We are incredibly proud of the innovative and impactful businesses our alumni are building. Today, we're shining a spotlight on seven amazing design-led businesses you need to know about, all created or led by our talented alumni of Design Leaders 2023.
Run by Jamye Wooten, Founder of CLLCTIVLY & We Give Black Fest, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
CLLCTIVLY is a non-profit organisation that foster collaboration, increase social impact & amplify the voices of Black-led organizations in Greater. Since our launch in 2019, CLLCTIVLY has mobilized over $2,000,000 in no-strings-attached grants.
"Currently when we launched in Baltimore as a place-based social change organisation, we've been recently granted 10 million to scale. Statewide [goal] is to create the Maryland Black Futures Fund. So the question really now is to scale deeper or to scale wide.
We could go national tomorrow, but we also wanna make sure we're doing the deep work locally. In Baltimore, so I'll take some time to think about that and plan ahead. We're excited about the 'We give Black Fest.' It's coming up. We've launched that since we've been part of the Future London Academy, we have the Collective Give. coming up in August, we'll raise $1 million and 24 hours for black-led organisations."
Run by Konrad Billetz, Founding Partner at Outliant, Founder of Hardsider, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
Modern de-centralised agency bringing together 200 full time entrepreneurs, engineers, & designers who worked with 200+ clients including Nasdaq, Kraken, Makerbot, Caregivify, Relishworks.
"I was inspired by the idea that those companies that are design-led tend to outperform in the marketplace. So, when I was on Design Leaders programme, it was interesting for me to go to these companies, that have designed the Apple headquarters or did the CGI for some of the biggest movies in the world and really see how they work, how they run their sales teams, how they pitch, how they grow their business." - says Konrad. "I took a lot from the course, and in the last 12 months he's been able to implement it and build a scalable business model."
Run by Riz Walker, Founder of SCALA, Designer & Strategist, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
SCALA is an architecture and interior design studio that challenges the traditional siloed approach to design. They focus on connecting the various scales of design within a project, fostering a more cohesive and impactful experience.
"What's been really interesting for me is that architecture is often a silo and we only know each other and we only really understand what other architects or interior designers or urbanists or planners do. And this experience has really allowed me to understand the creative field in a much larger way. And I'm so grateful for that because I think where I've often struggled in my own journey is feeling like I don't always fit in and that I'm thinking about ideas that maybe are being squashed in a nonviolent way often, but just because it's not the norm or it's not something that is expected of our clients." - shares Riz.
Love&Fear: Human Connections at the Core
Run by by Tamara Parraguez, Founder, Brand Consultant, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
Love&Fear is a design studio that create meaningful brand connections in a world saturated with stimulation. Tamara emphasises the power of design thinking and human creativity in driving business success.
“Design is a superpower and it has been undervalued for so many years,” says Tamara. "The seed for my creative business, Love & Fear, came in Module One of the Design Leaders Programme. I started the programme without any expectations. I had just quit my job and was freelancing and my dad convinced me to join the programme and that it was a great opportunity. During Module One, I just had this lightbulb moment where I thought, ‘Maybe what I’ve been doing as a freelancer and throughout my career is something I can shape into a business.’ It doesn’t have to be flat and systemic, it can keep changing and can take the shape I feel it needs depending on the context." - Tamara Parraguez
Run by Andrea Morales, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
AME.M, a Brazilian leather goods brand co-founded by Andrea Morales (Design Leaders Alumni), is more than just fashion. They create timeless pieces that are bold and individual, pushing the boundaries of luxury and empowering people to express themselves through style.
"The plan is to have our products available in Brazil and hopefully in the United States for next year. We also have a possibility for a flagship store, which would be more than a store, it would be an experience. We want to showcase our strong brand personality. We’re also planning to expand into more products. We’re working on adding more items, like perfume and accessories." - Andrea shares her future plans.
Run by Olga Hanono, a Mexican Interior designer.
Olga Hanono Studio is characterised by the fusion of contemporary art and interior design. Her internationally recognised work is distinguished by the use of disruptive materials and shapes that generate new trends.
Folk is a strategic design consultancy. They are a multidisciplinary team of researchers, designers, technologists and strategic thinkers since 1996. Folk is recognised as one of Australia’s leading design consultancies.
Run by Louise Helliwell, Experience Design Director & Partner at Folk, Design Leaders Alumni 2023
"Hearing about how you build culture, how you build great teams, particularly the last module [of the programme]... I took a lot of that back to the organisation... I remember being really excited about that one cuz it resonated so much with what I want to do with the business, which is to grow people while we grow impact for the business as well."
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