Who on earth is Margo Mitrovic?

There’s no ‘I’ in ‘Team’, but there is a Margo – at least in ours, anyway. She’s one of our superstar designers, and while she needs no introduction, here’s one coming right up. Join us as we discuss challenger brands and 3D printed trees.

Who are you and what do you do at KOTA?

Hey there, I’m Margo, a Mid-weight Designer with a focus on brand and web.

How did you get here?

My two greatest passions have always been architecture and graphic design. I initially pursued architecture, working as an interior architect in well-known London studios for about eight years. During this time, I was also freelancing as a graphic designer on the side. Like many people, the pandemic gave me a different perspective on what I really want to be doing with my career, so I decided to go all in on graphic design. But I didn’t want to be a ‘one-man band’ – I wanted to work as part of a creative team. When I came across KOTA, I was immediately struck by their talent and strong team spirit – and a few months later, here I am!

Three favourite brands and why?

An iconic brand that always inspires me is Apple. They were pioneers in treating user experience as a tool to create a strong emotional connection with people. Their stylish products are so intuitive and easy to use – I’d say they are still the best in their industry.

Oatly is another brand I admire. Founded in the early 1990s, it has gone from a small player in the vegan market to a $10 billion hyper-growth company. I think their success comes down to a combination of bold brand positioning, a humorous tone of voice and environmentally-driven principles.

My third pick would be Monzo, one of the UK’s first digital-only challenger banks. In my opinion, Monzo is one of the most innovative companies in the banking space, giving customers a far more transparent and frictionless experience. As a design fan, I thoroughly adore their forward-thinking and vibrant visual identity.

Good web design is…

…super convenient, intuitive and gives the user an enjoyable experience while also effectively communicating the message of the website.

What do you geek out over?

As someone who is crazy about art and nature, I always wanted to find a way to use art as a tool for positive environmental change. A few years ago, I ran a little project on Kickstarter. The idea behind it was to create 100 different artworks of trees, which directly funded the planting of 100 real trees in collaboration with Trees for Cities. I created each artwork myself using a wide range of styles and techniques such as charcoal, fabrics and 3D printers. The project received a lot of support from people all around the world and was successfully funded in 2018. As a result, 100 trees were planted in the UK, which is something I’m really proud of. (Take a look here.)

Where do you live? What’s it like?

In 2020, I moved to Slovenia, a beautiful country in the very heart of Europe. Although it’s small, Slovenia is blessed with a diverse landscape, from the soaring peaks of the Julian Alps to the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. One day, you could be snowboarding down the mountains and the next, you could be soaking up the sun at the beach. Italy is only an hour’s drive away from Ljubljana, the capital city, so it’s the ideal place for a getaway :)