WantedDesign Brooklyn—a weeklong series of design exhibitions, workshops, panels, and open studios in New York in conjunction with NYCxDESIGN—welcomes students and professionals alike from the international creative community. Running May 16–21, the fair has become a hub for rising design talent.
The theme for 2019 is “Conscious Design.” Metropolis magazine caught up with fair founders Odile Hainaut and Claire Pijoulat who recognized the conscious design efforts of students from the UO’s Department of Product Design. Specifically, Hainaut pointed to how these students have been working with prison inmates to create the durable apparel line Prison Blues.
“This is the way the schools are evolving with their programs and curricula. Years ago, we received projects that were about chairs and tables; that was what the designer was trained to do. Now it’s not that anymore,” said Hainaut.
Product Design students Malia Thomas and Keara Vu will present the Prison Blues collection at WantedDesign Brooklyn. Product Design Department Head Kiersten Muenchinger and School of Art + Design Instructor Tom Bonamici will also be attending the fair with 10 Product Design students. Additionally, Sports Product Design students will host an athletic footwear workshop there May 18.
Read more in the Metropolis Q&A “NYCxDesign 2019: WantedDesign Focuses on Sustainability and Social Responsibility.”