Photography: Milanka Fabjančič
About ten years ago, I first met Teja Kleč – a designer who left a strong impression from the very first contact. Her cheerfulness and very special sense of humor captivated me. We met while writing her portrait for the book Workshop Full of Clutter. But our collaboration then continued during the preparation of the exhibition Kreirajmo uprabno-uprobimo kraetivno, where Teja took care of the visual communication and graphic image. I remember that at that time I was also impressed by her logo: witty, playful, and at the same time incredibly recognizable. During our collaboration, it became clear that Teja is not only a brilliant creative, but also an extremely reliable and professional, in short, a person with whom it was comfortable to work.
She began her design journey at the Armada and Luks studios, where she co-created visual identities, packaging, and other graphic projects. But at some point, she felt she had to create something completely her own – something that would bear her personal signature.
Photography: Manca Jevšček
Thus was born Teja Ideja – a brand that embodies a sense of nostalgia, softness and connection with the native landscape in small illustrations and products. Her collection Greetings from Slovenia walks through motifs of rivers, mountains, fields and old postcards – with a tenderness that does not imitate, but interprets. It is a modern homage to memories and the landscape with which we are intertwined.
As she writes on her website, Teja designs products that “carry a warm embrace of a feeling called nostalgia.” Her notebooks, cards, textiles, and enameled pots aren’t just beautiful—they’re also environmentally conscious. She uses recycled materials, sustainable fabrics, and non-toxic paints. She’s committed to working with local artisans and small businesses who share her ethics. Each piece is thoughtful, warm, and human.
Notebook, Summer in Ljubljana
Sometimes it seems that those with the most humor carry the most depth. Teja is one of those rare people who can disarm with a witty remark and dive into a serious, frank conversation in the same breath. We recently sat on a bench in front of the oncology institute, where we exchanged thoughts about life and fear without embellishment.
For the past two years, Teja has been battling a rare form of cancer that developed from her appendix. Although her condition is serious, it doesn't stop her creativity - perhaps even deepens it. Each of her motifs, each product, is a silent tribute to life and what is truly valuable: the beauty we share with others.
In one of her interviews, she said: "When you really talk to someone about death, your fears start to subside." Her willingness to talk honestly about difficult topics is never pathetic - but brave, open, and human.
Teja's work goes beyond decoration – it is a reminder to live with heart, awareness and gratitude. Her illustrations are not just graphic elements – they are stories, feelings and handwritten letters to the everyday. All this wrapped in a visual language that does not impose itself, but quietly speaks. Perhaps this is why so many people feel her motifs as "something of their own".
You can admire her for her talent, her aesthetic sense, or her commitment to sustainability – but what remains most profound is her character: full of humor, tenderness, and incredible inner strength. Teja doesn’t just create products – she creates space for feelings that stay with us long after the product is in our hands.
You can view and purchase Teja's products here .