As a product designer I spend a lot of time going to tradeshows, trend forecasts, meetups and networking events and always notice the lack of diversity in the room. For the last few years I have spoken to other designers and even bloggers about why nobody ever does a designer of color spotlight atleast during the month of February. I decided over a week ago to fill the void myself. My inspiration came most recently from following Wayne Sutton and his #28 Days Of Diversity: People Impacting Social Media blog. I have connected and learned about fellow colleagues in social media that I was unfamiliar with and hope to offer the same benefit by introducing you to a few brilliant creatives in the world of design. Sure we are jumping into the beauty of a new month, but history of people of color is happening daily. So lets continue into March, celebrating the color of design.

Day 23: Meet Trudy Miller
Trudy Miller is a Brooklyn based designer who started her design career as an architect. She has since branched out to creating both furniture and fashion which she sells from her Brooklyn based boutique Trudy Miller. Trudy’s design aesthetic in both fashion and furniture is all about utilitarian chic, and giving you all she can in form and function in the smallest package possible. Her furniture projects consolidate multiple pieces of furniture into one to offer more space in your home. She has created love seats that do double duty as both seating and storage with shelves and drawers. Trudys’ fashion and furniture both offer style with multiple functions. Trudy has taught at both Parsons and California College of Arts. You can visit her Brooklyn based store to see both her furniture and fashion collections or learn more about Trudy here.

I am traveling, living learning and enjoying SXSW and unfortunately I am having an issue with Photoshop on my laptop, so the series will resume on Wed, 3/17 and will go until we reach Day 28. Thanks for visiting, enjoying and sharing. Yall come back now ya hear!

As a product designer I spend a lot of time going to tradeshows, trend forecasts, meetups and networking events and always notice the lack of diversity in the room. For the last few years I have spoken to other designers and even bloggers about why nobody ever does a designer of color spotlight atleast during the month of February. I decided over a week ago to fill the void myself. My inspiration came most recently from following Wayne Sutton and his #28 Days Of Diversity: People Impacting Social Media blog. I have connected and learned about fellow colleagues in social media that I was unfamiliar with and hope to offer the same benefit by introducing you to a few brilliant creatives in the world of design. Sure we are jumping into the beauty of a new month, but history of people of color is happening daily. So lets continue into March, celebrating the color of design.

Day 18: Robin Myers
Robin Myers is a Mount Vernon, NY based boutique owner and interior designer. Robin opened her boutique and launched her design business as an answer to the lack of contemporary well designed products with a cultural influence. Robins’ design aesthetic is contemporary, a bit eclectic with lots of soul. Her style is evident the moment you enter the beautiful brownstone that houses her boutique or see her many interior design projects that include interiors for residences and commercial spaces. Robin encourages wellness through her designs by creating open beautiful spaces that are inviting to entertain in or sit in tranquility as well as the very items she carries in her boutique. Robin shops for her projects as well as her store with the love of the earth and sustainability in mind, offering items like bamboo travel utensils to go with stainless steel sleek lunchboxes, as well as picnic baskets to enjoy the beauty of a Spring Day. I had the pleasure of meeting Robin several years ago simply by walking in her store and we have become instant friends, she has a beautiful spirit that enhaces the beauty of the store and any place she designs. To see more of her work go to her website and with just a 28 minute ride from the city you can be nestled in the beauty of the Harmony Design boutique at 115 South 4th Ave.

Photos were shot at Harmony Design boutique.

As a product designer I spend a lot of time going to tradeshows, trend forecasts, meetups and networking events and always notice the lack of diversity in the room. For the last few years I have spoken to other designers and even bloggers about why nobody ever does a designer of color spotlight atleast during the month of February. I decided over a week ago to fill the void myself. My inspiration came most recently from following Wayne Sutton and his #28 Days Of Diversity: People Impacting Social Media blog. I have connected and learned about fellow colleagues in social media that I was unfamiliar with and hope to offer the same benefit by introducing you to a few brilliant creatives in the world of design. Sure we are jumping into the beauty of a new month, but history of people of color is happening daily. So lets continue into March, celebrating the color of design.

Day 16: Meet Crystal Windham
Today lets leave the home and jump in to the beautiful world of car interior and design and meet Crystal Windham. Crystal Windham is the Director of General Motors North American Passenger Car Design, where she heads interior design. She is the first African American woman to hold this distinct position. This came as a result of her being the lead designer for the award winning “Car of the Year,” 2008 Chevy Malibu. Crystal says “as an interior designer I create solutions and appealing spaces for customers.” Crystal draws her inspiration for her designs from fashion and technology, with research of Luis Vuitton purses leading her to come up with the two-tone upscale interior that led to her award winning car design of the Chevy Malibu. While auto design isn’t the traditional design path many creatives take there is a beauty and appreciation for a well designed car and that is something that Crystal has been bringing to GM since 1994. Crystal Windham was a great find while exploring people of color in the field of product design, what product do most people covet more than their cars these days. I googled Chrystal to learn more about her career and design initiatives.

As a product designer I spend a lot of time going to tradeshows, trend forecasts, meetups and networking events and always notice the lack of diversity in the room. For the last few years I have spoken to other designers and even bloggers about why nobody ever does a designer of color spotlight atleast during the month of February. I decided over a week ago to fill the void myself. My inspiration came most recently from following Wayne Sutton and his #28 Days Of Diversity: People Impacting Social Media blog. I have connected and learned about fellow colleagues in social media that I was unfamiliar with and hope to offer the same benefit by introducing you to a few brilliant creatives in the world of design. Sure we are jumping into the beauty of a new month, but history of people of color is happening daily. So lets continue into March, celebrating the color of design.

Day 15: Meet Michelle Butler
Michelle Butler is what I call a textile sculpture artist, her textiles are beautiful works of 3-dimensional art. Uk based Michelle, launched Isolyn in 2002 to house her collection of sculptural soft furnishings. Michelle says she is inspired by structural geometry and decorative forms found in nature. Her inspiration is evident when you see her flower cushion designs as well as the cubic sofa and molecule cushion designs. Michelle has designed everything from wall hangings, chandeliers, rugs, pouffes, and bags with her signature 3-dimensional style creating a collection of colorful bright innovative soft furnishings. To see more of Michelles’ work please click here to see her website.

As a product designer I spend a lot of time going to tradeshows, trend forecasts, meetups and networking events and always notice the lack of diversity in the room. For the last few years I have spoken to other designers and even bloggers about why nobody ever does a designer of color spotlight atleast during the month of February. I decided over a week ago to fill the void myself. My inspiration came most recently from following Wayne Sutton and his #28 Days Of Diversity: People Impacting Social Media blog. I have connected and learned about fellow colleagues in social media that I was unfamiliar with and hope to offer the same benefit by introducing you to a few brilliant creatives in the world of design. Sure we are jumping into the beauty of a new month, but history of people of color is happening daily. So lets continue into March, celebrating the color of design.

Day 14: Meet Sheila Bridges
Sheila bridges who has been named America’s Best Interior Designer by CNN and Time Magazine is the name that comes to most minds when you mention African American and interior design. Sheila’s design company started in 1993 defined by “thought evoking and visually stimulating design.” Sheila is an an author and has also hosted her own design show “Sheila Bridges Designer Living” for four seasons. Just a few years ago her love for design led her to the world of furniture and wallpaper design under the name Sheila Bridges Home, Inc and her designs have been carried at Antropologie as well as Bed, Bath and Beyond. Sheila is an amazing talent and has been one of the African American trailblazers in interior design. Too see more of her work and learn more about her many accomplishments, click here.