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Happy President's Day to all of our fellow Architessans (tile lovers) and design enthusiasts alike! With February kicking off Black History Month, it's an excellent time to share our favorite designs revolving around diversity and minority leaders in the design community. We feature some of the most talented black interior designers and their works. Take a dive into our topic of the week and soak up some inspiration from our favorite designers.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and as always, enjoy!
35 Black Interior designers You Should Definitely Be Following On Instagram, Real Simple
Kicking off our Top 5 Design posts this week, we've found a list of 35 talented black designers and creatives to follow on Instagram! Although there are many more designers to follow than these 35, we suggest looking at this list and finding more black designers who inspire you. The works of these designers range from high-end interiors to minimalist styles. The inspiration here is genuinely endless.
Take a look at "Black Interior Designers Network and the Black Artists + Designers Guild, founded by Malene Barnett" to boost your next renovation. Check out the article and let us know if you see a designer who's speaking your design language!
Seven projects by architect Philip Freelon that champion diversity and inclusion, Dezeen
Phillip Freelon was an African American architect who led a career dedicated to celebrating black culture within the United States. Dezeen has rounded up their top seven projects to preserve his legacy. Shown above is his design for the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta, Georgia. Although it was constructed in 2014, the building still appears contemporary in 2021.
Freelon and architectural firm HOK designed the structure as a "centre that honours the past, present, and future of the global human rights movement, as well as a space dedicated to the achievements of the American civil rights movement." Check out the link for the six other incredible works Freelon was gracious enough to have left behind in his legacy, and let us know your favorite in the comments below!
Black Interior Designers You Should be Following, House Beautiful
Now presenting one of our favorite designers of all time, Darryl Carter, among countless other talented black interior designers. Based in Washington, D.C., Carter has impacted the design scene since his firm's inception. Setting aside a career in law to pursue his dream of being a designer, Carter continues to elevate spaces worldwide. Carter's style is "hard to pin down" and is "always sure to include antiques, but often in unexpected groupings or paired with stark, white walls or modern art." House Beautiful also highlights 50 other talents hailing from diverse backgrounds who celebrate their talent with pride. Check out the link for more!
9 Black Design Professionals Share Their Thoughts on Diversity in Design, Apartment Therapy
"The resounding refrain: Lack of visibility should not be connoted with nonexistence."
What better words emphasize the lack of diversity the design industry has previously seen. Danielle Deavens puts these powerful words in her writing for Apartment Therapy. We've chosen to feature her article as our fourth feature of the week. Deavens spoke with several black designers about their feelings towards the industry and how they think it can be more inclusive moving forward. Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of Forbes & Masters, Ashley Buttercup, Angela Belt, Brandy Brown, Elle Gibson, Sean Qualls, and Barry Johnson (just to name a few) speak about challenges they face in the industry. Deavens explains how their backgrounds affected their paths and how these designers use their talents to showcase their vibrant designs. Check out the article in the link above and read through all of the designers' thoughts, and let us know if you have a favorite in the comments!
12 Black Designers Reveal The Career Advice That Transformed Their Lives, Elle Decor
Our final feature of the week comes from our friends at Elle Decor, who interviewed 12 black designers - some of the industry's best. Get to know their design philosophies and how they open up about diversity in the field. Getting into asset management as a black business owner and some design talk, this article covers many aspects of the black community within our interior design network. One of our favorite quotes from the article:
"Flip that thing that makes you insecure or stick out like a sore thumb into your signature! Own it, and allow your gift to make room for you." — Michel Smith Boyd, Michel Smith Boyd Interiors
As always, we hope you enjoyed our top 5 of the week and we will see you next Monday!
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