Mejuri’s Post

Design Activism: Preserving Idealism and Fostering Purposeful Engagements At the heart of several design movements, such as Bauhaus, Memphis, or Droog, lies an impulse to rebel against established norms. During the period in which I studied design, our curiosity and idealism were shaped by conversations about how to utilize design to improve lives, disrupt unjust or exploitative practices in society, and preserve the joyful, playful, beautiful, and meaningful elements of the stories, rituals, and craftsmanship that have been carried forward by various communities for generations. I hope that my article will spark new comments and conversations. https://lnkd.in/gbUaZ3cR

I'm SEW excited to share this video story highlighting my daughter's entire journey (condensed into 10 minutes) into creating her sustainable volleyball uniform brand, Talullah Roxie. If you're curious about what the process looks like to be able to take a sewn product through R&D and small batch production using the industry's most innovative tools available at FABRIC Incubator, take a look. I tried to document each step from crowdfunding the idea all the way to developing the samples and ultimately manufacturing a very small test batch so we could use it at FABRIC as an educational example for other aspiring Apparel Entrepreneurs. What's next for Talullah? She sent samples to some college coaches with the goal that they scan the digital product passport and watch her highlight reels and ultimately want to recruit her. But also, if they express interest in the shirts, she may continue to move the project forward and officially start manufacturing these and develop more uniform styles beyond these practice jerseys. Just like any startup, this would require a larger investment and a lot more time and effort. I'll keep you all posted on the journey if she moves forward. In the meantime, if anyone has any connections to the ASU, NAU, or UofA Women's Volleyball coaches or any other university volleyball coaches, let me know. She's hoping to stay in state, but is also open to venture outside AZ for the right fit at a school that has a good sustainability, environmental science, landscape architecture, or even botany program. Thank you! #TalullahRoxie #SustainableFashion #FABRICtempe #SmallBatchProduction #VolleyballLife #DigitalProductPassport #KornitPresto #AthleticallyDriven #EthicallyMade #Rainf4ll #EngineeredPrint #Volleyball #FABRICIncubator #Rainf4ll #DigitalProductPassport #SustainableVolleyballUniforms https://lnkd.in/ggpD94Mt

🔄 Turning Perspectives Upside Down at The Alternatives Factory! Ever noticed the unique twist in our logo? Yes, the upside-down "A"! It's not just a design choice; it embodies our core values. Here's why: 🌈 For All, By All: The inverted "A" in mathematics symbolizes "for all." It's a nod to our commitment to inclusivity and diversity, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At The Alternatives Factory, leaving no one behind is the impact we want to contribute to. 🔁 Small Change, Big Impact: Creating alternatives isn't always about starting from scratch. Often, it's the nuanced adjustments that propel us forward. This principle guides our approach to creating alternatives. 👗 Tailor-Made Solutions: Our services are anything but standard. We craft tailored, out-of-the-box professional facilitation, coaching and training services designed to fit the unique needs of changemakers and their organisations. Our logo's distinct "A" reflects this bespoke approach, emphasizing our dedication to thoughtfully curated alternatives. 🌟 We choose to stand out. The upside-down "A" is our badge of creativity and innovation, symbolizing our journey of challenging the norm and thinking differently. So, that's the story behind our unconventional "A." It's a reflection of who we are, what we stand for, and how we approach the world of alternatives. Like it? Like it! #Innovation #Creativity #SDGs #Inclusivity #TheAlternativesFactory

🌙✨ What an Inspiring Session We Had with Jana! ✨🌙 Septembers online meet up was nothing short of amazing! We kicked things off with me (Clare) guiding us through some journal prompts to take a moment to think about how our bodies are feeling and what they might be telling us. We had a conversation about conscious entrepreneurship, focusing on how personal well-being directly influences our business success. Everyone brought such unique perspectives, creating a space that truly encouraged both personal and professional growth. A few standout moments: 📸 @jodiethackrayphotography shared brilliant insights into creating client-friendly environments in photography. 🌱 Sara @truckel_creative inspired us with her work in sustainability and activism. 🧘♀️ @andreeacasangiu reminded us of the importance of inner work for transformation in both life and business. Of course the highlight was Jana Robinson’s @theemeraldlounge discussion on sustainability in interior design. She introduced us to the concepts of regenerative and biophilic design, emphasising the use of natural and recycled materials. Her thoughts on the environmental impact of memory foam and microplastics really got us thinking about the decisions we make in our spaces! As we wrapped up, we shared our wins and expressed gratitude for the support and ideas exchanged. Clare and Alice even hinted at some exciting workshops and guest speakers to come! ✨ Can’t wait for more sessions like this, filled with learning, growth, and community. 💫 #ConsciousEntrepreneurship #SustainabilityInDesign #BusinessAndWellbeing #PersonalGrowth #CommunitySuccess #WomenInBusiness

