Supporting our Makers

There has been a major shift in identifying artisans, both by the design trade and the general public.?Craft has always been celebrated and now with the increase of e-commerce sites such as Faire and Etsy, more “Makers” are gaining the exposure they so deserve.??

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One of my former students, Jake Szymanski, is one such maker.?He has aligned with Faire and also has some of his creations on 1st Dibs.?He not only designs and fabricates amazing and distinctive forged metal furnishings, but is also available for commission work and one of a kind creations.?Jake was always a thoughtful student, pushing the envelope and designing custom products and furnishings for his projects.?He took his passion to a new level when he launched his eponymous firm and you can view his creative genius by clicking?HERE.

I recently learned about a Maker who has been culturally influenced by his upbringing in Ethiopia.?Both materiality and a nod to cultural dialog can be seen in his work.?From extraordinary interpretations of the iconic Klismos chair and stool, to occasional pieces with a global vibe, Jomo Tariku works are gaining popularity as well as notoriety.

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A former data scientist, he was a woodworker by trade and studied industrial design here in the United States and completed his thesis on contemporary African furniture design.?He went on to be a guest lecturer at the University of Kansas, his alma mater.?His designs are truly artistic creations, engineered with precision and grace.?His goal is to bring more awareness to global, and especially African design.?To check out more of Tariku’s work, click?HERE.

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I urge you to support our community of makers.?Bringing unique and truly custom works into your environment will enrich your living experience.?