Q&A With Louise Olsen

We caught up with Louise Olsen, creative director and co-founder of Dinosaur Designs. On top of being a powerhouse in business, she is also a magnificent artist, coming from a lineage of artist parents. Her mother, Valerie Olsen-Strong, who is no longer with us, is having her first solo exhibition at the National Art School. It has been curated by her children, Louise and Tim and it will be showcasing a lifetime of beautiful art and celebrating a wonderful life.

We thought this would be a magic time to ask some questions of Louise, figuring out what nature means to her and what some of her fondest memories growing up as a child were.

Pictured Louise Olsen, Valerie Olsen-Strong, & Tim Olsen.

1. How do you connect with nature in your day-to-day?

Waking up to the sound of birds happily singing in the large gumtree right outside our bedroom. Watching the Banksia growing outside our front door, seeing which plants in the garden need water and some care..

2. Is there a plant that you couldn’t live without?

I do love native plants for they encourage birds and native animals that support each other and build a strong ecosystem.

3. Your garden in one word?

Lush.

4. Do you have a favourite garden or nature memory?

I have very fond memories of living in the bush in NSW sandstone country. The valley we lived in was full of Angophora trees it was wonderful to see how they changed colour with the seasons.

5. Now that we are out of lockdown – what’s the first place you are planning to visit?

New York, London and Paris; we have stores and wholesale around the world as well as exhibiting our own art works. Next year we plan to catch up with our teams as, while Zoom’s brilliant for catching up with the teams, it’s always good to see each other in real life to really connect with people.

6. What’s the best piece of life advice that someone has ever given you, and who gave it to you?

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore – Andre Gide.

7. What’s the best piece of advice you could pass onto a younger creative?

Create with the heart, build with the mind – Criss Jami.

8. Who is your creative guiding force?

My parents Valerie Strong-Olsen and John Olsen.

9. Is there anything you still want to learn in life?

The wonderful thing about working in the creative industries is that you’re always discovering and never-ending learning. I think it’s so important to keep yourself open to new possibilities, of learning new skills.

10. If you could snap your fingers and change 3 things right now – what would they be?

Climate change, Covid, and closed minds.

Connect with Louise Olsen on Instagam @louise_olsen and @dinosaur_designs.

GARDEN LIFE. PLANT JOY.