Say hi to Jasmine Mansbridge

Where did you grow up, and what was it like?

I was born in Brisbane, and my family moved every couple of years. Eventually, we settled in Katherine in the Northern Territory, where I lived until I was 26. 

My father was a teacher, so I had a variety of regular school and alternative education and home school experiences. Overall, I found it hard to sit still and was often in trouble in High School.

I left pretty early, higher education in Katherine was not the focus for most people. I got married when I was 17 and had my first daughter when I was 18. This was when I started doing my art with some focus and intensity. Starting a habit of painting at night that has not ever really left.

What do you do, and how did you get into this industry?

I am a painter and also more and more working with large scale and installation work. By being so obsessed, I couldn’t do anything else.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I am travelling a bit to paint and organise projects etc., so I have a big picture routine to deal with. I am in the studio or the kitchen mostly, cooking and preparing for my absence and painting for shows etc. which I can’t do when I am on the road. I have five children, the younger three only left at home and it is a very full life to keep it all going.

 What have been some of the biggest challenges in your career?

Lack of finances, my own feelings of parental guilt and the mental load, other people not understanding my big picture, fear of failure, tiredness!

Best creative memory?

I am on a high every time I sell work and know I can make something I want to happen. Proper highs though would be New York Art Fair, painting in Hong Kong and in Beijing. I love that awful yet alive feeling of being out of my comfort zone.

What do you love best about your job?

That it is just me being the best version of me.

What do you get up to when not working?

Parenting, running, looking at art, bushwalking, but my art takes most of my time, and that’s ok. Everything is generally in some way related to the work.

What’s on the horizon for the future?

I have said yes to many things this year, so the next big thing is London, then an exhibition in August opening at 19 Karen Gallery. I am travelling to paint with Schools in Ethiopia! Many things plus more I will no doubt decide to squeeze in!

If you had any creative business advice, what would it be?

Do you bookwork/tax even well before you make money. Be prepared to work harder than you would at any other job. Back yourself. Get out of your comfort zone, do the things that make you want to throw up.

If you could be anyone else for a day, who would it be and why?

I would happily take some of Angelina Jolie's staff. Make clothes and pick Vivienne Westward’s brain and have coffee with Patti Smith!

How to collaborate: The Design Co-op pop up

The Design Co-op cast of designers. Photo: Elizabeth Bull.

The Design Co-Op, spearheaded by photographer Elizabeth Bull of One Fine Print and furniture designer Anne-Claire Petre of Anaca Studio, unites 14 local Melbourne design businesses - including many CWC Members - to create an exciting bespoke event over three days in Melbourne. 

We spoke to Liz and Anne to get their hot tips for a successful pop-up event and creative collaboration.

What can people expect from visiting The Design Co-op?

In selecting a variety of local brands and business, we aim to inspire our visitors with products they may not have had the chance to experience in a home situation before. We’d like people to feel like they’ve been welcomed into a friend’s place. 

We wanted to take out the showroom vibes and create a space that is open and non-competitive. The showcase has been designed by our three interior guest designers who have blended products from the 15 local Melbourne design businesses. 

The Design Co-op is about strengthening the existing design community, encourage the growth of new networks, promote boutique local design brands, and offer interactive learning opportunities for both industry professionals and the design-savvy public.  

In creating this event we are also bringing together a pool of knowledge and information that we felt should be shared and create a diverse and interesting event. We will feature 5 panel events with a total of 20 speakers from the interior design, architecture and design magazine industry.

Anne-Claire Petre and Elizabeth Bull. Photo: Elizabeth Bull.

The Co-Op has a unique link to Creative Women’s Circle. Tell us about that.

Anne-Claire Petre and I originally met through CWC many years ago at a morning tea. We then collaborated on a temporary pop up retail space last year. 

When designing and organising this event we naturally started thinking about our networks and people we knew that we could contact to come on board. It made sense to reach out to other CWC members. We couldn’t believe how many CWC connections we already both had! It made organising the event that much easier and fun working with other like minded CWC members. 

The Design Co-Op has now utilised the services of Jo Hoban for press and pr writing, Fiona Brand for graphic design, Camilla Molders is a speaker on one of our educational speaker panels and Hannah Fox’s beautiful artwork will be showcased throughout the event. We were fortunate to meet all of these lovely ladies through CWC. 

One Fine Print and Anaca Studio have collaborated on a pop-up before. What did you both learn from your first pop-up that influenced your plans this time around?

Three months was a bit long, so do the same in three days?! 

In all seriousness, we really enjoyed the experience of collaborating and found that it was really powerful way to work. We were curious to see what would happen if we collaborated with more people and were eager to share the positive experience we’d had and involve more creatives. We really took that idea and ran with it as we realised the other day there are 35 people taking part in the Design Co-Op! 

There’s real power in collaborations. Although it sounds a bit cliche, we were amazed by the positive response we’ve had from everyone we put the idea forward. Small businesses and brands are keen to get together to not only increase their visibility but to also share, connect and engage.  

There’s a rich program of talks and panel discussions during the The Design Co-op. What do you hope to achieve in this outlet?

We hope to have open and engaging discussions about the design industry and about how design affects us all in all walks of life. We want our audience to feel like they can share, learn and ask questions.

The panels are about getting conversations going around subjects that affects us all in some way or other whether we are in the design industry or not. 

Design is around us at all time. In furniture, objects, architecture, interiors and art, but do we really understand the impact it has on us? How do we chose what goes into our homes? What’s the definition of a home these days? These are questions we hope to have answered in many ways over the week-end.    

The Co-Op showcases majority female designers and creatives. What have you learned from or about observing other women in business that has helped you in your own ventures?

Women are doers. When they have something in mind, they just get on to it and give it a go. 

