Threads of Freedom – An Interview with Design with Pride Contest Second Place Winner Viktoria Odor

Weaving love, diversity, and sustainability into a powerful piece of textile art.

For Hungarian textile artist Viktoria Odor, the Design with Pride contest was an opportunity to combine two of her core values: love without limits and care for the planet. Her project, Threads of Freedom, is a vibrant wall rug created with the tufting technique, blending the colors of the rainbow flag with a rich variety of textures and sustainable materials.

“I believe loving freely is a basic human right,” Viktoria says. “To me, the beauty of the world lies in its diversity, and I wanted to express that not just through color, but also through texture.” The work incorporates cotton, wool, alpaca, merino, and even yarn unraveled from a skirt knitted by her grandmother—each element carrying its own story.

Created almost entirely from natural and second-hand fibers, Threads of Freedom is not only a celebration of the LGBTQ community but also a statement on conscious, responsible design. Viktoria’s thoughtful approach and bold creativity earned her second place in the Design with Pride contest, chosen from over 50 entries worldwide.

Read the full interview with Viktoria Odor here to learn more about her process, inspiration, and why she believes in giving time for your true artistic voice to emerge.

1. Can you tell us what inspired you to create the winning project? What story or emotion did you want to convey?

I honestly believe that loving freely is a basic human right, so I wanted to create a wall rug using the tufting technique that features a gradient made from the colors of the rainbow flag - the symbol of the LGBTQ community.

To me, the beauty of the world lies in its diversity, and I wanted to express that not just through color, but also through texture. So I used a mix of cotton, mercerized cotton, wool, merino wool, New Zealand wool, alpaca and second-hand yarns.

The whole piece was created with sustainability and environmental awareness in mind: I mainly used natural materials (plant- and animal-based fibers left over from previous projects), and some second-hand yarn too - one of them was actually unraveled from a hand-knit skirt my grandmother made. I also used jute fabric as the base and attached a cotton backing with 100% natural glue.

All in all, I wanted this piece to stand not only for the LGBTQ community but also for conscious, responsible thinking about our planet.

2. What is your process for developing original ideas from scratch?

I believe inspiration can come from literally anything - any color, shape, sound or smell around us. Recently, the rusty pattern on an old mailbox caught my eye and sparked an idea for a future project. I like to keep my eyes open (even online), and whenever something grabs my attention or gives me a feeling, I save it for later.

3. Do you start with a sketch, an inspiration board, or something else?

I usually sketch my ideas digitally on a drawing tablet, especially if I’m planning something figurative. But sometimes I just let the process lead me - shapes and colors evolve naturally as I go. There was even a time when a few yarns randomly landed next to each other, and the composition basically created itself from that moment.

4. How would you define your style, and how has it evolved?

Honestly, I’m still in the process of finding my voice - I wouldn’t say I have a signature style just yet. A few months ago I felt like nonfigurative designs weren’t really my thing, but now I’m not so sure. What I do know is that I love experimenting with mixing different yarns, playing with textures and colors to create something special. I feel like that playful, tactile approach might become the core of my style in the long run.

5. What tools or techniques did you use to bring your project to life? (Traditional, digital, mixed media, etc.)

For this project, I used the tufting technique - which I think is an amazing way to create textile-based art, both aesthetically and functionally.

6. What challenges did you face when creating your artwork for the competition, and how did you overcome them?

One of the big challenges was working with jute fabric. Since it’s a natural material, it behaves very differently than polyester canvas: it doesn’t hold tension as easily. But tufting requires a really tight base, otherwise it’s harder and slower to work, and there's a risk of tearing. I was a bit nervous during the process because of that, but luckily, everything held up fine in the end.

7. How do you ensure your projects remain authentic and personal in a world full of visual trends?

I try not to follow trends, but rather create from what feels true to me. I just can’t make something that doesn’t reflect who I am or what I believe in. I’m not trying to stand out in the visual noise around us just for the sake of it - my goal is to make pieces that connect with the person who lives with them. I want to bring color, joy, and stories into their space. That’s also why I love working with second-hand or unraveled yarns: they already carry stories within them.

8. Do you follow any routines or rituals that help you stay creative and productive?

I usually start my mornings with walking the dog and doing some exercise - it really wakes me up. And if I hit a creative block, a long afternoon walk or a hike in nature always helps reset my brain. I also make sure to have a dedicated “me day” every month, where I do things that support my physical and mental well-being.

9. Which artists have influenced your work the most and why?

I’m very inspired by fellow Hungarian contemporary artists and independent makers: ceramicists, illustrators, graphic designers and product designers. Their work has a huge impact on me. I love their bold use of color and form, and I admire how many of them are embracing sustainability in their practice. Sometimes I’ll see a beautiful ceramic bowl, a print, a knit sweater or any other designed product and either the color palette or a form from it ends up influencing one of my rugs.

10. What advice would you give to someone just starting out and wanting to develop their own style?

Give it time. We’re constantly bombarded with visual input, and at first, everything that gives you a “wow” moment feels like something you want to do. But your taste evolves as you grow. It helps to regularly revisit and sort through your saved inspirations: that way you can see what really speaks to you, and what was just a fleeting interest. Over time, your authentic voice starts to emerge more clearly.

11. What does winning this competition mean to you, and how does it influence your goals as an artist?

First of all, it’s a huge honor to be selected among more than 50 applicants. But more than that, it’s an amazing form of validation that really fuels my creative process. I’d love to continue expanding and deepening my skills with this technique, and being part of such a creative and supportive community definitely makes that possible. This recognition reassures me that I’m on the right path - and it gives me the boost to keep experimenting, learning, and growing.

Feeling inspired? Join our next Domestika contests and share your vision with the world. Your art could be our next winner.