One question project: Daphne Maierna
Can you share your journey in understanding the impact of color on storytelling and how it has influenced your approach as a coach to creatives?
Throughout my journey, I’ve come to understand how colour shapes storytelling, both in visual narratives and in life.
As a colourist, I spent years shaping stories through light and colour. The right hue shifts a mood, reveals a character trait, and makes something unforgettable. But while I was bringing films to life, my own world felt drained of colour.
As one of the few women in a male-dominated industry, I thought working harder would help me fit in. Perfectionism kept me small. Self-doubt kept me quiet. I felt stuck, scrambling in the dark.
In 2013, pregnant with my second child, I was forced to confront the question: What do I actually want? And the answer changed everything. I walked away. Not just from my job, but from the belief that my worth was tied to how hard I worked. I wanted a life that felt like mine, a life with space to create, to be present with my family, and to let my curiosity be bigger than my fear.
As a colourist, my job was to get to the essence of a story, to truly understand a creative vision, because colour is deeply subjective. And that’s exactly what I did with my own life. I stripped away the noise and got honest about what I wanted, not what others expected, not what would look good on paper.
That moment kicked off a decade of personal and professional adventure. I searched. Learned. Invested in myself. And I realised: just as colour shapes a story, we shape our own lives. Our choices, our mindset, our level of trust, these bring our work and ourselves, to life.
Today, I coach and teach creatives who are done playing small. Who are ready to step out of the shadows into their own truth and self-expression.
Through coaching and workshops, I guide my clients through three stages:
Slow down – Without stillness, we sleepwalk through life, repeating old habits. To truly change, we first need to pause.
Get clear – Honesty is where transformation begins. By allowing ourselves to express freely, without judgment, withholding, or editing, we start to see patterns. And once we see them, we can break them.
Get active – Clarity leads to action. With a clear vision, we move forward courageously, bringing bold ideas to life.
Because nothing feels better than finally daring to exist in full colour.
To learn more about Daphne, visit her website.
About Daphne:
Ooh hello, my name is Daphne Maierna. I am Dutch with a hint of Italian. I grew up in Amsterdam and now live in Haarlem with my husband and two daughters.
I’m a creative, workshop facilitator and coach. My work revolves around creativity, work, and wellbeing.
Over the past two decades, I’ve shaped stories with colour, made meaning out of messes, and obsessed over human behaviour.
I work with creative people with big ideas who keep themselves small. Through workshops, talks, and coaching, I help them get clear on what they want, trust themselves, and bring bold ideas to life.
Because great creative work isn’t just about talent, it’s about having the courage to make it real.
If you want to be part of this project or know someone who would, please go here.