Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Minning.
Katie, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
My story is one of a great Midwestern childhood turned into a creative inspiration. Growing up I always loved art and the combination of using my mind and hands to make things. Whether it was through building towers of carefully balanced dixie cups on the staircase or turning wooden pens with my dad on the lathe, the act of designing (before I even knew that was what it was) brought meaning and happiness to my life. It wasn’t until high school that I learned from my art teacher that designing products could be a career. She introduced me to Industrial Design and I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do. So, I studied Industrial Design at the University of Cincinnati School of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP), where everything really came together for me.
I began to realize that through designing products I was able to exercise what I’ve always valued: craftsmanship, form, function, and home. My true passion lied in creating home goods and furniture – what I believe to be a result of watching my dad in his workshop as a kid and all the meaningful memories I have that are linked to specific products and moments within my childhood home. Through five years of classes and internships, I was able to develop my craft, gain experience in the field, and build a personal brand. I call my brand minn, stemming from my last name as well as my minimal aesthetic. Currently, while building my brand and manufacturing product, I work as a leather goods designer at Fossil Group. I feel really lucky to be where I am: working for a company who values creativity and collaboration, still having time to pursue the dream of starting my own brand, and being constantly surrounded by talented and genuine people.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Minn is my brand of home goods, furniture, and accessories based on the philosophy of min(n)imalism, where I take what we know as minimalism but add character and nostalgia (hence the second ’n’) to it. Based on personal memories, it brings warmth and meaning to a minimal, simplistic aesthetic in the hopes that the product will in turn create new, meaningful memories for its owners to inspire others and continue the cycle.
Every piece in the Minn line is inspired by a specific childhood memory of mine. For example, my ‘crater bowl’ is based on the game you played as a kid where you pretend the floor is lava. My brother and I would play this in our family room. The placement of the furniture and fireplace hearth allowed us to circle the room with only one pillow needed as a protective stepping stone. The rest was left to our imagination. We would challenge ourselves to circumvent the volcanic crater in the center of the room and find the tallest peak to seek safety (aka stack all the pillows on top of the chair and sit on it). The ‘crater bowl’ represents in reality that imaginary crater from my childhood. It is meant to be almost as if the crater was cut out from our family room and had taken to the shape of the walls. Of course, no one’s experiences are the same but I believe by putting the connection to memories and the feeling of simple happiness into my product, it allows others to make a connection and create a piece of happiness in their own lives.
The sterotype of a starving artist scares away many potentially talented artists from pursuing art – any advice or thoughts about how to deal with the financial concerns an aspiring artist might be concerned about?
Finances can be a struggle but at the end of the day I believe it’s all about doing what makes you happy. Focus on that. If you’re able to find what you love to do and do it, everything else will fall into place. Be smart but don’t let anything get in the way of your passion.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
To read more about my story, inspiration, and process visit katieminning.com/minn. Also feel free to follow my Instagram @minn_brand. I’m currently working on creating more product and setting up an online shop so keep an eye out!
Contact Info:
- Website: katieminning.com/minn
- Instagram: @minn_brand
Image Credit:
ClayTPhotography, Katie Minning
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