Meet Ann Duskus

We recently connected with Ann Duskus and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Ann with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I grew up sheltered and privileged financially. And as a creative person who learns better non-traditionally, I never grasped the concept of being “academically successful”. In other words, the lack of hardships in my youth never propelled me to work harder to change my circumstances. Because the circumstances were good, I developed little, if at all any work ethic.

Being diagnosed with depression for 5 years in my twenties changed that. I dropped out of college, got fired from my retailed job, broke up with my boyfriend, and walked around like a zombie until I met my now husband.

With his help, I was empowered to seek the help I desperately needed to feel whole again. I remember vividly the day I had the big break through in my therapy session – I felt reborn. And everything is possible.

The root of my depression taught me that nothing is guaranteed and that my future is not dependent on someone else. That mentality also meant that I needed to start taking accountability for my own actions. I went back to college to finish my fashion design degree, willingly. Not because it was expected of me like the first time around, but because I wanted to. Instead of getting by with a good enough C grade like the majority of my academic career, I graduated an honor student with straight A’s. It’s not without high stress and all-nighters but I proved to myself that the power to be achieve my desire results is within me and to cultivate that simply means I have to work hard for it.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a conceptual artist, footwear designer, fashion designer, content creator…etc. After years of trying to figure out what to call myself, I realized the title doesn’t always tell the whole story.

I love creating. And I love delighting people with my creations. The creation may be seen as a product to one person but as art to another. While most of my creations over the last few years take on the form of a footwear silhouette because that’s how my professional design and technical expertise shows up in my work; I am actively shifting into a more organic/fluid art practice while embracing the technical skills that brought me here in the first place.

The ability to blend my design profession and art has lead to many exciting partnerships with likes of GQ, Timberland, and even 2 group art exhibits in 2024. In 2025, I’m excited to create more art in larger scales, collaborate with fellow artists/brands, organize my solo art show, and launch a Studio Duskus original fashion product.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Dress for the job you want. Not the one you’re working in. – I picked this up in my early twenties and swears by it. I firmly believe it has made a huge difference in my fashion career (I mean, The Devil Wears Prada is the perfect example). When you make an effort, the right people will notice and the opportunities will reveal itself as a result.

Take risks. – The exact words from my mentor was, “I wish I took more risks when I was your age.” This was her way of telling me without telling me to take a chance on footwear design when I was already a well established apparel designer. I am who I am today thanks to her.

Getting it done is better than getting it done perfect. – The act of doing is more than enough. This idea of getting it done perfect creates fear and kills creativity. If you want to do something, just start. Starting builds momentum.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I’m a big believer in being well rounded. You elevate your core strengths when you improve your weaknesses.

In fitness terms, it’s easy to do the workouts we are good at like upper body strengths and skip the workouts that requires more effort like lower body strengths. When the lower body gets the same attention as it does the upper, you feel AND look more balanced. Now you’re able to do more combinations of workouts that wouldn’t have been possible without a strong lower body.

Get comfortable with the uncomfortable is a mantra that’s helped me with multiple aspects of my life.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal headshot – Kelsey McClellan
Rest of the photos are my photos – Ann Duskus

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