since i started d*s in august of 2004 i’ve tested out all sorts of ideas, columns and features. some have tanked (d*s snaps) and some have floated (the d*s guest blog) but i’ve learned that the deciding element for me is whether or not i feel like the feature is giving something back to the community as a whole. for me, the biz lady events sparked an idea i’ve been trying to expand on for a few months now- connecting real life “experts” with up-and-coming designers who could benefit from their advice. so i thought, why not make this a (semi) regular column on the site? so, starting next week, d*s will feature one designer for a week each and introduce their work, their success story and then open it up for questions. when their time is up we’ll move to the next available designer. i’ve tried to invite people that i think represent various stages of running a design-based business so you’ll see bigger names mixed in with smaller names- i think real designers running real businesses have the most practical advice for our particular audience. so, we’ll be launching THIS MONDAY with textile designer JUDY ROSS. in the weeks to come we’ll cover stationery, wallpaper, graphic design, jewelry, interior design, book deals for the small designer and any number of topics under the sun. but i wanted to open it up to you guys first:
WHICH DESIGNERS WOULD YOU LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS?
i’d like to keep this indie for a while so please assume that for now i’m going to stick to people who aren’t as big as say, martha stewart. so, leave a note below and i’ll be sure to contact your requests and see if they’re available to share their expert advice.
[the coral fabric above is hable construction's "bead" in clementine- a gorgeous new colorway]
61 Comments
Good idea. Jewelry designers would rule. I’d like to see more of them on here for sure.
Janet
Woah, this is a really awesome feature Grace!
I’d really like to see Camilla Engman, I’m sure I’m not the only one!
PS – THANK YOU for the sneak peek into Sweet Juniper’s world, I have a wicked blog crush on Dutch and his little family ;)
thanks leyre!
i’ve emailed camilla so i’ll keep my fingers crossed. we have karin eriksson confirmed, too. people always seem to ask about the two of them together ;)
d*s
*isn’t sweet juniper the best? i was so nervous to ask them…
Excellent Idea Grace! A Graphic designer I would suggest: http://www.juliahoffmann.com
Hi grace- this is great. I know many of us are going to employ some key information from these successful designers. It might be completely irrelevant what I am going to ask for, but since my dream is to become a successful entrepreneur I would love to know a little more about Eva Jeanbart Lorenzotti-the brain behind Vivre and some others entrepreneurs. Thanks again for all the sharing.
since when is martha stewart a designer?
thanks guys
i think i might add ask a…design shop/entrepreneur owner in the mix, too ;)
d*s
martha stewart has designed interiors, tableware, bedding, furniture and lighting for various labels, including her major line for kmart. may not be super cutting edge but the woman knows how to run a successful design-based business (and magazine)
d*S
What about shop owners like Murray Moss and the Conran people? Maybe they have tips for small shop owners like us on getting a leg up on the competition?
Carl
I think this is a great idea! I would love to hear from Karim Rashid, maybe some top designers (not decorators so much). Thanks!!!
Melissa
It’d be interesting to hear from people who design for screen, for instance Chris Garrett of http://chrisgarrettmedia.com .
Kenneth Brown, Jonathan Adler
NO MORE ADLER, SERIOUSLY!
Hey Fellow Anonymous, we all have a right to our own personal taste and I happen to like Jonathan Adler. Let’s keep things positive shall we?
Ilse Crawford
Wary Meyers, Erin Adams
-arin
It’s not negative to say “NO JONATHAN ADLER”. Some of us feel it’s negative to keep reinforcing a designers that’s already overexposed.
To each his own but I second the “NO JONATHAN ADLER” comment.
Hannah
angela adams would be nice. (sure hope she’s not considered overexposed!)
rose
love the idea! some suggestions – miles redd, markham roberts, john robshaw, lulu dk, david netto
How ’bout Tyler Hayes?
I’m really looking forward to this.
Ideas:
Virginia Johnson
http://virginiajohnson.com
Lotta Jansdotter, Jill Bliss, and Hable ladies.
-Angelina
I’d love to see Anne Kyyrö Quinn and Helen Amy Murray.
Wow, what a great idea Grace! I am really looking forward to reading the new column!
I would love to see some jewelry designers answer questions too…like passementerie or linea nervenkitt…someone indie who is well on their way to becoming established.
I’d love to hear from Kate at Three Square Design. I love your web site and her web design.
have a look at the stationery designers poppies for grace at http://www.poppiesforgrace.com their work is beautiful.
I’d love to hear from Maria of Port2Port Press! Her work is beautiful…Or/And D-Bros…
Hey Grace! I think some other wonderful, successful indie artists and textile/goods designers we could learn from are susie ghahremani from http://www.boygirlparty.com, arounna from http://www.bookhou.com, alena hennessy, lisa congdon, tracy from happyowlglass.com, stephanie from http://littlebirds.typepad.com/, mav of port2port press, Alicia of http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/ and my one of my favorite jewelry designers- jenny vorwaller aka: http://www.queenthings.com and http://www.jennyvorwaller.com/blog/…
oh my goodness, I could go on and on!
:) jena
yeah, especially because helen amy murray was getting 3000 quid per square meter for her leather work 4 years ago….
I’d love to see Susie Ghahremani of http://www.boygirlparty.com!
oh! brilliant idea :) deanne cheuk?
