The Card Designer Highlight is a collection that includes unbiased makers whose greeting playing cards you will discover in Paper Supply shops. Meet and be impressed by a brand new designer each month on our weblog!
This month we wish to introduce our card designer Kim Burks of Ramona & Ruth. Learn how touring and discovering magnificence on the earth has impressed Kim to create one among a form stationery for day by day, intentional moments.
How did you start your card-making profession?
I started my stationery enterprise again in 2009 within the spare bed room of my home with a candy little tabletop letterpress that took me a full yr to seek out. Earlier than beginning my stationery enterprise, I used to be in a company design job that left me feeling bored and lifeless. Though I realized rather a lot and it was an effective way to start out my profession, I knew it was one thing I didn’t wish to do long-term as I wished to start out a enterprise of my very own. Two years in, I made the leap and began my marriage ceremony invitation enterprise whereas additionally working part-time at a espresso store. I labored the open shift (5am – midday), after which devoted my afternoons to rising my invitation enterprise. Placing collectively my passions for design and paper appeared like a match made in heaven! At the moment, my enterprise appears to be like a lot completely different as I’ve shifted in direction of greeting playing cards and desk objects and not supply customized companies. I completely love this trade and the folks I’ve met alongside the best way.
The place do you draw inspiration from?
Touring conjures up me immensely. With my thoughts at relaxation and free from my common routine, together with the publicity to completely different environments, that’s when my artistic concepts begin flowing. Most of my concepts stem from what I personally wish to see on the earth. That’s how my Day by day Overview Notepad was created. I couldn’t discover a notepad that integrated productiveness in a easy, simple method whereas additionally leaving house for taking a pause all through your day – whether or not that be setting an intention or a second of gratitude. So I created this notepad, and it’s been rewarding to see it resonate with others as effectively.
What does your day appear like as a card maker and designer?
I really like waking up early. Largely to take pleasure in a bit of alone time earlier than my household wakes up. If it’s in the course of the college yr, my husband and I take our boys to high school collectively after which normally have a fast espresso date after drop off. As soon as I get into the studio, I do a fast e-mail examine after which fill out my high 3 priorities for the day to ensure I keep on observe with my targets. Every single day is completely different, but it surely normally entails creating new merchandise, discussing studio happenings with my staff, and producing advertising content material. Once I first began, I did every part myself, from printing playing cards to images and order achievement. Now, I’m lucky to have constructed a tremendous staff that permits me to concentrate on what I really like most: designing and creating merchandise.
What’s your most well-liked medium?
Once I first began, each card I created was printed on my letterpress. Whereas we nonetheless print our letterpress playing cards in-house, I’ve begun incorporating extra colour and experimenting with completely different mediums that permit for limitless colour use. With letterpress, you print one colour at a time and should be considerate in regards to the variety of colours you employ, or you’ll have to run the cardboard by way of a loopy quantity of occasions to realize the specified impact. At the moment, I additionally use Adobe Fresco to create my designs, which actually streamlines my artistic course of and permits me to play with all various kinds of brushes and colours.
What does your artistic course of appear like?
I create product releases 3 occasions per yr, so I carve out time to design at these occasions. I create in chunks. I’m continuously jotting down concepts as they arrive to thoughts and create temper boards with kinds and colours so when the time involves launch new merchandise, I’m not left watching a clean display. For my greeting playing cards, since I comply with a sure launch schedule, it offers me a framework of what themes I needs to be specializing in, resembling Mom’s Day, Christmas, Love playing cards, and so forth. From there I merely take into consideration what I might ship to my family and mates.
What are you most happy with as a creator and card maker?
I’m most happy with having the ability to impression lives with my stationery merchandise. Once I began this enterprise, I didn’t understand how a lot my merchandise would imply to others. Serving to somebody discover the phrases to specific sentiments they could not have been in a position to verbalize is actually particular. The impression can are available a wide range of varieties. I keep in mind studying a buyer’s remark that stated one among my journals was serving to her by way of chemo. It was then that I actually understood that I may contact somebody’s life with one among my creations.
I’m additionally happy with how I’ve constructed my enterprise steadily and slowly. Typically it’s exhausting to go searching and see different’s successes and the way they’re rising at a faster charge than you, however wanting again, I’m comfortable I took it gradual. This has allowed me to construct a powerful enterprise basis whereas additionally permitting me to be current with my household. I’m actually proud to consider how far I’ve come!
Any private tidbits? Particular skills/enjoyable information?
I really obtained my first order from Paper Supply in 2014 the night time earlier than my son was born. I used to be thrilled as a result of Paper Supply was one among my dream shops. Nonetheless, the joy shortly turned to panic as I used to be a one-woman operation on the time and nervous about how I used to be going to meet the order. Fortunately, with the assistance of my mother and greatest buddy, we made it occur!
If I wasn’t a card designer, I believe I might be an expert organizer! I completely love to arrange, from drawers to closets, you title it, I get such a cost out of it. I suppose it’s one other method of bringing magnificence into the world!
Discover Ramona & Ruth playing cards and desk provides, resembling Straightforward to Have a good time Birthday Card and At the moment Block Notepad at your native retailer or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, comply with @ramonaandruth on IG.
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