Larry Booth’s natural talent for design and architectural conviction has led him to nearly 50+ years of professional practice, where he has made significant contributions to the cultural landscape of Chicago in addition to the broader academic field. As Founder and Principal/Director of Booth Hansen, he has led by example, proving that strong design solutions come from an open and cohesive collaborative studio.
Architect Alda Lee continues to assemble a portfolio of meaningful work designing for entrepreneurs and startups with her practice ALA Studio. She has a long history of socially conscious contributions to the field and uses ethnographic research to inform her concepts. Although Ly’s practice tackles a wide range of projects, each space is imbued with the spirit of play and reflects her deep consideration for the client’s human experience.
Graphic thinking tendencies have spread into nearly every other aspect of design, as evidenced by the work of Hadiya Williams and her design studio Black Paper Paper Company. She draws from two decades of experience in the graphic arts to inform the latest developments in the field. Ceramics and Surface Design. Additionally, her work draws on a longstanding tradition of West African art and textiles, referencing the Black Arts Movement and the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century.
Los Angeles-based artist Susan Maddux creates works that are an incredible three-dimensional experience depictions. His origami-inspired technique transforms paintings into large wall sculptures through the use of proportion and patterning. The work also connects Maddux, a fourth-generation Hapa-Japanese woman, with the generations of artisans who came before her.
Creative practice is inextricably linked with life experience. And for interior designer Kate Rohrer, her time waiting tables and pouring cocktails in the food service industry still informs her approach to hospitality projects. His firm ROHE Creative is responsible for some exciting spaces, thanks to Rohrer’s impeccable use of color and penchant for rich textures that seamlessly blend different styles into unique personal narratives.
Passive house design, net zero goals and sustainability. These things may seem like a headache to some, but for Sarah Jefferies—who leads her namesake firm, Sarah Jefferies Architecture + Interiors—they are the inspiration to reach the strongest design solutions for people and the planet. . An expert in his field with over 20 years of experience, Jefferies is on a mission to reach net zero on all of his studio’s projects within the next decade.
After leaving his career in consulting, George Smart set out on a new path to pursue it. While researching design examples for a new family home, he noticed a lack of reputable online sources for each. They decided to create their own repository, which marked the founding of NCModernist and later USModernist – the world’s largest non-profit educational archive dedicated to documenting, preserving, and promoting modernist residential design.
Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Joe Jonas, Christian Bale, Beyoncé and Jay-Z. While celebrity may be one medium connecting these stars, interior designer Brigitte Romanek is another. The award-winning creative started styling interiors almost a decade ago and has already grown her creative practice into a highly sought-after design studio and is now venturing into product design.
Industrial designer Kiki Chudikova’s curiosity for artistic objects is harnessed into the design of every product, home decor and artefact she creates – with the hope that it will bring their owners a lifetime of prosperity or satisfaction. Chudikova has never limited herself to a material palette or color, she is always looking for a solution that invites conversation with future aspirations for dealing with food.
And the most popular Friday Five post of 2024 is…
Glass is mesmerizing, and for Dale Chihuly, a master of his craft, the qualities of the medium are incomparable. His work is included in over 200 museum collections around the world and his CV is equally decorated. He has received numerous accolades, including two fellowships, 13 honorary doctorates, and the title of co-founder of the Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. Chihuly is one of the few people expected to lead the development of this industry into the future.
Check out the rest of Design Milk’s year-end coverage Here,
