Our JOY comes from creating something UNIQUE and ARTISTIC. We BELIEVE that we are only truly happy and fulfilled when we are able to use our God given gifts and talents.
For years we worked the traditional 9-5 type jobs but felt like something was missing, so we would work harder and longer and earned more but we still felt unsatisfied and unfulfilled. We noticed that the thing that got us EXCITED each day and made us really HAPPY were the “side jobs” or artsy projects we were able to work on.
Slowly, the side jobs got bigger and bigger and we started to clearly see the path that we were meant to be on. We decided QUALITY of life was what mattered most, which meant spending more time with our family and being CREATIVE! From that moment, it was easy to make the leap…and we’ve never been happier! Our kids not only inspire us in our whimsical designs, they love to get involved in the creative process as well. Their opinions and ideas help fuel ours!
Introducing Daren…
Daren is a jack of all trades…he works with many different mediums from wood to clay, metal to paper, resin to glass and paint to plaster…and he can sing!
Daren studied fine art as well as industrial design at the Seattle Art Institute, Memphis College of Art, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and The Little Rock Arts Center. He’s had the opportunity of working as an Industrial Designer and Functional Artist for the last 24 years. Collectively, his name is featured on over twenty US design patents and over 100 products have gone into mass production that Daren has either designed or had a major part in the design process. His artwork and functional designs have been sold or featured in a multitude of galleries, museums, retail shops, restaurants, catalogs and magazines.
Daren also worked for many years managing restaurants which gives him a clear understanding of restaurant/bar designs and how they function.
Introducing Deanna…
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve loved creating. I was always painting, building, and making things out of whatever I could find—shoebox dioramas were my favorite.
After earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from Eastern Michigan University, I moved to Seattle where I met my husband, Daren. While there, I had the opportunity to work with Wizards of the Coast and later with Nintendo of America through V-Design, designing player’s guides and layouts for Nintendo Power magazine.
After starting our family, we shifted our focus to building our own business, dbaker designs. Since then, we’ve been creating everything from murals and sculptures to functional art and immersive spaces, using a wide range of tools and materials including painting, sculpting, glass fusion, and welding.
In 2020, I began teaching art—and quickly realized how much I loved it. I went on to earn my Visual Arts Education Certification (K–12), and now teach students from preschool through eighth grade.
I love bringing real-world art experiences into the classroom, helping students explore materials, take creative risks, and build confidence in their work. Whether I’m designing large-scale installations or teaching, my goal is the same: to create meaningful, hands-on experiences that inspire creativity.
Daren and I continue to combine our skills and ideas in everything we do. We truly enjoy creating together and are always excited to see where the next project takes us.