Stakha’s Post

[DESIGN AFTER] Last Monday Lemens & Partners hosted, what we hope will become a tradition.  We’ve obviously hosted events before, but we wanted this one to be different. As many of you know, we are a #headhunting and #recruitment agency, specialized in Creation and Design, which means we are in constant contact with #designers, from all walks of life, from the four corners of the world. We speak to the most #creative design professionals in different fields. We interact with design schools, meet designers at all levels and recruit from junior to vice-president level. We #love people and we love our job. From all these interactions with these fabulous designers, we have one huge takeaway: most designers do not have many opportunities to meet other designers outside of their own industry. Basically, if you’re a fashion designer, you might not have had the opportunity to meet a car designer… Where would you? So, we decided that this needs to happen, and who better to set this up, but us! That’s exactly what Design After is about. A place to meet creative people who are outside your industry. Assemble people from around the world, in one place. They might not be producing the same design, but they are designers! This was our first Design After, and we plan on it becoming a #tradition. Stay tuned... - #LemensAndPartners #Design #EventDesign #Creation #Creativity #RecruitmentAgency #DesignAfter #Paris

Did you know that designers are the secret architects of our everyday experiences? They're not just creating—they're shaping how we navigate and interact with the world around us. From the layout of your favorite app to the comfort of your office chair, ease of a light switch, and seamless experience at a hotel- designers are behind every detail that makes our lives easier and more enjoyable. But their role doesn't stop at making things look good. Great designers listen, observe, and weave the stories of our experiences into the fabric of their creations. They're the curious minds who question the status quo and constantly think about how to improve our interaction with the physical and digital world- and they help us reflect on our emotional selves. And perhaps most excitingly, designers are the ultimate experimenters, bringing ideas to life through prototypes and pushing boundaries to drive innovation. When design is great- you don't even notice it! Designers are agents of change, transforming our stories and challenges into tangible solutions.

I was really chuffed to be called a "unicorn" today 🦄 But, it made me stop and think about how I became said unicorn.... I’m the daughter of a builder and a midwife, and I think that pretty much defines everything I do. I’m a builder, a maker, but also a carer. My journey started at Swinburne, where I studied traditional communication design. At 20, I headed to London, eager to see what life was all about. My first job was with Kirsten Johnston 莊沛榕 and that experience was formative. I learned the ins and outs of brand strategy, setting up systems, being disciplined and really honing my craft. Learning #1: I have a love for strategy. Back in Australia, I found myself in Mornington doing property marketing. Those years gave me a deep love for positioning and strategy, figuring out what a place should be about, and connecting with the community that would call it home. Learning #2: I have a love of people. Then came Shanghai, where I got the chance to work with Kirsten again. Shanghai was incredible — being a place brander over there ignited my passion for multidisciplinary design, aligning places with tenancies, events, and retail innovation, all coming together to create a seamless user experience. Learning #3: I love working in place. After Shanghai, I came back to Australia reflecting on everything I’d learned. I saw that the traditional process of design — where architects, interior designers, and brand teams all work separately — was inefficient and often led to conflicting strategies. I wanted to change that, and I was about to start my own business when I found a job at FreeState. They were already doing exactly what I’d envisioned, and I was thrilled to join their team. My time with Adam, Charlotte, Nathan, Leigh, Mark & Su was filled with learning from amazing people — researchers, anthropologists, designers, architects and more. I was surrounded by these bubbles of inspiration and soaked up everything I could. Then, I got the chance to strike out on my own. With the guidance and encouragement of Tim Dow, I’ve spent the past year and a half as an independent Human-Centred Design Consultant, Experience Designer and Strategic Designer, or as I like to call it, a “Feeling Designer.” During this time, I completed CoDesignCo training, did a post-grad in Aboriginal Studies at The University of Notre Dame Australia with on-Country time in Broome, and underwent six months of business coaching with Trang Nova. These experiences have helped me grow both personally and professionally. Now, as I look ahead, I’m grateful for everyone who’s been part of my journey so far — thank you. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next, and I look forward to continuing to work with all of you, as a bit of a unicorn 🦄. #Gratitude #CareerJourney #HumanCentredDesign #Placemaking #FeelingDesigner #ExperienceDesign

