Interview – Nicola Knobel – My Inner Creative/ The Art of Bujo

As part of my assignment for my Diploma in creativity, I set out to interview a number of people flourishing on Instagram. The assignment focused on the impact Instagram had had on society. I decided after all of this to do me too! On my inner creative,  I have opinions on this and have had an Instagram account for many years! If you want to see more interviews check here!

Im not going to gush over my account but I am going to discuss the questions I asked!

WHEN DID YOUR JOURNEY START?

My journey started when I was young, I used to go to my mums office and design calendars on power point, or scribble pictures in corel draw – and when I got older I started creating blogs wherever I went. When I was studying, I always had enviable study notes – I kinda wish I had kept them!

I once started a blog on the horrible tourist men in Thailand! In 2012 I studied an MBA and had my adorable son in 2013. I took some time out and while doing that – got terribly bored and started making kids clothes. Dyeing my own fabric for those clothes! It was always the creativity of it. And the working out Facebook and Instagram part of it.  I later moved it into solely dyeing and this was fun for a while – but I was always pulled back to the design of things, not to the actual work.

Totally obsessed with the statistics and details. Finally someone said I should just focus on graphic design, and I did – I opened a small boutique graphic design space and started – “The Art of Life”. BUT BUT BUT! While I rand it successfully for a year – the name and feel just didn’t suit me, it was to minimal and no color. So in January – Changed to “My Inner Creative” which embodies everything I hoped it would! 

How did you get into this niche?

I have 2 niches, graphic design for small business – because I get it – when you are starting out – you don’t have the funds to pay graphic designers to get you up and running – I get it – trust me.

And then I have my obsession with art, bullet journaling and hand-lettering. I give physical workshops on these, because thanks to my day job, turns out I am an awesome teacher!

I now also have a page dedicated to Bullet Journal Spreads – I found there wasn’t really anything that combined them together or grouped them to see similar types of spreads together. So Started @theartofbujo which has just taken off!

DO YOU HAVE A DAY JOB?

Yes – I am the one person everyone loves to hate! I am a Occupational Health and Safety Manager. I manage an amazing team of 3 people – and we work for an educational institution. I studied an undergrad in Biochemistry and Human Physiology (A bit more than that really but not for this post haha!) -I did a post graduate in Mining Occupational Health and Safety and Sustainability and my MBA focused on Sustainability and Marketing. Currently I am studying towards a Diploma in Creativity – Focusing on digital design.

WHAT WAS YOUR DEFINING MOMENT? AND WHATS NEXT FOR YOU?

My defining moment? I always say when my paper on water law was published in the international journal of sustainability – but thats so meh! I think actually my defining moment is when I became solidly independent as a person in 2007  and I think it changed the course of my life. Currently my next goal is to move out of the OHS field and more into something creative. I realise that 15 years of a specialist field is awesome. But….I’m starting to feel burnt out and pretty miserable.

DO YOU HAVE A GOOD SUPPORT NETWORK

No. Sad but true. I have some lovely friends, but I have no family support unfortunately, so kinda have to have victories on my own.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PRODUCT OR TIP?

My favorite product is my prima confections. I love those things! OMG and my favorite tip is – if you want to do well in something, its going to take hard work and dedication. Stop dillydallying and do it.

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU?

It like I live in a story book sometimes haha! If something weird is going to happen – it will happen to me. Undoubtedly. I was attacked by a hippo in South Africa, my car has been struck by lightning the list is literally endless.