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In her work Dominika Marcisz enjoys finding creative and fun solutions to serious problems. For her latest project, MindsAware, she is using design thinking and new psychological therapies for an app to help people deal with anxiety. 

It comes after a big jump in thinking for Dominika, from 'I am a creative' to 'I am a business woman'.

"Most creatives (myself included) focus on creating amazing products, but running a business is different. You need to know about marketing, selling, finances and what will make you a profit. It is a very different mind-set than just creating."

* The call is out now for entrepreneurial creatives in Auckland to put forward an Expression of Interest to join ART Venture in 2016. See more details below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your creative work:

I was born in Poland, studied in South Africa and now live and own a multimedia business in Auckland. We specialise in animation and moving graphics, CGI and illustration. We are still a young company, but because of our work experience previously we can produce highly specialised, high-end products. We love telling stories through amazing graphics and have been involved in the art world with multimedia exhibitions and photography. My personal special interest is working on projects that address mental well-being in the creative industries. I have been an organiser of an anxiety social group for the last five years and would love to take this work further.  

What aspect of your creative practice gives you the biggest thrill?

I love projects that require me to come up with creative and fun solutions to serious problems, where I can implement design thinking and find a strong story.

I love developing strategies that help people overcome difficulties. At the moment, my personal project called MindsAware is my biggest passion. I am using the creative process and design thinking combined with new psychological therapies to develop an app and an online network that helps people deal with anxiety. Since this project is very close to my heart it is the most exciting thing that I am involved in.

What's your number one business tip for surviving (and thriving) in the creative industries?

Most creatives (myself included) focus on creating amazing products, but running a business is different. You need to know about marketing, selling, finances and what will make you a profit. It is a very different mind-set than just creating. For me it was a big jump to think in terms of business not creative terms. What will make your business sustainable long term? It is easy to come up with lots of ideas, but to sell them and make a business work long term is another matter altogether. One needs to change one's thinking from 'I am a creative' to 'I am a business woman'.

You are an established creative entrepreneur so why did you need a business development programme? 

It is one thing to develop a skill in a creative industry and another to make a sustainable business out of it. The creative landscape in Auckland changes constantly. One needs to always reassess where one is going and focus on different aspects of your development. Creative industries are especially hard as you have to constantly innovate, which can be very exhausting. We need as much support as we can get.

As a result of being on ART Venture:

• I’ve gained: Confidence, networks and contacts in my field, resources for running my business better, financial knowledge.
• I’ve worked with: Amazing specialists in finance, creative process, strategy, marketing and other creatives who participated in the program. 
• I’ve connected with: Great creatives and professionals in Auckland city, potential investors.
• I’ve built: New websites, animations, online programmes.
• I’ve contributed: Knowledge, advice.

What has been the enduring impact - professional and personally?

A sense of confidence around my ideas. I have learned how to speak about my work in a different way that reaches people at a deeper level. Also a strong sense of community with other creatives in Auckland.

Why would you recommend other creative entrepreneurs apply for ART Venture?

ART Venture is a great holistic program for creatives. It takes you through all the stages of the creative process from idea generation to final implementation. It gives you a great sense of community and support in your field. By going through the program I feel I have all the tools and a network to turn my ideas into reality.

What’s your big idea for 2016?

I am working on MindsAware which is a website and an app for people dealing with anxiety.  I am working with other professionals and creatives to develop an app and to create a community around mental wellness in Auckland. The app is utilising a lot of my personal experiences and I am delivering it using my animation and design experience.

About Dominika Marcisz

Dominika is Creative Director and Animator for Pepperbot Studios.

Born in Poland, she moved to South Africa when she was 11 years old, then moved to NZ four years ago. She is a qualified designer and animator with over 10 years experience in the post-production and animation industry. She is also tech-savy with an innate sense of how to produce the best quality results on time and budget for online web products and animation.

Dominika’s interests also extend to the fine art world with exhibitions in fine art, product design, photography and more traditional media of pencil and oil painting.

She is interested in storytelling through creative projects, and is currently developing an online community for social anxiety.

About ART Venture

ART Venture is for entrepreneurial practitioners, producers and leaders who are serious about accelerating their skills, projects, organisations and businesses, while also contributing significantly to Auckland through their creative talent, public-good focus and business innovation. 

Now in its seventh year, the programme is an initiative of Arts Regional Trust Te Taumata Toi-a-iwi (ART) with delivery partner, The Big Idea | Te Aria Nui. 

ART Venture Expressions of Interest for participating in the 2016 programme are open now and close on Wednesday 24 February 2016, 5pm.