Today we’re hearing from one of my favorite designers, one of the first I discovered when I learned about the Internet–ha! Can’t wait to hear more from Donna Wilson!
The Becoming series started in 2019. We wanted to hear from women in different walks of life and how they were approaching creativity, career goals, and more–mostly the WHY and HOW beneath it all. It’s been amazing to conduct these interviews and get a “behind the scenes” look at so many inspirational women like today’s, Donna Wilson. You can see them all here.
Donna Wilson, originally from Scotland, founded her eponymous studio in London in 2003 after studying at the Royal College of Art. She started out creating whimsical and fantastical knitted creatures and expanded into colorful homeware, knitwear, and accessories. She was crowned Elle Decoration’s Designer of the Year in 2010 and has collaborated with loads of excellent brands like Hermès, Merci, LeSportsac, the V&A, Cooper Hewitt Museum and more. She places an emphasis on using traditional methods and locally sourced suppliers.
I originally found Donna Wilson in the early days of the Internet when I was first forming my aesthetic identity and she played a major role in helping me see that you can turn your style into a whole world. I’ve been a big fan for years so I’m honored to have her here today! And she was so kind to do an interview of me over on hers as well where I showcased how I’m using her products in my home. You can read more about it here!
What do you consider yourself? Example: Artist, designer, illustrator, maker, business person, educator, etc.?
Designer and Business person, I recently have a new title at work, which is creative director, so that’s good too!
Where did you grow up? Were there aspects of your childhood that have influenced what you do now?
I grew up on a farm in rural Aberdeenshire, Northeast Scotland. I spent a lot of my childhood outdoors with animals and nature, and even into my teenage years, I remember walking around the fields with my Sony Walkman belting out the Smashing Pumpkins !
I think that’s why I have an affinity with nature and remember closely studying plants, colour, skies and contrasts, when I was drawing or painting. I have loved drawing and making things since I can remember, and was never happier when I had a pen and paper in my hands. In fact I can’t believe I didn’t burn our house down as my mum let me set up a candle making factory in the attic complete with a gas burner to heat up the wax. I’d spend hours and hours making different coloured candles and selling them to local craft shops, throughout my teenage years!
What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?
When I was young I didn’t think a career in Art/Design was possible or available to me so I think I thought I’d be a vet or something to do with animals, or work in a shop!
What sparked your interest in design?
My grandma was a really special person to me, she was an amateur artist, and she’d sit me and my sister down and teach us how to paint, she’s gently critique our work, so we really learned, and then she’d get our painting framed to show in our local art show. I remember when I was about 11, I sold a drawing for £50 and I think something clicked,I thought, wow I can make money from this!
What are three words to describe your style?
Playful, colourful, sustainable.
What is your educational background and how has it shaped or changed your current career?
I studied Textiles in Aberdeen and I remember being told that I was no good at 3D (I’ve showed them!). I remember loving creating a fabric from a strand of yarn, and dictating its colour, pattern, texture. I then moved to London in 2000 and worked for 2 years,it was great experience, but I did realise I didn’t really like being told what to do… so the idea of being my own boss started to appeal! I then decided I’d like to do an MA at the Royal College of Art. It was here that I really found my niche, I had started making dolls , nicknamed Donna Dolls, in between my first and second year.
I’d scour the local charity shops trying to find old sweaters in various skin tones, and use that as a base, knitting clothing and accessories for them. My tutor, Freddie Robins, encouraged me to start taking them around some stores, and trying to sell them, and at one point I was paying my rent with my doll income!
What inspired you to become an artist?
And how did that transfer into starting your namesake company? I think for me I knew I wanted to do something that was more than a 9-5 job, I was used to work being more like a lifestyle, as my parents are Farmers. So I knew I’d have to find something I was passionate about, it’s the dream!
What is one project that you are especially proud of and why?
