Meet: Dila Myrianthopoulos

Dila Myrianthopoulos is one of the founders of Baron Venus, a contemporary homeware brand which designs functional yet poetic children’s tableware pieces.

Inspired by her children’s love of mealtimes, Dila, along with her husband, has created a collection destined to become cherished relics of the past. Each piece reflects the brand's commitment to elevating everyday experiences with thoughtful design and enduring quality.

Originally from Istanbul, Dila studied Art, Design and Environment at Central Saint Martins, graduating in 2007. Last year, Dila and Baron Venus were part of UAL’s stand at Top Drawer, the UK trade show with over 30 years of expertise.

Dila spoke to us about her tips for starting your own business.

Can you tell us about your time at UAL, what did you study and why did you choose that course?

I studied Foundation and BA in Art, Design and Environment/Spatial Pathway at Central Saint Martins. I was always intrigued by the psychology of space.
It was a course that connected art and architecture, and this is exactly why I wanted to study this course.

Can you tell us about your business. What or who is your inspiration/influence? 

I have a homeware brand called Baron Venus, with pieces designed for the children’s imaginary world.

My children are the inspiration behind my brand. I am constantly inspired by the way they look at things, the way they think of ideas, the way they make art.

What has been your experience of starting your own brand? 

I have been highly motivated to create Baron Venus. However, it’s been challenging in many ways. I move slowly and overcome the obstacles as I go and learn on the way. I have met amazing people throughout the journey which has been so rewarding.

What have been some of the challenges of setting up your business? 

Production, marketing and sales overall is very challenging.
Minimum order quantities, finding the right manufacturers, getting the right materials for the right price, pricing, limited funds, having 2 small children. These are some of the challenges that I have learned to overcome.

How do you manage your daily schedule? 

I manage all aspects of my business by myself. Generally, my daily schedule starts with admin work and research in the mornings, and I move onto design in the afternoon. I like to work on my handmade samples in the evenings with my children around. It’s not only relaxing for me but also good for my children to see me produce pieces from scratch. It motivates them to create and use their imagination.

As a small business, do you have any tips on how to promote your work effectively?

This is what I find the most challenging. I learn as I go. I try different things at different times and try to see the results.

Trust is the most important thing. Gaining trust happens over time. Therefore, creating relationships around the brand is very important. Being in places where you can talk about your brand and your story really helps, and markets are good places to introduce the brand and sell.

And lastly, what have been your career highlights? 

Creating a brand and producing different products with different manufacturers and artisans, not only despite having kids but actually involving them in the development is what I am proud of the most.

Within the first year of the brand, we have been invited to an event in a castle in Germany and to be part of Milan Design Week in Italy to introduce the brand. Some of our products have been published in great magazines across Europe including Elle Decor, Tatler and Milk Magazine.

I was also surprised to hear that Baron Venus has been selected by UAL as one of the 9 emerging businesses and that’s how we got to attend Top Drawer with the support of the university. One amazing thing that came out of being part of Top Drawer; Baron Venus is now stocked at Soroka London.

Connect with Dila:

• Website: baronvenus.world
• Instagram: @baronvenus