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 17: Aida Duplessis
Aida is a textile designer whom I found through a mutual friend that lives in Bamako. She creates her textiles completely chemical free using organic cotton mixed with vetiver (type of grass native to India) and natural dyes. Her goal is to contribute to a “cleaner and more sustainable planet”. Her textiles (tapis) are created for indoor and outdoor use and also creates a contemporary collection of accessories including pillows and throws that are scented. She launched Yeleen Design in 2003 in Burkina Fasu and labels all of her designs as made in Mali. To see more of her gorgeous textiles you can visit her site which is French Yeleen Design.

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.

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 13: Meet Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson started his career in furniture sales and after years of study in everything from 3 dimensional metal sculpting and interior design. He opened an interior design studio in 1995, later advancing to furniture and fabrication design. Bill’s designs are heavily inspired by nature which is seen by the fluid organic lines in many of his tables as well as the colors and textures used in his interior design projects. Bill’s aesthetic is unique and organic and has recently extended into a vintage leather apparel line. To see more of his work in design, sculpture, and interiors check out his website Bill Johnson Studio.

As a product designer I spend alot 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 12: Meet Imani Powell and Kaza Razat of Spye Design
I stumbled on this duo sometime last year and have been a big fan of the edginess of their designs ever since. There is a wittiness to their designs that are inspired. They are product designers based in Harlem that design items with an urban edge that are innovative and fun. One of my favorite designs is their brass knuckle soap, so you can go hard on the dirt. Their “melt candle” not only reminds us to take the candle literally but they also designed it “as a reminder of the fate of the worlds glaciers and ice caps” (quote pulled from site). Conversational design should be a welcome addition to all homes, design that makes you think or chuckle warms the heart and the home. Spye Design does a great job of capturing that essence while still remaining edgy. I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with next. To see more of their work visit Spye Design

All pictures courtesy of the Spye Design website
Spye Design will be a part of one of the upcoming “Laidback Experience” episodes in a few weeks.

As a product designer I spend alot 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 11: Meet Jeanine Hays
I have been a fan and virtual friend of Jeanine by way of her design blog Aphrochic. It seemed only fitting that at some point she would create her own collection. Jeanine launched a line of beautiful pillows last year during Design Philadelphia. Jeanine is the spokesperson for modern, soulful style. Her designs all have very ethnic references with a modern spin, the use of color and detail, give it great style while not loosing the ethnic allure. Jeanine prides herself on building a brand surrounded by being conscious of her environment, and incorporating sustainable practices by considering her choices for fabrication and printing. Her fabrics are truly luxurious, using primarily 100% Belgium linen. These pillows will upgrade your living area to give you modern soulful style with its global appeal and bold graphics. To see more of her designs visit her website (which is so easy to get lost in with the beauty and brightness of it colors and the pictures) click here.

All photography by Patrick Cline

As a product designer I spend alot 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 10: Meet the Designers Behind Royal Hut
Royal Hut is one of the first luxury brands in the world focused on creating products using African cloth. Mary Vinson founded Royal Hut in 2001, inspired by the beauty of the costumes worn by Nigerian Musician King Sunny Ade and his band. She created apparel and luxury home products of pillows, sheets, towels, kimonos and cusions all reflectiing the beauty of West African Textiles. Mary Vinson died in 2004 of cancer but her legacy lives on through London based Andrew Bannis who took over. He continues to research and source the most beautiful of West African textiles employing the beauty of tradional African arts to show how modern a look you can achieve with African Textiles. Andrew Bannis is set to launch a mens and womens collection using West African cloth this Spring as well. To read about the foundation set up to keep her creative spirit alive in Jamaica go here To explore the beauty of the textiles and the offerings of Royal Hut visit Royal Hut Tokeep up with Andrew Bannis and his upcoming fashion line and work with Royal hut visit his website http://www.lacompagnie.co.uk/

Each one teach one, if you have never heard of these designers or any of the others featured in this series, spread the love.

Photos of Mary Vinson and textiles courtesy of Royal Huts website. Andrew Bannis photograph in his stylish home via the Telegraph

As a product designer I spend alot 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 9: Meet Jaime Hayon
Jaime Hayon was born in Madrid and studied industrial design in both Madrid and Paris. Jaime is both an artist and designer with a very whimsical playful design aesthetic. All of his work has character and personality of it’s own from his camper shoe collection which is pure art to his collections of lighting, furniture, designer toys and ceramics. Jaime has also traveled the world doing interior design and installations that have been seen in Germany’s Vitra Museum, London’s Design Museum and a plethora of prestigious museums, hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments. He is truly a creative with the most mind blowing designs. To see his work and learn about the muti dimensional work of this talented brother visit his studio site. Hayon Studio

As a product designer I spend alot 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 this weekend 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. On this last day of February we press on with what was traditionally called Black History Month and continue to introduce you to designers of color because we continue to create history.

Day 8: Meet Ruth Babajide
Ruth is a recent graduate of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design who studied Ceramic Design and recently launched Merbi. Merbi is comprises her collection of ceramic design of table and giftware. Her designs show influence from her Nigerian culture where she introduces ceramic canisters which she says is “designed to introduce the Nigerian culture of storing large quanitites of dry food to a western audience.” The beautiful canisters can be used to hold everything from food to jewelry to notions with style. There is a real elegance to the simplicity of the colors, shapes, and the organic illustrations on the ceramics that add to its allure. To see more of her work visit her site Merbi.