Team Spotlight - Viola Sutanto

Viola is the founder and creative force behind MAIKA, a stylish and sustainable soft goods brand inspired by delightful travel and everyday living. She is best known for her playful illustrations and textile designs that utilize unique patterns and color palettes, and distinctive hand-lettering. Her work has been featured on the Today show, The View, in Real Simple and O, The Oprah Magazine, and numerous other publications. She has over 20 years of experience in branding and design, and has collaborated with household brands ranging from Shutterfly, Peet's Coffee and Chronicle Books.

Viola is a Tory Burch Fellow. and the author of "“Eat Cake and 99 Other Small Acts of Happiness” and “Packaging Your Crafts”. Viola lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her family and finds big joy in the perfect cup of coffee, extra-dark chocolate and corny jokes by her kids.

What do you do at MAIKA? I am the founder and creative director at MAIKA where I oversee and execute the vision of our brand while caring for the well-being of our team.

What is your favorite part of your job? The continuous learning curve feeds my curiosity. Growing a brand means being open to new ideas and having an open mind.

It's Saturday afternoon. Where will we find you and what are you doing? With whom? Traipsing around at our local farmer’s market, playing basketball with my kids, or (when they let me) nestled on the couch with a good book.

What is your superpower? Getting creative with limited resources.

If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be? Probably on a tiny private island, lying in a hammock.

Words to live by? You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. - Robin Williams

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why? Maira Kalman. She’s an amazing illustrator and writer, and overall an extraordinary observer of life. I love how she celebrates everyday life by turning them into witty pieces of art.

What is the one thing, you can’t live without? Color

If your life could be a tv show which one would you want it to be? Friends 

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Sweet or Savory? So hard! Can I say 51% Sweet, 49% Savory?

Book or Podcast? Book

Favorite Holiday? Lunar New Year

Texting or Talking? Texting

Winter or Summer? Summer

Cats or Dogs? Dogs

One pet peeve? Mansplaining