Teaching & Coaching
The knowledge
no one teaches
in one place.
She found the gap. She filled it herself. Now she teaches what she learned.
The Gap
"I spent years collecting knowledge that should have been in one room. It wasn't. So I built the room."
Ingrid Chikazaza Chitekwe
Talented designers spend years assembling knowledge that lives in separate places. A pattern making course here, a manufacturing contact there, a business book that doesn't quite apply.
Ingrid assembled it herself, over nearly a decade. What she built is not a course. It is a complete way of thinking about bags, from the first sketch to the finished piece in someone's hands.
How We Work
Three paths.
Course
The Complete Bag Design System
From concept to finished bag, in one ecosystem.
The complete journey: design thinking, pattern making, construction, manufacturing, and business strategy, taught together as they must be practiced.
What's Covered
- Design Thinking & Systems Engineering
- Structural Pattern Making
- Bag Construction Techniques
- Material Selection & Sourcing
- Working with Manufacturers
- Brand Strategy & Positioning
- Marketing & Sales for Makers
Format
Self-paced online course
Level
Intermediate to Advanced
Coaching
Design Mentorship
Personalized guidance for your specific journey.
For designers and makers who are ready to move faster and further than they could alone. Ingrid works with a small number of clients at a time, offering direct mentorship tailored to your goals, your work, and your market.
What's Covered
- Portfolio and design review
- Pattern making critique and refinement
- Manufacturing strategy
- Business model development
- Brand and market positioning
- Accountability and momentum
Format
Monthly retainer or intensive sessions
Level
All levels welcome
Consulting
Studio & Brand Consulting
Strategic guidance for established studios and brands.
For established bag studios and accessory brands seeking expert perspective on design systems, production processes, or market strategy. Ingrid brings nearly a decade of hands-on experience to your specific challenges.
What's Covered
- Design system audit and refinement
- Production process optimization
- Manufacturer vetting and relationships
- Collection strategy
- Market positioning review
- Team training and upskilling
Format
Project-based or retainer
Level
Established studios and brands
Curriculum
Five areas.
One ecosystem.
Five interconnected areas of knowledge, each taught in relation to the others.
Design & Systems
Pattern Making
Construction
Manufacturing
Business
Why Ingrid
She has made
every mistake for you.
Nearly a decade of designing, pattern making, and constructing bags by hand
Built her first collection while simultaneously developing the curriculum
Worked directly with manufacturers to learn production from the inside
Identified the gap in design education before deciding to close it
Begin
The room is open.
Come inside.
Whether you are starting from scratch or building on years of practice, there is a path here that fits.
Start a Conversation