Make and Design with Carina Gardner
Carina Gardner unravels the everyday joys and dilemmas of design, making, and business. This inside scoop into fabric design, paper design, die cut design, and crafting will help bring more creativity and joy in your life. Carina Gardner has a Ph.D. in Design and was the Creative Director of Cartabella Paper Co. and MiniLou. She has designed everything from dishware to bracelets under her brand. She currently designs fabric and die cutting files while teaching other designers how to create meaningful design work while making a residual income online.
Episodes
558 episodes
Episode 531- Feeling Invisible? 3 Marketing Layers You Need
Tired of feeling like no one sees your work? In this episode, Carina Gardner reveals the three essential marketing layers every creative needs to get noticed, build an audience, and turn followers into customers. Simple, actionable steps to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 531
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9:49
Episode 530 - Is It Too Late To Start A Design Career?
Think you’ve missed your chance to become a designer? Think again. In this episode, Carina Gardner breaks down why it’s never too late to start a design career, the surprising advantages of starting later in life, and the exact steps to get ...
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Season 1
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Episode 530
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11:20
Episode 529 - Designing While Momming - How I Built My Business With Kids At Home
Balancing diapers and deadlines isn’t easy, but it’s possible—and even rewarding. In this episode, Carina Gardner shares how she built a thriving design business while raising kids at home. From time management hacks to mindset shifts, you’l...
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Season 1
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Episode 529
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19:17
Episode 528 Design Advice I Would Give My Younger Self
In this heartfelt episode, Carina Gardner shares the advice she wishes she could give her younger creative self—back when she was just starting out, full of passion but unsure of the path ahead.She opens up about the lessons sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 528
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10:32
Episode 527 Why Does Creative Potential Suffer?
Carina dives into a question that affects every artist and designer at some point: Why does creative potential suffer—even when we’re passionate, talented, and full of ideas?Carina unpacks the hidden barriers th...
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Season 1
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Episode 527
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25:50
Episode 526 How to Price Your Design Work When You're Just Starting Out
In this practical and empowering episode, Carina Gardner tackles one of the biggest challenges new designers face: pricing your work when you're just starting out.Carina walks listeners through the mindset shifts, mistakes to a...
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Season 1
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Episode 526
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14:55
Episode 525 Design Entrepreneurship & Leadership Skills You Can Learn to Do NOW with Vincent Wanga
In this dynamic episode, Carina Gardner sits down with designer and entrepreneur Vincent Wanga for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to lead in the creative world—starting right now.Tog...
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Season 1
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Episode 525
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30:12
Episode 524 Designing for Profit: Why Some Creatives Make It and Others Don’t
Carina knows in just a few sentences whether a designer is going to be profitable or not. Learn how she assesses a designer’s profitability in today’s episode.___________________________About Carina Gardner, Ph.D.:Carina...
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Season 1
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Episode 524
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8:56
Episode 523 3 Mistakes New Designers Make (and How to Avoid Them)
Are you a new designer finding the road a bit bumpy? Carina shares three common mistakes she sees new designers make—and how to fix them. These simple solutions can help you build a more successful design business!______________________...
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Season 1
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Episode 523
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11:10
Episode 522 Income for Designers: What Really Works in 2025
2025 has been an interesting year for designers. Carina works with hundreds of creatives through her university and Design Suite programs, giving her a front-row seat to what’s actually working right now. Learn more in today’s episode._____...
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Season 1
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Episode 522
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10:44
Episode 521 From Hobby to Business: Turning Your Design Skills Into Cash
What’s the difference between someone with a hobby and someone who wants a business from the thing they love? Carina shares the mindset shift you need to turn your design skills into cash.___________________________About Carina Gard...
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Season 1
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Episode 521
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14:47
Episode 520 How to Become a Graphic Designer and Work from Home
Want to become a graphic designer and work from home? In this episode, Carina shares the two paths she took to build a successful design career—while also staying home to raise her kids. Discover how she made it work, what she would do differen...
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Season 1
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Episode 520
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20:26
Episode 519 Dishing the Tea with Event Coordinator Sarah Cannon
In today’s episode, Carina and her event coordinator Sarah have a fun, honest, and laughter-filled conversation about the University of Arts & Design, family, and work. Watch the full episode on youtube at www.youtube.com/carinagardner. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 519
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1:00:44
Episode 518 Pull the Weeds, Water the Roots: How to Grow a Business That Lasts
Pull the Weeds, Water the Roots, and so much more! Carina gives her 10 tips for how to grow a business that lasts. These gardening tips will help you remember what you need to do to help sustain your design business even when things get toug...
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Season 1
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Episode 518
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22:27
Episode 517 The Marketing Dilemma for Designers
Carina explores the tricky balance between creativity and self-promotion. Carina dives into real stories, practical strategies, and expert insights to help designers market themselves without compromising their artistic integrity.
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Season 1
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Episode 517
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12:49
Episode 516 Dishing the Tea with Daughter Felicity
In this heartwarming episode, Carina sits down with her daughter Felicity for a candid chat about growing up with a mom who is a designer and business owner. From behind-the-scenes family moments to design inspiration, this mother-daughter d...
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Season 1
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Episode 516
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37:25
Episode 515 The Grasshopper and The Ant
Right now is the best season for designers to really bulk up their sales. As we prepare for the coming season we need to act more like the ant than the grasshopper in Aesop’s Fable. Learn more about how you can really prepare for winter (lit...
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Season 1
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Episode 515
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10:18
Episode 514 Recap of the Design Business Conference
This is a recap of the Design Business Conference we held at Ashton Gardens in Lehi Utah in March 2025. The original video can be found at youtube.com/carinagardner. Learn more abo...
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Season 1
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Episode 514
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12:01
Episode 513 Drowning in Too Much Too Do
Do you feel like you are drowning in your design business? Carina uses one way to make sure that she doesn’t spend every day putting out fires in her business. Instead she focuses on the things that are the most important. Use her tactic for...
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Season 1
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Episode 513
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18:21
Episode 512 Dishing the Tea with Daughter Felicity
Carina sits down with daughter Felicity to talk about growing up with a creative business household. Learn some of the sassy and sweet things Carina’s 17 year old has to say about design and business. This episode was originally aired on you...
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Season 1
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Episode 512
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17:31
Episode 511 Simple Traffic Tricks with Pinterest with Nadalie Bardo
Carina sits down with Pinterest expert Nadalie Bardo to dive into the powerful strategies she uses to drive traffic and grow a brand through Pinterest. Nadalie shares insider tips on optimizing pins, creating content that gets clicks, and le...
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Season 1
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Episode 511
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16:59
Episode 510 You Were Meant to Fly
In this episode, Carina shares an inspiring quote from Charlie Mackesy’s beloved book The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse and explores its deeper meaning. She reflects on the idea that we are all meant to "fly"—to...
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Season 1
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Episode 510
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9:30
Episode 509 5 Tips For Starting Your Design Business with the Design Suite Coaches
In this special episode, Carina sits down with her expert design coaches to share their top five tips for starting a successful design business. They break down the essential steps every new designer should take, from building a strong found...
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Season 1
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Episode 509
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10:22
Episode 508 4 Ways to Gamify Your Design Process
Struggling with the not-so-fun parts of the design process? In this episode, Carina shares four creative ways to gamify your workflow, keeping you motivated and inspired. From tackling design roadblocks to getting those perfect "dopamine hit...
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Season 1
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Episode 508
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13:21