Last week, we posed a question to our group of talented designers, as to who had taken Design & Technology at school. All bar one shared that they had. This week, the UK is shifting expectantly, nervously, into a new government - with hope for positive change. The education sector is no exception, and in particular, the organisations which are dedicated to nurturing young creative minds. When you consider that everything not made by nature has been designed, many would imagine that creative subjects would be given the support they need to foster young talent in this arena. This is strengthened by the fact that the design sector contributes £100 billion a year to the UK's GDP. And yet, creative industries are under threat by a severe lack of commitment to the specialist subject which supports growing talent in this field - Design & Technology. A report released earlier this month from the Design Council, The Design & Technology Association and a number of other design and education organisations outlined an incredible mission to upskill one million designers by 2030. This begins in the classroom. The report outlined highly concerning statistics that demonstrate the threat D&T in schools - and by extension creative industries - is under, and practical solutions to achieving this goal. We are throwing our support behind this commendable mission and continuing our own work in championing organisations which make it possible for young people to have access to creativity - namely the wonderful charity and benefactors of our Beautiful Thinking fragrance, Create Charity. We take a deeper look into this breakthrough report via the link below, where you can also find a link breaking down the ways in which you can get involved and show your support. Our team here at the nest will be doing exactly that. #designtechnology #creativeminds #nurturingtalent

NEW HORIZONS: part of the plan for 2024 is for yours truly, as a representative of the House of Upcycling as well as the wider professional upcycling for interiors industry, to engage in more public speaking, to evoke new (hopefully exciting) collaborations and various other business opportunity scenarios, basically to do things a little differently. Maybe it’s because our organisation has been around for a decade, maybe because with everything going on in the world as well as more specifically, within the world of interiors and craft (800+ store,80-year old US arts and crafts retailer Joann Inc filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, who’d have thought) working in the same old way just gets you the same old results and in 2024 we need more than that. We’ve done pretty well over the years, reached and often surpassed goals, even hit targets we didn’t even realise we’d set. The point is though that nothing ever stands still and neither should the way we work at the House of Upcycling. Until the day arrives when everyone who wants to buy or commission an item for their home (or their clients’ properties) considers professional upcycling a viable option, there’s work to be done. My remit involves many things but one of the most important is offering support and advice to those working in our industry. Members of the House of Upcycling receive this free, as part of their membership benefits, but I also offer consultancy to artisans working outside membership as well as those engaged in other crafts. A year ago I became a member of the Women in Furniture Network (WIFN) which has proved a fantastic resource for making new connections, learning how companies are dealing with environmental impact and more besides. WIFN recently launched its own Mentorship Platform and asked me if I would consider being part of this incentive. The Platform will offer Network members the opportunity to connect with and learn from experienced professionals within the furniture industry. I was of course very pleased to agree to being involved and look forward with interest to seeing where this new opportunity leads. New horizons await … #womeninfurniturenetwork #womeninfurniture #mentorshipprogramme #mentors #thehouseofup

Creativity Thrives on Courage.🌿 Staying within the lines and creating what everyone else does may feel secure, but real creativity requires courage. Whether you succeed or fail, it’s the act of experimenting that drives design forward. In flower design, as in life, it's essential to take risks, think differently, and trust your unique vision. This is where real growth and innovation begin. #CreativeCourage #InnovationInDesign #FloralArt #GrowthThroughRisk #UniqueIdeas #FlowerDesign #TrustTheProcess #BoldCreativity #StandOut

