Make and Design with Carina Gardner

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 & Desig...

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.designsuitecour...

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.designsuiteco...

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.des...

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/de...

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, Juli...

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

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 ta...

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 y...

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 & De...

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

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/in...

Pulled from our March Sweet Life of A Designer Summit, this youtube live features some of our presenters “Favorite Things.” Watch the full video at https://www.youtube.com/live/iX6Fv-BVKLc?si=Gr42NqNCblCmhuWS. 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

Carina breaks down the 9 essential elements in The Anatomy of a Product That Sells and shows you how to elevate your design products. Links to help new designers: 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

Each spring, Carina conducts a “spring edit” across her shops. In today’s episode, she shares how she approaches it and what she chooses to do and not do to keep the process manageable. Links to help new designers: 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

Carina is currently teaching a Design Leadership class at the University of Arts & Design, which has prompted her to reflect on the lessons she has learned as a leader. Learn more in today’s episode. Links to help new designers: 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/inten...

Winning is rarely about talent, luck, or working more hours. In this episode, we break down the three things consistently happening behind the scenes for creatives and entrepreneurs who are actually moving forward and seeing results. Join Carina as she tells you what she is seeing from successful designers. Links to help new designers: What’s New: https://www.carinagardner.com University of Arts &...

Most creatives think productivity comes from working harder or longer. In this episode, we flip that idea on its head. A defined design process is what creates clarity, momentum, and finished work you can actually use and sell. This episode is for designers, artists, and makers who feel scattered, overwhelmed, or stuck starting over every time they sit down to create.  Links to help new designers:...

Carina’s guest Elizabeth Chappell is the founder of Quilter’s Candy. She helps creatives write sewing patterns and build their businesses. She talks about the pivots she made in her business and how she has simplified to make more. Learn more about Elizabeth: Website: https://quilterscandy.com/  Waitlist for Quilt Pattern Writing Course: https://quilterscandy.myflodesk.com/kickstart-event Instagra...

Transformation is not just about changing habits. It is about changing how you see yourself. In this episode, we explore what real transformation actually requires and why most people struggle to become who they say they want to be. If you feel called toward a different version of yourself but are unsure how to get there, this episode will help you understand what needs to change first. Get Carina...

This is a transparent and reflective episode about what is truly happening behind the scenes at Design Suite and the University of Arts & Design. Carina talks honestly about growth, challenges, decisions, and the realities of building educational institutions and creative programs at scale.  This conversation is for anyone building something meaningful who wants a realistic look at leadership,...

Owning a business is often portrayed as freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment, but the reality is more nuanced. In this episode, Carina talks honestly about what business ownership actually requires and why simplicity is often the missing ingredient. If you are running a business or thinking about starting one, this episode offers clarity without hype and truth without discouragement. Get Carina’s...

Creativity often gets all the attention, but clarity is what actually moves ideas forward. In this episode, Carina explores why clarity matters more than creativity when you are building meaningful work, making decisions, and leading a business or creative practice. This episode is for designers, artists, and entrepreneurs who feel busy but unfocused and want a calmer, more intentional way to move...

Designers often think they need more talent, better tools, or the perfect strategy. But what if the real issue is attention? In this episode, we explore why attention is one of your most limited creative resources and how splitting it between fear, comparison, and pressure quietly sabotages your work. Drawing from psychology and neuroscience, we talk about why mindset gets in the way of clarity, w...

Carina has fellow designer Lori Whitlock on to talk about Japan and design! Learn how both of us started our businesses! You can watch the entire episode at youtube.com/carinagardner .  Get Carina’s new book The Intentional Design Year here:  Paperback: https://amzn.to/43XTRLG Hardback: https://amzn.to/4isrefm Prompt Journal Paperback: https://amzn.to/4osha7J Prompt Journal Hardback: https://amzn....