I started in 2003 so I’ve been lucky to have had quite a few! I think one of the proudest moments would be my 20 year show, where we set up a shop/ installation/ retrospective. The front of the store was a giant knitted nose, with two huge eyes in the windows. I was completely burnt out by the time the show opened, It was a lot of work! But when I walked in on the first day, I was greeted with enormous knitted trees, a wall of all the creatures and about 30 women that used to work with me from past to present, it was a very humbling moment.
Where do you find inspiration?
Nature, animals, things that I see around me, from packaging, to a little house on a hill in the middle of nowhere. Traveling is also very good as I think when you see things for the first time something happens inside the brain!
How do you make social connections in the creative realm?
I think like minded people somehow are drawn to each other, I guess social media helps with that. But before that world opened up we used to go to shop openings and exhibitions which was always fun.
What artists and creatives do you look up to, both historical and present?
Alexander Girard- love his textiles and objects, Stig Limburg- again beautiful colour, I have a bowl of his which is one of my most treasured possessions. Present : Yinka Ilori’s installations, Morag Myerscough, ………
What books, movies, shows, or music are making you excited these days?
I’m not a big reader, I just don’t seem to have time, but I do love watching films, normally with my kids. However, I always love anything Wes Anderson (obviously!) I loved the nostalgia of the series Sex Education , fantastic visually as well as comically. Loved Poor Things, so weird and the costumes and sets were incredible.
What is a piece of advice that you have carried with you and who is it from?
Probably a bit of flippant comment from my dad who is a farmer – “Donna just make sure you sell things for more than it costs you to make!” So obvious, but at the time I was making a pom-pom tea cosy and by the time I’d sold one I was making minus £5 !
On the flip side, is there a comment or critique that motivated you to do something differently?
All the time! I think it’s so important to keep evolving.
What is your workspace like?
We have recently renovated our house in East London (still not finished!) so I have a new workspace in the loft, which has really big windows and a long table down the length of it with drawers for all the old drawings I’ve done underneath. I love working there as the walls are plain plaster colour, and with the beautiful light I feel like I can think and focus. The studio where we all work from in Bethnal Green East London seems to be the complete opposite. We have a large space, but it’s packed to the rafters with stock, samples, people, creatures. It’s a fun creative place, but can be a bit overload sometimes!
Describe some habits that keep you motivated and productive. How do you climb out of a creative slump?
It happens a lot, and it’s the most painful thing! I normally have to sit and work my way out of it, which is sometimes very frustrating when time is poor and ideas/designs don’t come immediately, but I have grown better at trusting the process and knowing that eventually something will come, so I tend to draw or print, and a lot of rubbish comes out, and eventually something works, and when it works you know!
What is a typical day like for you?
I get my kids ready for school, and that sometimes involves a lot of chaos and shouting (I’m not proud of that!) then I’ll head into work ( Studio in Bethnal green) I have a wonderful team, so I really enjoy going in and seeing first hand what everyone is doing. I’ll try to sit down with most people if they need me to, but mainly I work with Lottie, our designer, and we have lots of fun discussions, when we both get inspiration, it can get quite exciting! Once she gets going, I normally work on emails or spreadsheets etc. It would be great to have a bit more of a work life balance, but I’m sure this will come! I’m still very grateful to be creating things that I absolutely love.
What is one skill you wished you learned when you were younger?
Wouldn’t it be fantastic to be musical? To play and spread joy that way!! But I wasn’t blessed with the patience to learn that.
Is there anything more you would like to “become?”
I’m pretty content, but I’d love to do a course in brick laying and be able to build walls and a barbecue area in our garden!
What’s next for Donna Wilson?
Just to keep going for another 20 years! I think there’s always an urge to grow and get bigger and bigger, but I am quite happy to stay the same making sure we are sustainable and progressive. I love producing products that make people smile, encouraging creativity, and if I can do this in a conscious way, whilst working with great suppliers and stockists, I would say that I would be very happy with that!
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