Meet Fleur Optekamp

We recently connected with Fleur Optekamp and have shared our conversation below.

Fleur, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

I have several different approaches to self-care; without them, I struggle to create my work and often end up feeling anxious, unable to rest properly, or enjoy life to the fullest. Firstly, I focus on the basics: eating healthy, staying hydrated, getting enough rest, and exercising regularly. I try to keep these essentials in check, but design or visual arts deadlines can make it challenging to maintain even these basic practices at times.

In addition to these typical components of daily life, I practice yoga asana 4-5 times a week. I studied yoga 10 years ago and received my yoga teaching certificate. While I occasionally teach classes at studios, events, or to friends my primary goal was to deepen my understanding of yoga and enhance my well-being.

Meditation and breathwork are also key components of my daily routine. I use regulated breathwork to calm my nervous system when I start to feel overwhelmed, which primarily involves deep breathing exercises of 4-5 deep breathes at a time. I use this tool throughout the day.

Nature walks play a significant role in my self-care as well; I find they help me switch off and appreciate the beauty and natural world around me, especially the flora, birds and sky. I typically take three walks each day, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour. I view walking not only as a method of self-care and a form of moving meditation, but also as an excellent opportunity for problem-solving and organizing my thoughts and schedules. I can obtain clarity on issues I struggled with while sitting at my desk. I strongly recommend stepping away from your desk during busy moments and taking a walk.

When I’m experiencing immense stress and pressure, I try to book in a massage, which helps release tension and contributes to a restful sleep. For those nights when I struggle to sleep, I listen to a yoga nidra podcast. It’s incredible how yoga nidra can provide the restorative rest I can’t seem to find elsewhere.

These different tactics help ground me, allowing me to produce my best work while taking care of myself. In both fields of work, it’s easy to put in excessive overtime hours, so it’s essential to step back and create some space for yourself. You deserve it…

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My primary focus professionally resides in the art and design industry. Throughout my 20+ year career, I have worked as an interior designer, specializing mainly in high-end residential and hospitality projects internationally while also creating visual art on the side. The two fields complement each other, allowing me to incorporate my art into various interior design projects. Over time, I expanded beyond just framed visual art; I discovered innovative ways to integrate my artwork into interior design products, using it as graphics for carpets, wall coverings, textiles, and furniture.

After working for well-known and established interior design firms on projects worldwide since the early 2000s, I decided to take a bold step and open my own design studio. This venture is still new, but I have already secured a few projects while developing my brand and ethos. My vision is to collaborate with private clients, interior designers, fashion designers, product suppliers, and architects to provide unique, one-of-a-kind products or designs for their projects, with a focus on promoting enjoyable and fulfilling collaborations.

My studio offers a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of the design and visual arts industry. These services include interior design and styling, visual art, brand collaborations, and product design, all customized for each client while adhering to budget requirements.

The most special and exciting aspect of this work is the creative element. I appreciate each opportunity to collaborate with different people on new and bespoke projects each time, which keeps the work continuously exciting, challenging, and interesting.

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

The three qualities that have had the most impact on my professional journey are innovation, persistence, and resilience. Here’s why:

Innovation brings creativity and originality in problem-solving, inspiring us to think differently. It allowed me to discover unique solutions that distinguished me from the rest. Given the competitive nature of the design and visual arts industry, it’s essential to offer something unique and unconventional. Clients value the unexpected and look for points of difference or originality. This can ignite significant transformations in your professional journey or endeavors.

Persistence is essential for overcoming obstacles and achieving long-term goals. It enables you to stay committed and keep pushing forward, even when faced with difficulties in their way. Staying determined often distinguishes those who succeed from those who give up and lack the motivation to pursue their true ambitions.

Lastly, resilience helps you handle those challenges and recover from setbacks. Throughout the design and visual arts process, it’s common to encounter varying opinions and feedback that may not align with your original vision. Given the subjective nature of design and visual arts, you may occasionally face challenging situations where the client’s perspective differs from yours. Developing resilience can encourage a positive mindset and support your emotional and mental well-being during these difficult times.

Together, these three qualities create a powerful combination that have significantly enhanced my ability to navigate challenges and achieve my goals throughout my professional journey.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I am always interested in partnering or collaborating on creative projects. The type of collaboration depends on the nature of the work required at the time. For large-scale interior design projects, partnering with another person or building a team would be the way to go; dividing the work into sections based on expertise or specific areas of the project would be the best approach. When focusing on product design or brand collaborations, a certain level of collaboration is essential to achieve the end goal. This could involve a private client requesting a customized, one-of-a-kind wall covering for their home or a fashion designer seeking visual art that can be transformed into fabric for their latest collection. These types of collaborations energize me and motivate me to deliver my best work. Additionally, I am also interested in collaborating with product suppliers to create unique collections for their brands, such as a new range of rugs or textiles, as I continue to build and develop my own brand. Please reach out and connect with me if you are interested in partnering or collaborating on a creative project at [email protected] ↗ (mailto:[email protected]). I am always happy to chat!

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Contact Info:

• Website: https://studiofleur.com.au
• Instagram: fleur.optekamp