(Re)Making: Craft-Design and Women’s Empowerment in the Global South Convened by Dr Harriet McKay (London Met University) & Professor Anne Massey (University for the Creative Arts) Chaired by Prof. Anne Massey, James Hunting and Dr Jessica Kelly, with an introduction by Prof. Matthew Barac Wednesday 27 March 2024 10:00AM–2:00PM GMT (online) Hosted by AAD Research under the auspices of CREATURE and CUBE this symposium considers craft as a tool for economic empowerment. Around the world, women’s craft-design groups operate quietly but effectively across many areas of making from ceramics and textiles to beadwork and basketry. Often established as co-operatives, and acting as Not-For-Profit providers for upskilling, income provision, empowerment and sustainability, women’s handicraft groups play a vital role in numerous urban communities globally. Yet women’s designer-maker groups, particularly those of low-income areas of the global South (or global majority), have still to receive significant attention from design historians. We argue that this results in a dual inequality; the present limited recognition of such enterprises by the academic discipline compounding the often marginalized economic, social and visual-cultural spheres that women’s craft initiatives occupy as organisations. Seeking to redress this imbalance, we want to posit women’s craft-design as offering an alternative to western / global Northern, capitalist modes of production; remaking approaches and understandings of products as well as designed artefacts themselves. We acknowledge that this event is being supported by UCA: University of the Creative Arts and the Design History Society. EVENTBRITE LINK https://lnkd.in/evbJZTr4

🌟 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙'𝙨 𝙈𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚 𝘼𝙧𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 🌟 Are you ready to redefine your perception of art and interior design? Introducing ARTƎCONOMY®, a groundbreaking concept that merges art, finance, and sustainability in an unprecedented way. 🔹 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬: ARTƎCONOMY® challenges the conventional art world by eliminating the artist's role, creating pieces through random, unintentional actions. 🔹 𝐀𝐛𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: Know the exact value and price of every piece, with each sale increasing the value by 100 CHF, which is also donated to charity. 🔹 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐬: Enjoy a 10% shared return among collectors forever, making ARTƎCONOMY® not just an aesthetic investment but a financial one too. 🔹 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞: Made from recycled carbon fiber using a patented method, ARTƎCONOMY® is an eco-friendly masterpiece. 🔹 "𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧-𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞" 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲: Each piece is authenticated uniquely, ensuring it's impossible to replicate or forge, making it truly one-of-a-kind. Imagine owning a piece that not only enhances your space but also grows in value and supports charitable causes. 🔗 Learn more about ARTƎCONOMY® and become part of this revolutionary movement. www.arteconomy.ch Be Iconic, Be Unique, Become Our Collector. #Art #InteriorDesign #Innovation #Sustainability #Investment #ARTƎCONOMY #Lugano #UniqueArt #Charity

Hello LinkedIn fam, Today, Portia Adzo Dzokoto the proud founder of DesignSpark Initiative brings you some exceptional quotes from DesignSpark Community. Lets goooooooo Welcome to the intersection of #DesignSparks where every idea is not just conceptualized but also empowered to flourish. In the blueprint of life, every setback is just an opportunity for a redesign. Embrace the challenges, for they shape the masterpiece and this is my story. #DesignSparks Life is a constant process of creation and adaptation. Challenges are not roadblocks but rather opportunities to refine and improve our life's design. The metaphor of a blueprint emphasizes the intentional and purposeful nature of our journey. Just as a spark ignites a flame, I believe my passion can set my world ablaze. And DesignSpark Initiative would light up the path to my dreams because the fire within me is the fuel for extraordinary achievements. #IgniteYourPassion #DesignSparks Encouraging individuals to recognize and nurture their passion. The metaphor of a spark and flame symbolizes the transformative power within each person. Where "DesignSparks" serves as a reminder that everyone has the ability to design their own destiny. The beauty of DesignSparks lies in the imperfections of creation. Like a masterpiece in progress, my journey may have twists and turns, but it's these unique strokes that make my canvas extraordinary. Embrace the process, embrace your story #DesignMyMasterpiece Life is a work of art in progress, and every twist and turn contributes to the uniqueness of our stories so design your masterpiece and emphasizes the agency we have in shaping our lives, despite the inevitable imperfections and uncertainties. Lovely People, feel free to adapt these quotes to better fit your personal narrative. The African Leadership University Doing Hard Things #DesignSparkInnovators #WeDoTheMost #EmbraceDiscimfort #Embracechange