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As a part of the Morning Lazziness sequence highlighting empowering ladies who’re making a outstanding influence with their concepts, I had the pleasure of interviewing Aiste Dzikaraite.
Aiste Dzikaraite is a former senior architect on the world-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects, the place she spent over a decade shaping iconic buildings for an elite worldwide clientele. Recognized for her daring, boundary-pushing strategy, Aiste is devoted to creating the unseen — reworking summary visions into tangible masterpieces.
Her revolutionary product designs have been showcased at prestigious establishments and occasions, together with the Serpentine Gallery in London, Maison & Objet in Paris, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.
Guided by a philosophy of fixed refinement, Aiste believes in exploring limitless inventive potentialities. “I could make 100 sketches for a similar formal analysis,” she says. “Sketching is my instrument to develop pondering and uncover new horizons of design.”
On this interview, she displays on the pivotal moments, hard-earned classes, and defining wins from her journey in constructing thriving on-line ventures.
What impressed your leap into entrepreneurship, and what private experiences sparked the thought behind your present enterprise?
After greater than a decade at Zaha Hadid Architects, engaged on tasks that take years to finish, I needed to create one thing extra fast. Jewelry gave me that freedom—to expertise the enjoyment of seeing a design totally completed. At first, I made items for myself, simply to really feel that inventive satisfaction and develop additional my private architectural type. Then I started gifting them as a private, one-of-a-kind items. That’s how Floa Design began.
How does your strategy stand out in as we speak’s aggressive area?
Floa Design is the one architectural jewelry model the place every bit is made to order, engraved together with your private intention, and crafted as collectible structure for the physique.
What have been among the hardest obstacles you confronted early in your journey as a girl entrepreneur, and the way did you navigate by means of them?
One of many hardest components was discovering a enterprise companion who may really produce my revolutionary designs. As an architect, I perceive construction, stability, and kind—I knew my items would work in small scale too. However most jewelry artisans are skilled to suppose inside conventional limits. My designs pushed past that and additional. It took time to search out somebody expert sufficient—and open-minded sufficient.
When the going will get robust, what retains you grounded and motivated to maintain pushing ahead?
When you will have a transparent imaginative and prescient of why you’re doing what you’re doing, challenges really feel small in proportion. With out that imaginative and prescient, even small obstacles can appear overwhelming. It’s like strolling to the highest of a hill and seeing the entire metropolis. When you see the larger image, the buildings don’t appear as massive anymore.
What each day habits or non-negotiable routines assist you to keep targeted, creatively energized, and balanced as a founder?
I don’t like routines. They program your thoughts to repeat the identical duties. This dilutes inventive pondering. Progressive concepts don’t thrive in strict schedules. I depart area for curiosity, new views, and unplanned moments. If I’ve to go to the identical place, I select a unique path. When planning my day, I depart gaps of time for the thoughts to look at and marvel.
What’s been the simplest development lever for buying new purchasers or increasing your buyer base?
Phrase of mouth. Delighting one individual totally usually brings three extra. My items spark conversations, and people tales journey additional than any advert.
What branding or advertising and marketing determination had the largest influence in elevating your enterprise and constructing belief together with your viewers?
I constructed Floa’s id by myself visible language, rooted in fluid, natural aesthetics. I refined this type for over a decade earlier than beginning the model. I used my coding abilities to create structural patterns few can replicate, and I’ve all the time been open about my architectural background. This positioned the FLOA as genuine, revolutionary, and reliable.
How do you personally outline success—not simply as a enterprise proprietor, however as a girl residing a purpose-driven life?
Various ladies wrestle to gentle up their daring power, to step up, to talk up, to take step one towards new alternatives. If one piece of jewelry helps a girl really feel highly effective inside — stronger, seen, and clear in her values — that’s success for me. Assured ladies create actual change.
Are you able to share a mistake or misstep that taught you a lesson you continue to carry with you as we speak?
As soon as, my jewelry items have been stolen after a shoot with a world-famous music artist for an album cowl. It taught me to all the time shield my work, irrespective of how massive is the title. Whoever has them now, I hope they put on them with the boldness they have been made for!
What’s your greatest recommendation for ladies simply beginning out—particularly first-time entrepreneurs feeling overwhelmed or not sure of their subsequent steps?
Don’t comply with — circulate. Once you’re beginning out, it’s simple to get misplaced in different individuals’s guidelines and opinions. Hearken to your instinct and let it information the next step.
How do you strategy danger and innovation, particularly when breaking new floor in a male-dominated or fast-changing business?
If I imagine in an concept, I’m prepared to step into the unknown and make 100 sketches till it meets my excessive requirements. The extra you’re employed by means of a visionary concept, the smaller the danger turns into.
In case you lead a crew, how do you foster a tradition of belief, inclusivity, collaboration, and development?
I encourage and provides a transparent ultimate imaginative and prescient, so nobody will get misplaced. This manner, individuals can use their strengths to succeed in it.
What are the highest 5 mindset shifts or private practices that helped you overcome self-doubt and develop your confidence as a girl entrepreneur?
There aren’t any boundaries. Guidelines and theories are invented by others. We doubt ourselves as a result of we expect we don’t match into them. However when you take away the idea of guidelines, there’s nothing left to doubt—solely your expertise to belief. That’s when confidence takes over.
How do you see the evolution of Floa Design?
I see Floa Design evolving right into a universe of objects and areas that do greater than serve a perform — they make you suppose otherwise, really feel impressed and assured, and uplift your day.
What’s a quote, philosophy, or guiding perception that shapes the way you lead, create, and dwell on daily basis?
There aren’t any boundaries, solely potentialities but to be explored.
The place can our viewers join with you, discover your work, or comply with your entrepreneurial journey on-line?
Discover daring jewelry designed to empower ladies at FloaDesign. Comply with on Instagram and Facebook, or join with Aiste Dzikaraite on LinkedIn.
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