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 24: Meet Fatimata Ly
I met Fatimata earlier this year when she was visiting the states and fellow DID designer, and we all sat and talked about design, love and life. We talked mostly about design and incorporating African inspired design and African designs into a modern home. I only recently found out that she herself had launched a ceramics collection. London based, Fatimata was a former gallery owner who has since gone on to do a B.A. at Central Saint Martins and launch a ceramics business. Fatimata is a globe trotter traveling all over the Diaspora, Europe and the UK and her work and writings reflect a global perspective. She has created a beautiful collection of chocolate boxes inspired by the Mayan pyramids as well as tin can inspired ceramics that were created for you to think about eating habits of various cultures. Fatimata is an amazing resource and designer and I look forward to seeing more of her work in the future. To learn more about her work visit Fatimata Ly

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.

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 22: Meet Robin Wilson
Robin Wilson is an eco-friendly interior designer who specializes in creating healthy homes. Her design firm Robin Wilson Design launched in 2000 is focused on the principles of eco-friendly design: sustainable, reusable, non-toxic and recyclable. Robin doesn’t have the conventional designers background holding a masters in real estate finance, but she has a modern sensibility to design with a great eye for color and detail. She is the designer behind Bill Clintons Harlem office renovation as well as the Kennedy Greenhouse. Robin has authored Kennedy Green House: Designing and Eco-Healthy Home from the Foundation to the Furniture about the transformation of the Kennedy Greenhouse which also offers tips on how to “greenify” your home. Robin’s NYC based firm has branched out into custom cabinetry with a license with Holiday kitchens. Robin spoke yesterday at the Architectural Digest Eco-Friendly Design panel and is doing city to city book signings, if you miss her at a signing you can learn more about her work and design company at Robin Wilson 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 21: Meet Scott Tucker
Scott Tucker is a talented brother that I stumbled on a few years ago after seeing him in a commercial and print ads that were done for Lincoln. He is a Brooklyn based furniture designer who has since added set design and event construction to his portfolio. He has worked and created a spa for Evian, event spaces for Elle Decor and a plethora of scenes and sets for many well known brands. He creates spaces that offer a branded experience for companies with custom designs, staging, and furniture. Scott’s furniture line called Raunjiba is a modern collection of lounges, tables and chairs made of Bamboo, Brazillian teak, and African Mongoi accompanied by rich natural stones. Scott’s work appears to have drawn cultural inspiration from Africa and Native America. His most inspired piece is the Nikko lounge which is a sporty sleek outdoor lounge equipped with wheels to move it about as the sun shines on your desck. Scott’s work is innovative and beautifully crafted. To learn more about his event prodcution designs go here and to see more of his furniture designs check out Raunjiba.

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 20: Meet Cecil Hayes
I don’t even know where to begin when introducing Cecil Hayes because she is one of the premier African American trailblazers in interior and product design. She launched her design company in 1975 and was really the first African American Interior designer to have world wide recognition. She has designed homes for Samuel L. Jackson, Jamal Mashburn, Wesley Snipes and a host of other celebrities. She has a furniture line under Mikala Inc which is a collection of handcrafted chairs, tables and consoles that are pure works of art. Cecil’s design aesthetic is color and culture friendly, using lots of patterns and shapes that offer a global look to many of the rooms that she has designed. Cecil has been inducted into the Smithsonian Design Archives as well as the Video Archival Collection for Life and Career Accomplishments along with being awarded keys to the city of Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. Her awards and achievements are endless and she continues to pass the torch with her philanthropic efforts starting Cecil’s Circle of One Foundation that works to inspire students and offer scholarships to high schools students interested in the arts. Cecil continues to design and author design books as well as offer tips and design help on her website. To learn more about Cecil’s work 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 19: Meet Sharne Algotsson
Sharne is a boutique owner, interior designer, and furniture designer based out of Philadelphia. Sharne began her career in Stockholm working at Ikea and has used that experience to launch her design company, Inside Design Ltd and set the stage for the beauty of her boutique Twist. When you walk into Twist it is like walking into a gallery that allows you to touch its beautiful art. The store showcases designs scoured from her global travel as well as gorgeous custom tables, chairs, and settees that she designed. Sharne is the author of 3 inspiring design books City Living, African Style, and she co-authored Spirit of African Design. I own “Spirit of African Design” and have had the opportunity to visit the Philadlephia store and her work is inspired. To learn more about Sharne and to see her work visit Twisthome.