This week’s Friday Feature is the wonderful Kamiya Chirodian. Kamiya already had a creative career as a print designer but it wasn’t making her happy, so she decided to start something of her own. This meant she could put more of her heritage and identity into her designs, and create pieces that felt personal and true to her. Recently, she’s also started offering card making workshops to help others explore and enjoy their own creativity.
Let’s get to know more about the creative woman behind the small business…
My first memory of being creative was in art class at school. It was my favourite lesson throughout school and college, and the only subject where I felt no pressure.
Yes, being a creative is a huge part of my identity, it filters through to many areas of my life, such as hobbies and my career. Honestly wouldn’t know who I am without it.
What I love most about illustration is its ability to tell stories through images. It gives me a space to express pieces of myself in a way that feels honest.
Starting my own small business happened by chance. My full-time job as a print designer no longer made me happy, and instead of jumping straight into another role, I decided I wanted to create something of my own and see where it would lead. Now I work part-time as a designer and part-time on my creative business, which has given me a much better work-life balance and a deeper sense of fulfilment.
One of my favourite projects has been working on a sweet packaging project for a small family business local to Leicester. I had full creative control, which was exciting, daunting, and incredibly fun all at once. It was my first time working on packaging, and I learned so much throughout the process. Seeing something I designed on shop shelves made it even more rewarding. It was so different from my personal work, which made it especially challenging to explore something new.
My heritage and identity influence a lot of my personal work, it’s deeply rooted in many of my illustrations.
I tend to handle creative blocks by stepping back, resting, and giving myself space. I try to spend time doing things that refill my creativity, like going to workshops and museums, or simply spending time with friends and family. Taking the pressure off can be hard at times, but I know it does help me.
Sewing and knitting were both things I tried but realised weren’t for me, which is slightly ironic given I studied textiles at college & university. I especially struggled with sewing for clothing, it just never quite clicked for me.
In a different universe, I think I’d have a business in jewellery or ceramics. Before studying textiles at university, I was really drawn to both, but at the time, I wasn’t sure about the job scope afterwards, so I chose the safer option. It’s something I still find myself curious about.
My biggest wish at the moment is to grow my business to a point where I can work on it full-time. I’d love to focus on projects that truly align with my values and feel creatively fulfilling.
It’s so clear Kamiya has a natural creativity and just needed to find the right outlet for her, to make it fulfilling. It’s great to see her exploring her own identity and expressing it through her illustrations.
If you would like to see more of Kamiya’s creations and keep updated on any upcoming workshops, take a look at her Instagram: @kamiyachirodian
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