We're back with the Designer Spotlight! This news segment is fully dedicated to put a designer in the spotlight. We've asked them about themselves, their creations, their process and their inspirations. This spotlight is for and by Serena26!

Let's introduce! 

Hello, I’m Serena26 but you can call me Sere if you want to. I’m from Finland and turning 33 years old in September.

It's a long story how my items ended up in gsm 1.0. I was never an official JD or guest JD. There was some kind of special event in Finnish gsm and other gsm users demanded some of my designs to be made as gsm items on the event forum where staff members were chatting with us. Then one staff member gave me a JD badge and I handed out few of my designs for them to use. That was the highlight of my gsm 1.0 life. After that there was other times too, but it's a looong story for another time. 

Little details about me:

• I'm very social and talkytalky but little shy when writing in English.
• I would describe myself as a kind person.
• I'm mostly listening The Weeknd and Lana Del Rey but my playlist consists of songs from various of music genres.
• I love playing ps5 (mostly Call of Duty Warzone)
• I love drawing and ofc designing. 

GSM 1.0 - Could I be a Designer?

At first I didn’t know how to draw at all digitally or with pen and paper. Ig it was around 2010-2011 when I started drawing with the designer tool for the first time and I instantly fell in love with it.

I had the best and the most supportive friends in Finnish gsm and I have the biggest thank you to say to them – they supported me when I started designing and because they were so kind giving compliments and feedback I kept going and drawing.

I wasn't very familiar with any fashion stuff. I tried different styles but I always felt so intrigued by long gowns, dresses, glitter and sparkle. I started making designs for my friends like I made designs and named those after my friend's in gsm. 

GSM 2.0., Can I do it again?  It was 30.01.2023 when we got the gocode "18k" and I saw the design of mine after all those years. It made me tear up a little because HOW DID THOSE STILL EXIST? I was more than eager to try to design again. The spark I got from that gocode was THRILLING.

So years has gone by and here we have gsm 2.0 but no designer tool. I was so lost because how could I draw without that? Last time I designed was in 2016 with designer tool. My first attempt in early 2023 was with Paint. Yes, the basic Paint. It was horrible. The picture frame was wrong sized and it was just bad. I thought I lost my touch with designing after all those years. 

Later on I purchased an iPad and started designing with Procreate. I just started creating lots of designs. Some of them I deleted right away, some of those I left waiting for better days and probably deleted later. 

I still don't know all drawing/designing vocabulary in English at least, I'm just drawing. Some people might be talking about rendering and I'm like what is that? So you don't need to know all the words and terms, just start designing.

Me, Serena26 as a designer

I'm very going with the flow type of designer. I might get inspired by colours, seasons, words, music, moods, tv series... It can be anything. I always want to do multiple colour variations of my items because I love colours. I swear if there was possibility to do more recolours, I would. 

I can start designing orange gown but then it just ends up being nothing like an orange gown. I'm only drawing one item at a time. Like if I want to make a top and a skirt, I'll finish one of those first before starting the other. Of course I can end up changing the items when those are already finished, but my brain works best when I'm drawing one item at a time. That way I'm really free to go with the flow. 

Time wise it takes me from a day to three to get some designs ready when I'm fast and the ideas are flowing, but when I feel like I'm blocked, it takes longer. I get bored quickly so if it takes more than a week to finish the design, I'm almost over it already and I don't like the design I'm working on. That's something I'm working on. 

I'm mostly drawing for myself. I want to keep my own style because that's all I know. I know it could be popular to do certain type of items but I'm always trying to stay true to myself and my style. Of course when there's a halloween hype or something else, I'm jumping in. But I'm always trying to do something different so the community shop wont repeat itself.

I can share my way of designing, but I think everyone should find their own way. I feel like who am I to teach others when I'm still learning?  It has been only 3 years I have drawn digitally with the iPad and there's so much stuff I want to learn to draw. 

BUT Here's my simple process how I'm operating when designing a dress for example...

1. Drawing the outlines, how long I want the dress to be, what kind of neckline... Not concentrating too much on that, because it will probably change into something else while the process goes on.
2. Filling the areas with colour. Just making sure there's colour everywhere where I want it to be. 
3. Shading - what kind of material? Usually I just let myself go and start drawing the shades. I use layers so it's easier to just delete the bad ones and start fresh. And that happens A LOT. 
4. Changing the shape of the item if/when something bothers me. Sometimes I'll end up doing the whole item again from the start. 
5. Stressing over does it look anything I would like to wear in gsm? Would anyone buy the item?
6. Stressing over why do I care so much about what other thinks. 
7. Getting over myself, uploading the items and submitting the design. 
8. Feeling very unsure with the release and eagerly waiting if anyone likes my design. 
9. Repeat with a new design.

Amazing and creative designers in gsm

I love the community designer because we all have the possibility to create and release items for others to buy and use. For me it made gsm more exciting. I have seen so many creative designers and I'm always amazed by their talent and creativity. 

Designers I admire; Mayu x100, lisu, Petrikor, Jopie, Lunox, Ellie, Fizzarolli, Mocks, Eloquinn, Verdana AND SO MANY OTHER AMAZING DESIGNERS TOO. 

Im always going through the regular shop and the community shop wondering how beautiful items other designers have created. Sometimes I'm thinking like "oh why didn't I come up with something like that?!" but it's more uplifting boost for me to do something original to my next release.

My tips for others designwise

• DON'T USE AI. 
• Stay original, be true to yourself.
• Don't try to design like someone else, find your own way and style.
• If you just started designing, KEEP GOING! It takes time to learn.
• Keep it fun, don't force it. There is difficult days and way easier days.
• The amount of sold items doesn't define you as a designer. KEEP GOING!

My biggest message for everyone in gsm is; Please BE KIND, give compliments, be uplifting and supportive towards others. Even when someone has just started designing, drawing or whatever, find something you can give compliments for. Those could be very supportive messages and give the spark to someone to continue.

I'm proud of my designs, but i have this special nostalgic love towards my gsm 1.0 designs. Those are so harsh quality design wise but I love them because that was the starting fire for my designing journey. Of course I like the items I have made for community shop too. Im proud that I have been brave enough to try new things and styles to design but not losing what makes those "Serena26 designs". 

The future

I will keep designing and I have tons of ideas what to design. 

Unfortunately I don't have a design I'm working on atm so I can't share any sneak peeks. BUT I will be participating to Puffin.'s design collab where we design princess outfits/looks. I have chosen Anastasia as my princess so let's see what I'll come up with.

If someone wants to do a collab with me, hit me up. I have few ideas. I'm going to do a Victoria's Secret themed collection - if you have wishes or want to collab with me, let me know! 

At last

Everyone who has messaged me, left a comment on my designs on the forum, used my items on their looks... Those are things Im so grateful for and which makes me really happy. 

To end this interview I want to say THANK YOU.
Love you all. <3

Serena26's: goSupermodel profile, goSupertools profile, design page 

Thank you Serena26! For this personal insight in your design journey and how you design! The goSupertools team appreciates the time and effort you've put into the interview. We can't wait to see what you'll create in the future <3 

Do you want to be featured in one of these spotlights? Contact one of the goSupertools staff members and we'll have a chat.