My Design Approach
For as long as I can remember I have loved working with my hands and making things. My earliest memories of making art reach back to me crafting handmade Christmas presents as a young girl, when tiny cross-stitched pillows and drawings of cats seemed like perfect gifts to me. To this day, the spirit of play and of giving remain at the core of my design practice, and form the basis of why I love creating products that are both beautiful and useful. My inner wide-eyed muse remains curious to explore, to learn and to express the silent magic that resides in between things.
As a designer, I am drawn to a vast variety of mediums such as photography, collage, painting, screen and block printing, linocut and hand dyeing techniques. I enjoy continuously expanding my artistic vocabulary, and this interest in cross-pollination has always reflected in my life as a whole.
My Background
I was born and raised in Germany, but decided at 19 to move myself to New York City and pursue a creative life as a professional dancer, when music and movement were my primary creative language. Throughout an adventurous 13-year career in the fashion and music industries, I had the opportunity to work with some of the most influential taste makers and global brands. This experience in advertising and the entertainment industry informs my current approach to design, branding and visual storytelling in a distinctive way. I have developed an affinity for visual narratives and gained immense insight into the creative collaboration process. My key conclusion after working with a vast variety of creative teams in many different contexts, is that authenticity, integrity and innovation are at the heart of any meaningful creative storytelling that translates into genuine connection and brand longevity — and that the process is as significant as its results.
After my first career, I engaged more deeply with my practice as a visual artist and completed a B.F.A. in Textile/Surface Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. As a Textile Designer, I am reconnected to my passion for tactile art making, and I seek to invoke joy, confidence and a dose of whimsy with my designs. I am greatly inspired by fine art and nature, and I love to play with color, texture and abstraction in my work. I currently develop design direction and custom artwork for apparel products and home goods through my design studio, to help brands define and implement their creative visions from a print and pattern design perspective.
My Vision
Every day, I strive to cultivate a joyful, creative life that is directed by my values — I strive for meaning, connection, originality and sustainability and I believe that a circular economy is our future. I am a plant-mom and cat-lover, living and working in Brooklyn, Berlin and Mexico.
I can’t wait to hear from you and I am so excited to start working together. Reach out to me today about collaborations, custom design work, creative projects or any other inquiries at susannevogeldesign@gmail.com or use the form below.
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