Meet Katrina Carmichael of Katrina Carmichael Design in Mission Hill

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Carmichael.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up on the South Coast of Massachusetts at the beach and on my families cranberry farm. I moved to Boston in the Fall of 2014 to start my adventure at Massachusetts College Of Art and Design. Becoming a designer was never a question for me. I was always doing some kind of art project as a kid growing up, whether it be painting, jewelry making, drawing, etc. I was always looking forward to that time of the day where my mom would take out a bin of art supplies out of our ‘magical craft closet’ (which was really the kitchen pantry that got taken over with colorful paper, markers, glitter, and anything else you can imagine) and make something crazy with whatever she chose. I would spend hours just making, creating, and really just making a giant mess of paint and glitter glue, but whatever I made it had to be functional or a have purpose, whether it be to hang on the wall, new furniture for my Polly Pockets houses, toys for my cats to play with, or even mold making soaps to give as gifts for my friends and family.

When I tell people that I am an Industrial Designer, they kind of look at me funny and assume I am designing buildings or sometime of architecture. It’s not a major/career that people really know about. So when I found that I could make a career out of making ‘functional things’, otherwise known as products, I knew this was I needed to do. Now, I get to make an impact and improve on peoples everyday lives; giving an emotional connection between products and its users. Designing is like solving a puzzle and I am always looking for a new challenge to take on. I am driven by designing products that are purposeful, helpful, beautiful and also by my curiosity to the future.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I never really fit in as a kid. I was always that weird, awkward, art kid that other classmates use to make a joke out of from elementary school to high school. So I was more than ready to pack up and move to Boston to go to MassArt. Even from the first day of orientation, I knew I had found where I belong. I was finally around people that were just like me.

My parents had always enforced that anything in life doesn’t come easy and wasn’t just going to be handed to me. Since I was 15 I was working almost everyday after school to buy my first car. This was the most valuable lesson that anyone could have taught me, to be independent and self-sufficient. I worked anywhere from 30-40 hours a week while being a full-time college student. I worked my ass off. When I wasn’t at my retail job or internships I was either in my studio or on my computer doing my design projects for school. During my last months of my senior year, I was offered my dream job working as an Industrial Designer designing consumer products for Bose. I was one of the few from my graduating class to graduate with a full-time job in the major we studied. This was just huge sigh of relief and the feeling of “I have finally made it.” All those late nights of crying into my lap top keyboard running on two hours of sleep had finally paid off.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Katrina Carmichael Design is my side freelance business. It started as making posters for local bands, creating custom tattoos, drawing peoples cars, and anything art/design related people asked me to do. During my college career I wound up coming across glassblowing, which I completely fell in love with. I made custom glass pieces for clients and friends. I ended up making and selling many glass blown orb planters that can be hung indoors and out.

This past year, I started a brand, Nullam Skates, with MassArt students, otherwise known as my best friends I made during college, Joseph Fennell, Olivia Sheldon, and Kyle Cardoza. It started as a little idea, an easy way to have fun in the winter, and turned into creating ice skates that attach to any winter boot.

What were you like growing up?
Adventurous and creative. When I wasn’t doing art projects on my kitchen table as a child, I was exploring outside on the cranberry bogs. I never wanted to miss out on anything, so I did everything. Which always kept me busy but also taught me time management. I played softball and dance growing up until I was old enough to be working. I always loved meeting new people and having conversations which has allowed me to connect and network with some really great people.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kacarmichael.myportfolio.com/
• Phone: 7742712169
• Email: katrinaacarmichael@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k_carmichael_design/

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