What is your occupation now?
I am the founder, designer and owner of accessories label 'Augusta Wind' and also an art teacher at Codarts and WdKA.
As a designer I am always working on new designs and always looking for inspiration; I get inspired by scanning people on the street, magazines, going to exhibitions and performances. As an owner I am constantly looking for the opportunities and solutions for all the challenges you face as a small business owner.
And as a teacher I am trying to understand what art education is all about, what creative process consists of and ponder on the new approach towards art teaching in general.
What expertise did you gain at WdKA?
The WdKA opened up my view on art education and I gained skills in a lot of new techniques. Art school is amazing, you might not realise it that much when you are there, but it is a very special time. You are given so many opportunities! For one, you are surrounded by people with the same passion, the same interests and drive. You are young and still full of power and ideals. There is so much to learn and you have all the opportunities to do it.
What is the future of your profession in your opinion?
There's a lot going on in fashion, the system is changing because people are becoming aware of the mass production, its superficialness and the true cost of it. I believe that in the future we will return to what fashion once was, which is more about quality and art. We want the pieces of design not to just be a dress, a shirt, a bag. We want them to be fairly made of good quality materials, practical, but most of all, we want them to be unique!
In education I believe the same thing is happening, it is not interesting to teach a standard programme, I believe it is better to teach thinking differently and finding own fascination and give students the opportunity to build on it.
You never leave your house without…?
An open and sharp mind and attitude. I am always interested in new things, people and ideas and want people to feel free to come up and talk to me any time. I love to comprehend the way people think and see things, but I am always critical and like to stir things up to sharpen them.
Oh, and off course I will always bring one of my accessories!
Any words of advice to future students?
Go for it, dive in, never hold back, it's now! Mistakes are a way to find a different answer and that is creativity!
Name your favourite recent project.
At the moment I am working on new designs. Inspiration comes from different cultures and people who feel free to express themselves by dressing up or by decorating for celebrations and rituals. Now I am making prints and design with African masks and rituals. I have just finished a series of Augusta Wind Piñatas. The inspiration came from traditional Mexican Piñata and the pieces are bags and art pieces in one. At the moment, a series of three just came back after being displayed in Soho, New York.