I’m not in the business but am interested in how trends become trends and how designers pick up on trends and so I would be interested in designers who are leaders especially in the material print design. It must take a great leap of faith to go all out on your hunch that what you design would sell. I’d be interested in print and fabric designers. This is a great idea.
Great idea! I’d love to see jewelry artisan Michelle Bellanti of http://www.bellantijewelry.com
i would love to hear from Meg Mateo Ilasco about her design business and her books. and maybe the people who started cloverfield press {small edition books}. love the idea. thanks g.
I like this idea but don’t see how it’s all that different from the podcast interviews (which I downloaded to my iPod and which were great multitasking creative/entrepreneurial inspiration while working out!). I particularly enjoyed hearing business advice delivered in the context of the different personalities (Maria at Port2Port came across as so modest and kind; the Fred Flare guys as super-playful, etc).
The two potential interviewees I’d like to know more about might not be considered indie enough but there’s just not enough info about their creative process out there and I am utterly entranced by their aesthetic: Linda Fargo/David Hoey and Eugenio Recuenco. So fabulous!
Great idea! How about some Brooklyn Designers like Wud Furniture or Zia Priven? Those are some of my favorites from Bklyn Designs.
Linda Fargo would be great to hear from.
Guess those of us that like Jonathan Adler’s design arent welcome here
any of the domino 10
Please remember, design is not design, is not design. Graphic design is such a different medium than textile design. Don’t lump us all together.
carol
no one is lumping anything together. design is an industry encompassing many different areas and to leave or single one part out of a project like this would be a disservice to up and coming designers of any type.
feel free to create something similar for only graphic designers if you like. i’m trying to make this program benefit as many people as possible, not only one type of designer.
d*s
Oh please, Carol. I’m a graphic designer and I’m not offended. When I majored in graphic design I do believe I went to a DESIGN school. Don’t be so offended by your own industry.
Pat
Kenneth Brown, Kenneth Brown, Kenneth Brown.
When I’m thinking about any project, I always think WWKD? (what would kenneth do).
Sherwood Hamill
-arin
Nice idea Grace! You dodon’t mention furniture, but I’m always hopeful.
Here are some designers I’d be interested in hearing more about:
Rie Egawa and Burgess Zbryk
Egawa + Zbryk http://www.egawazbryk.com/
Chris Lehrecke http://www.chrislehrecke.com
Liz Galbraith & Ephraim Paul
Galbraith & Paul http://www.galbraithandpaul.com
Joe Futschik of Jef Designs http://www.jefdesigns.com
Marie Christophe http://www.mariechristophe.com
Unto This Last http://www.untothislast.co.uk
Studio Louise Campbell http://www.louisecampbell.com
Michael Iannone
iannone:design
http://www.i-sdesign.com/
Susan Bradley http://www.susanbradley.co.uk/
GAMplusFRATESI http://www.gamplusfratesi.com/
Love this idea. I notice fashion designers are not on your list. I would love to see Rachel Roy featured, she does mostly clothing with her husband Damon Dash, but also some jewelry, I believe.
I’d love to see some furniture too.
How about:
Desiron, http://www.desiron.com
Skram,http://www.skramfurniture.com
Wud Furniture Design, http://www.wudfurniture.com
I’d love to hear what the designers over at Portland’s Egg Press would have to say… I’ve always been a huge fan of their letterpress work.
I would love to see some furniture designers…and maybe some vintage/antique furniture store owners to discuss what to collect now, what will be “hot” in the future, etc.
Courtney
How about what designers think is good design who aren’t so trend oriented.
liz
names would be awesome. please feel free to share.
d*s
Miles Redd – brilliant NY interior designer.
Amy Butler, textile designer; Heather Bailey of Freshcut, textile designer; Hable Construction.
Great idea!!
I would love to hear from jewelry designer, Sally Brock of Fancyjewels.com.
how did i miss all this excitement? great idea. can’t wait to read these. thinking if i can add anything…
This is going to be exciting! But I’m drawing a blank at the moment as far as designers. Tricia Guild always pops into my head first.
I have a question….What font did you use for “ASK A DESIGNER”? I love it.
how about Tord Boontje…
Dear Patrick M, I’m not offended by my industry, if anything, I am proud of it!!! I’ve been in the field 30 years. And I see us as a separate field. Why do people like you see only the negative!
I’d say a top choice would be Wary Meyers. I love the stuff they’re doing for Time Out New York.
Also Eley Kishimoto. Although they may be too ‘big’ for your concept.
Good idea though!
I am a graphic designer who is looking at gradually starting my own online stationery company. I plan to just design only. The pieces will be printed on letterpress and offset using a print vendor. I would love if you could get someone on here to discuss this. It would be extremely helpful. Thanks!
my husband and i just bought a crooked home built in the 1830′s. We love it and are re-modeling it ourselves. I love design and coming up with cheap and savvy solutions for unique spaces but my bathroom has me stumped. The wall above the sink is extremely sloped. To wash your face you have to be careful not to bump your head. I was wondering if wallpapering such a sloped wall would look odd? Or, are there any ideas you could give me for extremely sloped ceilings, above bathroom sinks? The space is tiny and i was originally thinking of chinoiserie wallpaper in red tones. Any ideas or feedback?
Cheers – Jen
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