Meet Fiorenza Marani
Before I took Immersion in 2021, I had been unemployed for about one year after graduating in Textile Design in 2019. During 2020, I tried to work as a freelance designer. I was able to find private clients for whom I did some graphic design work and custom illustrations. I liked it, but I felt that was not my favorite kind of work. I wanted to be a pattern designer and I was looking forward to building my own brand.
When I came across Bonnie Christine and the Immersion course in January 2021, I felt that maybe taking this course would help me to start working for my goals. It felt too good to be true to be honest:) First I watched the free Mini Course, and it was there that I fell in love with Bonnie's teaching methods. She was explaining surface pattern design in a way that was clear to me more than any course I had taken before. She was also explaining a way to make a living as a pattern designer and showing that success was possible.
It took me many days to finally decide to register for the Immersion course. For me, the enrollment fee was a big sum. But the possibility to pay it in separate installments was a great solution for my situation. As I said before, it felt too good to be true. Alumni from the Immersion course were saying it "changed their life". And I was feeling a bit suspicious.
But the possibility to watch the free Mini course, see Bonnie Christine teaching, studying the course content description, the way it was organized, the timeline, and the fact that it was oriented to not only teaching pattern creating with Illustrator (my favorite program) but also how to run a business helped me take my final decision.
After taking Immersion I felt more motivated and started making art more consistently. I discovered many new tools to create patterns and run a business. I felt I HAD ALL THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO START :) and I still do! I also found a community and friends ready to share their knowledge to help each other overcome any obstacle. From the course, I also learned that skills acquired at home following online courses or by myself, sometimes are as good as the skills acquired at the university.
Since completing the Immersion course in 2021, I opened my business and created my website, I also started my own newsletter! I started taking part in Art & Crafts markets selling my original watercolor paintings, postcards, and greeting cards printed with my illustrations, I became a Skillshare teacher (something I never thought I would be able to do), l opened my Creative Market shop and my Spoonflower shop too. I taught one in-person workshop about surface pattern design basics. I worked as a freelance designer for multiple clients designing invitations, customized illustrations and patterns. For one year I was able to work as a creative entrepreneur full time thanks to a grant for start ups given by the city of Helsinki. But my income as a designer was not sufficient to support me. I realized I have made a lot of progress, but it also takes time!
I also recently got married and I designed all the infographics for our wedding: save the dates, invitations, menu, name tags, and thank you cards! I was so excited to be able to do that!
