Textiles, Teaching, & Janet Hild’s Next Chapter
We’re back and I’m thrilled to introduce you to artist, teacher and creative entrepreneur Janet Hild. So far, Janet’s career has included commercial textile design, teaching at the Master’s Degree level, freelancing and licensing. Now she’s exploring her “What’s Next”. Want to know more about it? Let’s dive in!
A Lifelong Connection to Nature and Creativity
As a child growing up in suburban Philadelphia, Janet was apprehensive about putting herself out there but found joy in nature. She spent a lot of time outside and thought she would go into the sciences. In college, she started out in geology and then moved to biology. When she realized that learning calculus wasn’t her jam, she switched into art and got her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in jewelry design.
Discovering Textile Design
After college, Janet started working for an interior designer, where she developed a love for textiles, painting furniture and putting surface pattern designs on lamps and other products. It was “really, really cool work,” so she decided to figure out how to do it as a career. She went to the library and found information about the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, which is an hour from her house. She interviewed at the school and they encouraged her, based on her prior education and level of experience, to join their new masters program. She went on to earn her Master’s Degree in woven textiles and absolutely loves the art of textile design, especially Jacquard weaving and digital design.
"Textile design is very technical, but it’s also very creative. It was the perfect blend of these two ways of thinking that I have," she says. Her time there was transformative, not only solidifying her skills but also laying the groundwork for opportunities that span both art and technology.
Career Success and Challenges in Commercial Textile Design
After graduating, Janet went to work for Designtex in New York, where she rose through the ranks to senior design positions and made a mark in the industry with her innovative work in sustainable textiles. Deeply involved in product development, Janet thrived on blending creativity with the technical demands of the job, and won awards for her designs.
However, the 2008 recession hit the textile industry hard. “All of my peers were let go from their companies... the whole industry just came to a halt,” she recalls. Determined to keep her creative mojo alive, Janet found freelance work and landed a big licensing deal. She’s still earning royalties from one upholstery pattern that remains in production today.
Discovering Her Love of Teaching
As Janet’s freelance work slowed and with three young children at home, a new opportunity came her way: teaching. With her background in sustainable textiles, she was invited by the New York School of Interior Design to teach sustainable fabrics for interior designers.
“I love to create activities for the students, and they love what I give them to create,” Janet says. This experience of guiding students toward their creative goals is one of the most rewarding aspects of her creative journey so far. Teaching also allows her to stay connected with the industry, reinforcing her credibility and authority in the field.
Forging Ahead
While a bunch of different potential ideas were swirling around in her head, Janet joined my Creative Business Mastermind. “The mastermind is just such an amazing way to connect with people who are on a similar journey but pursuing something completely different at the same time. The other people there are really inspiring because they’re on these different paths, but you can kind of see little threads that connect what I’m doing with what they’re doing.”
It helps her see the potential for her unique blend of creativity and technology. “Learning from you, Anne, because you’re at such a high level, seeing what you’ve done and hearing how you work through things has been amazing. It’s helped me think about what’s possible.”
Janet has a much clearer idea now of how she can share her unique approach to creative experimentation. She lights up when she talks about her passion for teaching artists and designers to experiment by using different processes, mixing different tools, apps, and techniques to discover fresh approaches in their work.
The Power of Patience and Enjoying the Process
As we wrapped up our interview together, Janet acknowledged that building a creative business is a “long game.” Her advice for you is to focus on enjoying the creative process and to recognize that monetizing art takes time. “There’s no magic bullet. You’re going to have fun, learn different things, move forward, and just enjoy the process.”
While she explores the format that will best serve her vision—whether through a membership, a course, or live workshops—it’s thrilling to work together to unleash her unique zone of genius. I can’t wait to see how this new idea evolves and grows.
We’ll share more details as Janet’s new program takes shape. In the meantime, check out Janet’s website HERE and join her newsletter.
Don’t forget that I’ll be live this Wednesday at noon pacific time on my Facebook page or on my YouTube channel. See you there.
xo,
Anne
P.S. Just getting started in Surface Pattern Design? Download my free ebook HERE.
Remember,
It’s Never Too Late to Create®
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
