We were lucky to catch up with Noora Pohjanen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Noora, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Everything started so fast in so I never did have time to sit down and really think it thru or make big goals or plans. One job led to another and now ten years later I can still work full-time as a designer. Which is crazy to even say out loud! I was still in high school when I booked my first job. It was a snowball effect ! New jobs were coming in pretty much non stop after I finished my first job and I realized after the first year that I can actually live by doing this full time.

I love to calculate every move and be super organized. I was so busy right from the start so I didn’t have time to make big future plans or count is this financially smart move. I was just a kid in high school when I started and didn’t know pretty much anything else that I loved what I was doing and jobs were coming in. Thank God didn’t start looking too much in the numbers or got stuck “5 year plans” or other how to start business “the right way”. I was too busy learning and creating and I was so excited to learn as much as possible. Now looking back, it all worked out the way it supposed to. I’m extremely lucky I can do this every day and do designing as a full time job. The best advice would be – just be so passionate and busy with learning new skills so there’s no time to second guess anything. There are also lot of people who are interested for the job for wrong reasons, because of the people you can work with or work for or just because you can say you have done the job and add it to your resume etc. For me it has been always the learning and growing part which is the most important and key also for doing this for so long I think. Also finding the right people who has the same work ethic has been really important. And one of the most important thing is always be humble and a good person. No matter how talented one can be, no one wants to work with difficult people who have an attitude and don’t have the respect to each other. Always say thank you, help others, be on time and prepared… the most simple things that don’t necessarily aren’t even about the job itself but are the most important things in the end of the day.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’ve loved fashion from a really young age, I loved dressing up when I was a kid! Later on I started to do some small adjustments to my own clothes and sometimes also for my sisters clothes too. I made some basic things, skirts or shirts as a teenager but nothing more complex. When I was in high school I booked my first job. One of my childhood friends asked if I could make gymnastics leotards for her team. I’m a former gymnast myself so I knew what their leotards should look but didn’t have any idea how to actually make it all happen. Broke down one of my own costumes form my gymnastics days, draw patterns and after multiple trial & error, I was able to finish my first project. Now I mostly focus on designing costumes for dancers and competition leotards for gymnasts. I’ve done also costumes for drag artists too and prom dresses, tv shows and sometimes just normal everyday clothes such as hoodies. I love to be challenged to create something I haven’t done before. One thing I love about this job that every job is so unique.

It was the time before social media so it all started people hearing and seeing my costumes on the competitions and stages. Word travelled around fast and right after my first project there was already next job on the line. Eventhough social media and all the tools we have today are extremely important I think it’s still kind a cool that I was able to start my career and book jobs without even promoting it or having any connections in the beginning. Even nowadays even we have social media and I have new clients, it’s really cool that people reach out because they have seen my work somewhere, not because they found me from social media.

I’m self taught and I’ve learned everything by myself. For some clients or projects it has been a huge deal I don’t have a degree from any design or fashion schools. I’ve lost jobs because of that fact because some people think I can’t be good enough without an official degree. But those people who have seen my work knows that degree don’t always matter. Of course education is important! I personally made choice not going to school because I was already working before graduating high school. Yes, there are for sure lot of things you will learn from school but I believe if you are willing to work hard and ready find the answers on your own, degree from university should mean so much.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me it’s all about creating moments and interaction with people. Art, and my heart too, is full when someone has a reaction for it. Sometimes it might be in the middle of the project or in the end when others see the final design. It’s all about those small moments, when you can bring happiness for someone else and create memories with others. Clothes are important for us, you want to wear something that makes you feel confident, seen and safe. Sometimes it has been the most simple design for a customer that ends up bringing them to happy tears while wearing my design. Or sometimes no words are needed, a simple hug from a customer or co worker reminds me what we do is important. Those small but big things are really rewarding.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Ask help! I wish I’d start doing that earlier. I was raised to be extremely independent and never asking for help. I do understand and agree it’s important to at least try to find answers at first by yourself. It’s important to learn when, where and how to find answers for your questions. We don’t have to survive alone from everything. The biggest blessing has been when I started to open my mouth and ask questions from the right people. Also if I’ve had mentors right from the start that would have saved me so many mistakes and cries. I’m grateful for bad moments too but extremely grateful I’ve found people around me who are always ready to answer and help me out.

Contact Info:

• Instagram:  @noorapohjanen @ateljeepohjanen

Image Credits
Sanni Rajala Photography, iaf Company, Katja Tamminen Photography, Tanssipiste Loiste, Diver Drag Show, Petri Kekkonen