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| Kris DeGraeve Interview |
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| Interview By: Ali Willard Interview on: Kris DeGraeve www.lusterstudio.com |
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| Ali: What's your name? Kris: Kris DeGraeve Ali: Where were you born? Kris: Waterloo, Iowa A: Where do you live now? K: Cedar Falls, Iowa A: What is your job exactly? K: I design one of a kind and limited edition jewelry. I sell it through my website and a few boutiques. A: Whar is a typical day on the job for you like? K: I get up around 7 or 8, check the emails from the night before, browse a few message boards/news sites, and eat breakfast. I spend most of the day running errands, shipping orders, ordering materials, replying to emails, and dealing with other typical business requirements. I design best at night, so I eat dinner an dtake a little time to do non business things, then, later in the evening, I design new pieces, make jewelry to fill orders, update my web page, and answer any emails that require a lot of creative energy. I usually go to bed at 1 or 2 in the morning. A: What kind of schooling did you go through to become what you are today? K: I started making jewelry some time around the age of 8 or 10. I wrote my first business plan as part of an independent study course in high school. I recieved an art scholarship at the Universiry of Northern Iowa so I studied art instead of business(the scholarship made the choice for me). I took a wide variety of classes in college, not just art classes- textile and apparel, business, science, and dance. This was very important because I had the advantage of looking at art from a lot of different perspectives. A: How long was your training/education? K: I spent 4 years in college, but I've been studying art and business on my own pretty much all my life. A: How much money do you say you make a year in your job? K: It's hard to say. Every day is different- some days I have a lot of orders, and sometimes I go weeks with hardly any orders. I'm making enough to pay the bills and keep my business going, and it's getting better all the time. A: Do you have any past jobs in this field? K: No, not really. I do have parents who run a small business so I did have exposure to that before I tried it on my own. A: What is your favorite thing about your career? K: I get to choose my own schedule. I get total creative freedom over everything I do. A: What is your least favorite thing about your career? K: My income is inconsistent, the market can be unpredictable, and I never know for sure where my next project is coming from. If I don't do something, or I forget about something, it doesn't get done. There's no one else to blame. A: If you could go back would you do this over again? K: Yes, but I would love to start over with the knowledge I have now. I could develop my business much faster than I did the first time around. A: What are the working conditions and physical demands? K: I have a studio/office at my home that I work from. The physical demands are mostly on my hands and eyes- I type and work with tiny beads, both of which can cause damage. I am careful to do things to reduce this damage, but I will admit to suffering from some tiredness and soreness. A: What mental characteristics are needed for your career? K: I spend a lot of time isolated and working, that can drive some people crazy. I do have a business partner who contributes work, and we do talk a lot about designs, but she has different time demands than I do so it limits our work time together. I also need to be creative all the time, I don't have time for "designers block". A: How many hours per week do you work? K: I probably average around 60 to 80 hours a week. A:What part time jobs can help gain experience for your career? K: I haven't really worked in a part time job that relates to my field. |