However we have noticed there can also be a lot of self doubt and insecurity at times. That’s where the beauty of collaborating comes in. When either of us is feeling a bit doubtful or lack confidence we just tell each other it’s not a thing and to press on. 

A great thing about women in business is that the element of pride is relatively non existent. In a way it’s really empowering. It means women do really try anything as we’re not scared of losing face. Basically “Dust yourself off and try again” kind of attitude. 

Your top tips for collaboration in creative industries?

• Look for creatives that have a similar vision and values that are aligned with your own.

• Split tasks between collaborators to lighten the load and be clear on who is doing what so you don’t end up doubling up.

• Work out who is best at what task, sometimes it just falls into place but if not make sure you define everyone's roles clearly.

• Meet regularly to help you stay on track.

• Use cloud based documents and calendars that are easily accessible by everyone.

• Trust your instincts. If somewhere along the line something doesn't feel right, it might be best to draw a line.

The Design Co-op runs for three days, 23-25 March 2018 at 19 Ireland St North Melbourne, Vic. See more on Instagram via @thedesignco_op.

Tips for launching a new creative venture

Is your dream for 2018 to finally launch your creative business? We asked four creative business owners (and CWC members) from a range of industries to share their top tips for getting a venture off the ground.

It’s never too late

Kellie Robinson, photographer and owner of Colour of Life Photography

Kellie Robinson Photo by Vicky Palmieri Photography

I am a lifestyle photographer based in Trafalgar, Gippsland, and I launched my business, Colour of Life Photography, in 2013. Photography has been my passion for—eek—25 years, but I fell into an unrelated field after my schooling. The arrival of my children made me determined to make my hobby a career. I still marvel that I get to do this every day and that I built this myself.

What do you wish you knew when you launched your business?

That I didn’t have to spend all the money and have all the gear. If I had kept it simple from the beginning and stuck with what my heart was telling me, I wouldn’t have done a big circle back to where I began (with lifestyle photography). By keeping it simple and perfecting the gear that I had, I would have saved a lot of money, time and effort. But then again, it brought me to where I am now, so all lessons are good, aren’t they?

What has been your biggest obstacle and how are you overcoming it?

Seeing myself as an artist. I studied photography when I was in high school but I never considered myself an artist. I can’t paint… I can’t draw… I just like taking photos. I still have that stuck in my brain. It took me over twenty years to call myself a photographer and I still pinch myself when I do, so baby steps for me I guess. In the meantime, I’m continuing to educate myself and practice my craft. If I have learnt anything, it is that it is never too late. It wasn’t too late for me to make my hobby a career and it won’t be too late for me to call myself an artist when the time comes.

What is the best advice you received when launching your business?

Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to seek out support from like-minded people. You don’t have to sit in solitude if you are a solo entrepreneur—there are so many supportive individuals out there to help you in all aspects of your business.   

Photo by Kellie Robinson

Delegate and trust

Suzan Freeman, owner of Where Things Happen letterpress print and design studio

My love of letterpress printing began in the 1990s while studying design at the University of Newcastle. After graduating, I escaped to Sydney and London, working in print (packaging, design and advertising) and later at integrated agencies. Since moving back to Newcastle and becoming a mother, my desire to build a business doing something I loved became very important to me. I thought it would mean saying adios to the long hours and stress of working for the big fellas (she says typing at 11pm on a Monday night).

In 2011, a designer friend and I found an 1852 Albion hand press for sale in a scrap metal yard on the outskirts of Newy. We fell in love. Since then, I have been gifted a 1920s Arab treadle press and managed to buy a black ball 1940s Heidelberg platen. I love working with each press, finding out about its individual abilities and temperaments. I also love collaborating with other creatives who have a passion for making things happen. Every day is different. I hope I never stop learning and evolving.

What do you wish you knew when you launched your business?

I wish I had more confidence in my own abilities. It’s taken many hours of unpaid work to develop the techniques and an understanding of each press; sometimes there aren’t enough hours in a day.

What has been your biggest obstacle and how are you overcoming it?

Knowledge. There are fewer and fewer people to ask. Some retired printers are amazing and have gone out of their way to help me, while others are simply not interested. Let’s face it, it’s a male dominated industry and I’m regularly asked if I have a handy boyfriend or husband (insert eye roll).

What is the best advice you received when launching your business?

You can’t do everything, so find help from people who are specialists in their own areas. Delegate and trust.

Letterpress work by Where Things Happen.

Don't take on projects that don't feel right

Allison Smith, architect and director of Studio 15b

Studio 15b is a small architecture and interior design practice. I started the business as the founding director in 2013. We aim to provide a practical approach with our small team giving personalised service and individual attention to each project. We have a wide variety of experience in residential, multi-residential and business fit-out projects.

What do you wish you knew when you launched your venture?

Being the sole director of the business means you can never totally switch off. It’s difficult to take a holiday without having to do some work and to keep one eye on the business. This is one aspect for people to consider before taking the big step of starting a business. On the reverse side, there are many advantages, such as having the flexibility to work the hours and times that suit my lifestyle. I’m very glad to have taken the plunge.

What has been your biggest obstacle, and how are you trying to overcome it?

Having a baby while running a business. I managed the hardest part by being extremely organised, having huge commitment to the challenge (working nights, weekends and any chance I got), dedicated staff plus a supportive husband and grandparents.

What is the best advice you received when launching your venture?

An older, wiser architect once said to me, 'Don’t take on projects that don’t feel right for whatever reason.' He said you are better off sitting on a beach earning nothing and enjoying life rather than dealing with people who don’t respect you or projects that are not adding value to your business in some way.

The Golf House project by Studio 15b. Photo by Christopher Frederick Jones