One of the ingredients that allows CAG to roll out our unique Changi Experience for passengers and visitors is our Design Management team, who works with both internal stakeholders and external parties on the design-related aspects of projects in Changi Airport. Team member Wong Meng Kwan adds, “We're not just a service provider for our colleagues, vendors and contractors - we’re also their creative partner to value-add, and elevate design standards.” The results of such collaborations can be seen both in large-scale projects, like the Terminal 2 expansion, to smaller but equally important touches, such as subtle decorative flourishes which transform functional items like trash bins into aesthetic objects. Pulling these off requires the team to strike a fine balance between functionality, cost, aesthetics, timelines, and operational and commercial requirements. But Meng Kwan says, “At the heart of everything, it is the Changi Experience that guides us.” The Design Management team is hiring – if you have a collaborative spirit, are keen to solve problems through design, and are curious about the interplay between travel, people and design, find out more about the role here - https://changi.me/DMli24.

I've read about 500 job descriptions, so you don't have to. "We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds" is a common statement in company blurbs. But scrolling down these same candidates often need specific and substantial experience in that particular industry. There seems to be a hesitancy to recruit talent from diverse professional backgrounds and other industries. 🤔 Whilst in this economy it's understandable to prioritize industry experience and you could argue that businesses don't need to recruit outside their industry because of it, I do think those businesses are missing a huge opportunity. Recruiting someone from a different industry can bring a completely different perspective that often far outweighs the slightly longer time they may need to get up to speed with industry nuances and jargon. Most industries are influenced by others. Here’s some examples: 🚗 Automotive and 👠 Fashion: The sleek lines, bold colors, and futuristic designs found in automotive engineering often influence fashion designers seeking inspiration for their collections. BALENCIAGA Ralph Lauren and more recently a post-MOSCHINO Jeremy Scott have all found runway inspiration from cars. In the same way, fashion trends and luxury materials like alcantara suede and carbon fiber frequently find their way into car interiors and accessories. 🛫 Aerospace and 🏚 Architecture: The innovative structural designs and materials used in aerospace engineering have inspired architects like Zaha Hadid & Norman Foster in their building designs. Concepts such as lightweight construction, aerodynamics, and sustainable technologies from aerospace can be applied to architectural projects, leading to groundbreaking structures and sustainable urban development. 🦐 Food and 👗 Fashion: Food and drinks have been a playground for a lot of luxury brands over recent years - Fendi, Prada Group and Dior are a few, with Louis Vuitton being one of the latest to open The Place in Bangkok, a "multi-faceted experiential building" home to a LV cafe, among other things. And you only have to look at some of the world's top restaurants to see they are inherently influenced by fashion. The list goes on, but the point is that innovation often stems from the collision of conflicting ideas and approaches. I've thought a lot recently about the message behind Balenciaga's latest show, exploring the notion that creativity is the new luxury. I think businesses that adopt a transdisciplinary approach have the potential to be the most creative, and that applies to talent acquisition too. I'm interested to know what other people think - have you managed to move industries recently, or as a hiring manager do you actively seek out candidates from other industries? #innovation #transdisciplinary

I had a great time pouring my heart out in this podcast. From times when I had no hope for my future to actually making a career out of my passion - Watch this episode of The Duct Tapes where I share my design journey so far and some valuable tips which you can use to make your remote job search more effective! Thank you Raza Mohsin for inviting me to the podcast and for providing this platform where experienced individuals can share their learnings with everyone. #Productdesign #RemoteWork #Podcast #CareerJourney #JobSearchTips

𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥! I believe that working in isolation is a surefire way to limit your creative potential. Collaboration is not just beneficial; it's essential for any designer looking to enhance their creativity and broaden their horizons. In my opinion, collaboration brings diverse perspectives and experiences that are invaluable to the creative process. When we open ourselves up to new opportunities and start working with others, we not only learn and grow but also create more innovative designs. Many designers, in my view, are unaware of the immense benefits of collaboration. If you also don’t know where to start, here are 3 key advantages of collaborating in the creative field: [𝟏] 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞: Collaborating with other designers introduces you to new ideas and techniques. For instance, I learned about the intricate process of furniture making and sustainable product sourcing when working with a brand that brought pieces from Italy and Singapore. [𝟐] 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬*:* Every designer has unique stories and experiences. By working together, we gain insights into different approaches and solutions, enriching our own design practices. For example, attending design exhibitions and seeing art made from everyday materials can be incredibly inspiring. [𝟑] 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬*:* Collaboration encourages us to think outside the box and experiment with new ideas. It helps us stay updated with market trends and innovative products, which in turn fuels our creativity. Collaborating is essential if you want to maximize your creative potential. And seeking out diverse experiences helps you enhance your designs and innovate more effectively. Remember, success in creativity comes from: → Open-mindedness → Diverse perspectives → Continuous learning P.S.:- Have you collaborated with other designers yet?

I loved this article by Emma Jacobs and Melanie Gerlis in the Financial Times earlier this week, which looks at corporate art collections and how their role within large corporations is evolving. They directly pose the question: What is the point of corporate art collections? Corporations once selected art for their offices based on prestige and investment. Today, the focus is shifting towards engagement and storytelling. The article features a quote from Britta Fäber, Head of Art and Culture at Deutsche Bank—arguably one of the best examples of curated corporate art collections: "Art should have a positive impact on employees [providing] a vibrant, creative environment for them to work in”, and should be a way to attract “talented new employees as well as clients”. This perfectly encapsulates everything we strive to achieve at Artiq. We believe that the value of art is more than just decoration and that a piece doesn’t need a hefty price tag to make a significant impact. It's true that the value in purchasing an artwork as a collector lies in its scarcity, and that is why so much more money changes hands for the works of artists that are dead rather than those who are alive. The value for office spaces is totally converse, in that by investing in local artists, businesses can create access and opportunities for communities that may traditionally have been overlooked or marginalised. This all feeds into businesses wanting to develop a narrative about who they are and what they represent, and that story is constantly evolving. Physical spaces are at the heart of this and the narrative of interiors—closely intertwined with brand storytelling—matters more than ever before. The creative sector can capitalise on that demand, finding ways to fund the next generation of artistic talent outside of government grants or subsidies. If the art and corporate worlds can continue to bridge the gap between them, our interior spaces will become more vibrant and enriching than ever before, to the benefit of business, staff, guests and creatives. If you haven't read it already, I couldn't recommend it more: https://lnkd.in/e6PGqPGv #corporate #art #emergingartists #artagency #curation

When it comes to workplace colors, some brand managers or C-level executives mistakenly believe that brand colors must dominate the office, which is not necessarily true. The application of color depends on the space and the extent of the area to which the color will be applied. Some colors are versatile and safe to use in nearly any space, while others, like red or similarly striking colors, require careful consideration. This isn't just a matter of personal preference; it's based on what environmental psychology research indicates. It’s important to note that the meaning of colors can vary across cultures. For example, the perception of yellow in Western cultures differs from that in Chinese culture. Therefore, understanding the prevalent cultural context is essential before making color decisions. This approach is illustrated in the attached 3D visualization of Adze Designs' design for GroupM's workplace in Cairo. #workplacedesign #workplacestrategy

Building or renovating one's corporate headquarters presents a perfect opportunity for merging brand experience with physical spaces to bring them to life. Oklahoma-based Flogistix did a great job of this, transforming its headquarters into an environment that’s as inspiring as it is functional. Throughout the build, an ethos of awe and discovery abounds, transporting staffers and guests to "a world where old limitations are cast off and new possibilities celebrated." Inspiring thought, feeling and action is a shared goal of every purposeful communication since the dawn of time. More and more, we're seeing physical spaces becoming a key part of that communication mix. This is certainly true in our ongoing work with clients who are also reimagining their collaborative spaces. By successfully blending message, media and technology within key spaces such as the main lobby, central hallways and customer engagement rooms, they're delivering experiences that helps customers think, feel, and do what the environment intends. It's a new way of looking at one's corporate space, but as the architect behind the Flogistix build points out, "Today’s challenges require us to think differently." We couldn’t agree more.