ISCD Graduate Launches New Business, Styl Studio

Michal is committed to empowering individuals to take creative control of their building and renovation projects with a focus on offering affordable and accessible design solutions to home renovators Australia-wide.

Let’s go back to where it all began, and follow Michal’s journey from ISCD student to entrepreneurial designer.

Thanks for sharing your time with the ISCD community Michal. Can you start by telling us a bit about your background before studying with ISCD? And how the course helped prepare you for your goals?

I was a primary school teacher for a couple of years and then decided to look for more creative work. I ended up studying to become a makeup artist and worked in that field for a number of years. I loved working with colour and I wanted to understand more about the impact that colour has on our lives. I always knew I wanted to work with colour but I wasn’t sure in what capacity. I always had an affinity to colour and even from a young age I knew I wanted to work with colour. After quite a bit of searching, I came across the Colour Design course which ISCD was offering. It was quite unique in the way that it focused on colour in the built environment as well as touching on trend forecasting. I learnt so much from the course and I found it to be really practical.

Studying at ISCD gave me a really good appreciation of the intricacies of colour and its application in the design industry. I gained practical knowledge and industry contacts to help my business get off the ground.

What has life been like since ISCD?

After graduating ISCD I immediately started doing freelance work as a colour designer/colour consultant, helping clients with their new builds and renovations. I really enjoyed helping clients bring their dreams to life in their homes and to see how happy that made them. 

Where do you get your design inspiration from? 

I work closely with suppliers and follow what trends are emerging in the industry. Trend forecast reports from the big paint brands are a great source for colour inspiration. I attend industry seminars like Decor + Design, and workshops locally and internationally. I always enjoy a good scroll through Pinterest and Instagram for a dose of design inspiration.

Can you tell us a bit about what led to your new business, Styl Studio?

Working as a professional colour designer, I saw a gap in the market for a service that provided expert advice and design direction for individuals attempting a DIY renovation. 

I created Styl Studio in an effort to bridge the gap between professional designers who charge a premium for their services and home renovators interested in DIY design, but not really sure how they can actually bring their creative vision to life. The focus is on offering affordable and accessible solutions. 

The digital shopping experience delivers end-to-end interior design kits for DIY designers through “Styl Sets” – a range of beautiful boxes where you will find a curated collection of surface samples including engineered timber and vinyl flooring options; tiles for wet areas – floor, wall and feature areas; splashback; stone and a full interior paint colour scheme. Styl Sets are perfect for those looking to DIY design with creativity, confidence, and convenience.

Styl Sets are a new concept in the design industry, and offer a fresh approach to the DIY design scene. These design kits give home renovators the tools to do their renovation on their own since most people would like a designer look without the price tag. 

Styl Sets arm those interested in renovating their own homes with the tools to help them overcome “option overwhelm”. They allow you to see how the textures and surfaces of your design elements will work together and complement each other before you commit to making a costly financial decision… or even worse, a mistake! This combination of a truly affordable price point, and the added value offered through the included discount codes to purchase the finishes, guarantees an almost immediate return on your investment. 

And I hear Styl Studio has been gaining recognition from the wider community as well?

We are beyond thrilled to receive a SHE-com 2022 Finalist Award in the Interiors Category.  SHE-com awards celebrate the outstanding innovation and achievements of women launching online businesses and bringing products to life.

Congratulations! So, what’s next for Styl Studio?

I have a long list of things I want to do and my mind is always five steps ahead of me. Expanding the range of Styl Sets, collaborating with other designers to create a distinctive look that showcases their aesthetics, and creating additional online resources to support the DIY home improvement community are some of the areas that I will be focusing on in the near future.