Tips for Rising Creators from a DesignMilk Editor

In a world where everyone is constantly innovating, how can you stand out and keep up with consumer-behavior trends? We recently spoke with the founder of Design Milk about what

Jaime Derringer is an art and design lover constantly honing her brand. What initially started as a blog to keep track of a sofa and other things that she liked, eventually became the go-to online publication for great design. Now Jaime is an artist and ‘poem-maker’ considered a trend-spotter for architecture, interior design, art, and décor.

Despite her passion for art during her childhood, Jaime didn’t always work in the design industry. After studying Asian Studies and Art History in college, Jaime worked for a book and newsletter company until she decided to dedicate herself to Design Milk full-time. Her journey included various late nights of learning about marketing, advertising, and how to code her own website, for which she wrote all the copy herself. Her time and dedication paid off as she finally dedicated herself to what she had always loved.

It’s never too late to focus on what you’re passionate about. But what about when creators finally decide to focus on what they love? Here are some tips that are sure to keep you growing and on top of the trend.

Inspiration

Jaime recognizes the fact that it is challenging to create something that hasn’t been done before or to improve something that already exists. And so most creators, independently of what they design, inspire her. What makes someone stand out, however, is the desire to create change not only in the sphere of design but in the sphere of the environment and our everyday lives.

“The designers, makers and artists that I am most drawn to undertake the burden to improve our lives and the world around us — they’re constantly innovating and thinking about the future”

While there are many Wescover creators that inspire Jaime, here are a few that could inspire you as well:

PR

PR is a great way to market yourself and maintain communication with your customers. And while it can definitely appear like a black hole, it doesn’t necessarily have to be an expensive or time-consuming process. Most of the PR brands that Jaime has worked were simple and straightforward. And even then, you don’t need to rely on PR firms to market yourself and forge connections.

“I would never deny a brand any publication or exposure if they were not using a PR firm. We are a democratic site and believe that the work often says it all.”

Take it from Jaime. You can get exposure just by contacting people yourself. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be the next creator featured on Design Milk.

Getting Featured on Design Milk

Jaime is always looking for innovation. Be it the materials, the method, or the form or function, if it is innovative you will definitely catch her eye.

“I often also consider work that is sustainable, solves a real problem, or aims to better the world in one way or another.”

An interesting story is bound to catch her interest as well. Usually people manage to offer at least one of these four criteria. And every once in a while, if she’s lucky, someone satisfies them all.

Consumer-behavior trends

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that prices have a great impact on how quickly an item sells. The more expensive a design piece, from luxury sofas and large-scale artwork to chandeliers, the longer it will stay on the shelf. Pieces that incite a specific sentiment and create an immediate emotional impact on the buyer are more likely be bought and engaged with online.

“Items that make people smile, laugh, or draw emotion are most likely to be purchased, or responded to in a positive way”

The future of media and how do you expect Design Milk to evolve?

Quality content that touches the reader in some way is what truly makes a difference and will continue doing so. While Jaime doesn’t think that people will cease to consume content or to buy things online, she believes that the quality of the content will decline. You must be offering something interesting and of value to the reader that will warrant their visiting your website. Just like with commerce, you must offer something special that distinguishes your brand or content from that which you can find anywhere else.

“It’s about the experience, the quality of the experience and how you can connect with that customer on a level that goes beyond the transaction.”

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