This project challenged me to dig deep to constantly be creative, as well as work with a large organization with deadlines and input on what I was creating.
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x. If you want to work in my field, I suggest that you:
Are open to adjusting your path and goals along the way. This has been a key for me to keep doing this for the past 16 years.
Are open to adjusting your path and goals along the way. This has been a key for me to keep doing this for the past 16 years.
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xi. A professional goal I have for the future:
Continue collaborating with others on designs and products as I have realised this is what I really enjoy.
Continue collaborating with others on designs and products as I have realised this is what I really enjoy.
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xii. If you want to see my work, go to:
Locally:
Walrus
Van Art Gallery
Audain Museum
Blue in Tofino
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www.creatorsvancouver.com
