Partners in Design and Sustainability: Merida and Artists for Humanity
"Neighbors helping neighbors, experts helping ingenues, and everyone helping the planet."
-Scott Kiernan, Stuff Magazine
When we first learned about Artists for Humanity in the fall of 2008, we couldn't believe our two organizations had never crossed paths. Here we both were in the same South Boston neighborhood, both studying and practicing great design, and both trying to help our community and the environment. The synergy was overwhelming.
AFH has been working since the early 90s with underserved youth in the Boston community to help provide them with the tools they need to become productive, independent adults. The main way AFH does this is by providing these youth with paid employment opportunities in the arts. This mission and the infectious, joyful spirit of AFH completely captured and inspired us.
Our partnership with AFH provides excellent opportunities for us to help young people explore careers in design. Right in their own backyard they can learn about real-world product development processes and what it means to be a designer. And make no mistake - these young artists are teaching us things about our own community and profession that we never dreamed. Browse some of the blog posts below that detail the evolution of our partnership, and visit www.afhboston.com to learn more.
The three young designers we selected as winners are Kelsey Arbona, Massiel Grullon, and Alland Torchon. Chosen by a panel of some of Boston's top designers, the judges have nothing but great things to say about these young artists and their interpretations of sustainable design. Most of all, everyone is looking forward to seeing those designs translated into a collection of tufted rugs next spring. Read more here.
AFH student design judging event
In November, we announced the Tufted Rug Design Contest for young designers from Artists for Humanity. As the contest came to a close earlier this month, we hosted two judging events for our panel of 14 interior and graphic designers. Six participants submitted their rug design for the final judging and displayed them on inspiration boards that featured written and visual descriptions of the story behind the designs. Read more here.
Students to design eco-friendly rugs
The Tufted Rug Design Contest challenges the seven high school students in the graphic design department at AFH to think about what sustainability means to them as young artists. They will transform their ideas and inspirations into graphic designs that could be made into a tufted rug made from 100% New Zealand wool. Read more here.
In April 2009 was the much-anticipated "Greatest Party on Earth", hosted by Artists for Humanity in honor of Earth Day. As a sponsor of the event, a group from Merida attended and had a fabulous time. We made a few rugs specifically for the event space and they looked phenomenal. Read more here.
Fun Viewpoint Coasters for AFH event
Our friends at Artists for Humanity are hosting a huge Earth Day-themed event at their South Boston location. "The Greatest Party on Earth" is a fund raising event that will also highlight the work of the student artists and generate publicity and enthusiasm for the organization. As a sponsor of the event, we're really excited to help get the word out about the great work that AFH does with inner city high schoolers here in Boston. Read more here.
A group of high school students from Artists for Humanity recently visited Merida's Boston facility to tour our workroom, learn about natural fibers, and discover what a career in textile design might look like. We've been working with this amazing Boston-based organization to support their arts employment and education programs, and to find innovative ways to share materials and inspiration. Read more here.
