'Without SLIEB, my webshop would never have taken off'
She designs artwork for musicians while quietly building her own online store. But how do you combine all that with a busy programme? For Graphic Design student Emily Welbers, the answer came in the form of SLIEB (Interns in Your Own Business). A program that finally gave her the space to move forward. ‘Suddenly, I had time to work on ideas that had been living in my head for ages. Ideas that never made it past the notes app on my phone.’
Emily feels completely at home in the Graphic Design programme. ‘The classes are small, which means there’s real attention for each other and the kind of feedback you actually grow from. That makes such a difference.’ She already has a clear vision for her future: working three days a week in her own business, specialising in artwork for musicians. ‘I recently designed a backdrop for an artist,’ she says enthusiastically. ‘I love doing things like that. Music is my passion, but playing an instrument isn’t exactly my talent. This feels like the perfect way to combine both worlds.’
An entrepreneurial path that just happened
Starting a business was never part of a grand plan. ‘Becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t a conscious decision. It just happened.’ During the pandemic, musicians began approaching her to design artwork. She also sold work through Etsy. But once her programme began, things became overwhelming, and she pressed pause until last year. ‘I started feeling that itch again. I wanted to relaunch, but do it properly this time.’
Right around then, she received an email about SLIEB. ‘I immediately thought: this is my chance. I can really build my webshop without risking my student funding or slowing down my degree. And once I graduate, I’ll be ready to go.’ There was just one complication: she wanted to build everything herself and keep the entire process within the EU. No AI tools, no American platforms. ‘That made it ten times more complicated,’ she laughs. ‘But those principles are important to me. What SLIEB gave me most of all was time.’
Building, testing and starting over
Setting up the webshop turned out to be far more complex than she expected. ‘I definitely underestimated it. I kept thinking I was almost finished, and then I’d receive feedback that taught me a lot, but also meant going back and revising things again.’ Within SLIEB, the webshop became a major focus, even though her real passion lies in designing artwork. ‘The webshop is something I’m building alongside that. But I’m sure it will benefit me after graduation.’
The biggest advantage is simply having the time. Things you would normally squeeze into evenings or weekends can now be developed properly.’
A small group, strong support
Emily looks back very positively on the SLIEB experience. ‘The biggest advantage is simply having the time. Things you would normally squeeze into evenings or weekends can now be developed properly.’ The group was small, which she appreciated. At times, though, she felt slightly out of place. ‘During the LevelUP! coaching program at Saxion, I sometimes thought: everyone here already knows everything about VAT, and I don’t. But that’s exactly what made it valuable. There was plenty of space to ask questions.’
Stepping outside of the ArtEZ bubble
At Saxion, entrepreneurship is approached in a practical, business-focused way. Emily found that refreshing. ‘In LevelUP! there’s less focus on the creative sector specifically, so you hear completely different perspectives. I really liked that.’ What was the most important thing she learned? Networking. ‘How to find networking events, how to pitch yourself, those things used to feel intimidating.’ It paid off quickly. ‘Last week, for the first time, I visited the Starters café. I sat down with all the funding organisations. I never would have done that before.’
'It takes more time than you'd think'
Emily would recommend SLIEB to any art student with entrepreneurial ambitions. ‘It’s a unique opportunity. Your studies continue, you keep receiving student funding, and at the same time you’re building your own business.’ She believes many students underestimate how much time it takes to build something professionally. ‘It takes so long to get everything set up properly. If you only start after graduating, you’re easily a year behind.’ As the first Graphic Design student to join SLIEB, she looks back on the experience with pride. ‘It’s ideal if you already have a business and want to take it seriously.’
SLIEB allows students to use their internship period to develop their own business. Together with coaches from ArtEZ and Saxion, you work on your business plan, vision, network, and entrepreneurial skills. It’s an opportunity to grow, experiment, and build your future, all while earning credits ECTS.
