Founder interview with Tamara Pešić from "Studio Tamara Pešić/A Pinch Of Salt"

After graduating, I moved to Copenhagen for six months to gain new work experience at Studio David Thulstrup. Shortly after my return, the pandemic started. I took this upheaval as an opportunity to think about it again and venture into self-employment despite the difficult circumstances. I continued to develop "A Pinch Of Salt" during this time and successfully applied for the Hessen Ideas Scholarship.

My favorite places as a child were my uncle's studio and my grandmother's kitchen - watching them paint and mix colors fascinated me just as much as the compositions that were created in the kitchen. They still accompany me in my work today, both in very different ways.

I have always been very self-determined in my work and found it important to organize my own time and projects. During my semester abroad four years ago, I started working with clay in Japan.

The renovation work on the studio was quite time-consuming. Until I can offer workshops again, I'm using the time for planning, organization and production. The aim is a mixture of different work formats and workshops that revolve around ceramics and fermentation, which is what my core project "A Pinch Of Salt" is all about. My product family will also be produced in a manufactory in the Westerwald.

People often underestimate the time and capital required. Setting up a studio with a workshop, including machines, equipment and materials, is very cost-intensive. Although the store is closed due to the current situation and no workshops can take place, I have to raise enough money for the rent every month, which is still quite a challenge at the moment.

The most important support came from my family and friends. My parents have supported me from the very beginning, for which I am very grateful. The same goes for my friends, who are an important pillar for me. Start-up programs like Hessen Ideen and GroundFloor, which make all of this possible, are also important.

Funnily enough, I always categorically ruled out staying in Offenbach or Frankfurt because I always wanted to experience new places. However, after a few stops I realized that Offenbach is the perfect base for starting a business. Offenbach is a very genuine / down-to-earth and diverse city for me.

Believe in yourself and the idea and don't be discouraged by the challenges, doubts and mistakes that are part of the process. Careful planning is important, but you also need to run through alternative scenarios in order to be able to react to unforeseeable changes.