Women who inspire: Brandi Lynne
Part of being a creative, is taking inspiration from other talented creatives and getting an insight into their perspective of their creative journey. Letting us in into her aesthetic world, Brandi Lynne shares some insight on how she approaches creativity, what design means to her, and role jewelry plays in her life.
Where did your design journey begin?
Design I think can take on many forms and I'm grateful to say I've dabbled in many different facets. If we're speaking solely of product design, I started my career journey, ironically, with a local jewelry designer here in Toronto. I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to assist in developing seasonal collections and work hand-in-hand with incredibly talented bench makers on prototypes up until final production. It's something I reflect on to this day due to the fact that our day-to-day world is so digital. It's incredibly gratifying to see a physical "product" or project through from concept to something you can tangibly hold - but I have a feeling you know exactly the feeling I'm referring to!
You have such a powerful sense of aesthetic. Can you speak to how you describe your style, and where you draw your inspiration from?
Thank you - I appreciate that so much. Admittedly, it's tough to self-define (even as a Leo) lol! I feel authentic style or aesthetic is just inherently engrained in who you are. It's the experiences you live, the things you consume, the way you think, how you spend your time.. it all contributes to a growing perspective rather than an aesthetic IMO! I draw a lot of my perspective from areas of deep passion: furniture, interiors, architecture, fashion, art.. it seems so surface-level and typical to say, but hey que sera, sera.
Jewelry can be so personal. How do you select your favourite pieces, and what is important to you when you wear jewelry?
I love how you phrased this because jewelry is very personal for so many reasons! My favourite being: how deeply sentimental pieces become with heirlooms and stories that have been passed down between generations (it's the best conversation starter!). To me, I consider my jewelry the same way I consider my wardrobe: less is more. I have very few pieces and I don't wear them often, but when I do, it's intentional and there for a reason. The Ortune Cuff is officially the first cuff in my wardrobe and will undoubtedly be one I reach for years to come. I love a well-executed, contemporary take on a classic and the sculptural shape akin to Elsa Peretti's Bone Cuff is really what drew me to the piece. Beautifully crafted and perfectly weighted, I'm already dreaming of adding a second for when I'm in the mood for a bolder stack.
Creativity takes a lot of nurturing, What are some things you do to practice self-care and recharge?
Ahh the neverending balance. In all honesty, I've never been good at balancing nurture vs. output and I still haven't found my "remedy" for creative blocks and productivity. I try to be patient with myself and go with the flow as much as possible because good work takes time. I've never produced work I'm proud of just trying to get it "out." One resource I always come back to is The Creative Independent - a conversation-based site featuring creatives across disciplines. The conversations often make me feel less alone and give a sense of validity to the common rollercoaster of emotions that arise during a period of creative self-doubt lol.
Do you have a philosophy or ethos you live by?
Follow your intuition, rarely will it lead you astray.
All photography by Brandi Lynne.