“To Create with Connection, You Have to Give a Damn” - Takeaways from our March LAB Talk
BY EMMA GEARY - MARCH 15, 2023
Even a historic snowstorm couldn’t keep us away from the gorgeous Glass House for a morning of coffee, creativity, and connection. LAB Talk mornings are a team favorite because they remind us that there is a whole world out there of people whose brains work the same way ours do! We love being in a room of fellow creatives (and the creative at heart!) who obsess over intentional details, dream in color, and love supporting our local design community.
Even though it’s been a few weeks, I’m still left meditating about so much of what was shared in this LAB Talk with moderator Amy Zaroff and panelists Nicole Crowder, Ashley Adamma Ochiaga, and Victoria Sass. Whether it’s standing up to impostor syndrome or thinking about how to create warmth in a space, this chilly March morning left an impression on me both creatively and personally.
Here are just a few of the highlights from this month’s LAB Talk: Designing for Connection.
On Connection
Victoria: “Connection is helping people feel seen, heard, and understood. I love to challenge people and push them a little bit outside their comfort zone - there is so much beauty in that growth.”
Nicole: “I feel connection through my ancestral roots, which deeply inform my design perspective. I honor the blood memories that are brought to my work through generations of craftspeople before me.”
Ashley: “To me, connection is the ability to show up as yourself and exchange energy with others. As a woman of color, I lean on trusting my approach and intuition, believing that I add something unique to the conversation. In doing this, I invite others to add their perspectives, conjuring womanhood to forge deeper connections.”
Amy: “In each of work, we’re designing a relationship, not a ‘one-and-done’ project. Every event I design is meant to be a full experience with a beginning, middle, and end. I want to create a story that leaves guests feeling cared for and wanting more.”
On Impostor Syndrome
Nicole: “Imposter syndrome is something I’m not willing to carry as a black woman. There is power in taking up space in an enviroment, and I come into a space acting like I deserve to be there as much as anyone else.”
Ashley: “It takes work every day for me to strip away impostor syndrome programming. Everyone knows what it’s like to live in their own skin, and I still want to be bold and speak confidently from my perspective - not taking things too seriously. There is always room for growth.”
Victoria: “Does any creative really escape impostor syndrome?! I’ve definitely felt it at times, but I challenge myself to not jump into those old scripts. I want to show up with confidence and genuine curiosity.”
On Form vs. Function
Striking a balance between form and function in design is an art, and each of our designers had a unique perspective on how to utilize both for deeper connection.
Victoria: “I’m going to go against the grain - I am always fighting for form in a function-based society. I think we need to appreciate romance and frivolity more in our daily lives, and incorporating pieces into a home with unique forms allows something beautiful and surprising to happen.”
Ashley: “I think it’s important to have a healthy mix of form and function. For example, when I’m designing a commercial space, I like to think about different types of seating for different types of bodies. I want whoever is in the space to feel comfortable manipualting it - moving things around to make themselves feel more at home.”
Nicole: “I would echo balancing form and function. One of my favorite pieces that I designed for my collection with World Market was a chaise lounge that included shelving in the base to create both storage and comfort in one piece. I imagined this piece in a reading nook or a non-traditional office space, so it was important to make sure the piece could work on multiple levels.”
A “Warm Hug” in Design
Finally, Amy asked our panelists about their “warm hug.” She shared how in her events, she tries to create moments that feel like a warm hug. We wanted to know the same from our designers, what do you do to create that “warm hug” in your work?
Ashley: I like to create an expressive experience when you walk into a space where you’re invited to explore all of the magical little moments that I’ve created within the space. I want it to feel like the space is talking to you, and you’re able to talk back, intuitively flowing through the space.”
Nicole: “The pieces that I create that feel most like a warm hug are usually cushy with layers of softness and texture through the materials I select. I try not to force it - connection will happen naturally in a space when you’ve taken the time and space to think within the design. I reminded myself recently that Solange took 8 years to produce one of her most awarded and celebrated albums, “A Seat at the Table.” You can’t rush the process.”
Victoria: “In order to give warmth to your work, you have to give a damn. You have to open yourself up over and over again and be vulnerable with every single project. You know how those days of a vacation where everything goes wrong end up being the most memorable parts? That’s how I feel about the design process. Lean into the things that go wrong because they are usually the most magical. Embrace those “firsts” because they are often the most genuine, the most connected to being human.”
To close our panel, we were thrilled to share an exclusive sneak peek at Prospect Refuge’s collaboration with Hennepin Made on their beautiful new lighting collection, Ontologia, available now.
Special thanks to Ampersand Galleria for sponsoring our coffee + tea services, to Glass House for their incredible space, and to John Cybart for these beautiful photos! We are also proud to partner with Mpls.St.Paul Magazine as our 2023 Media Sponsor.
LAB Talks are truly a team effort, and we couldn’t do it without each and every one of you!
Emma Geary
Emma is a writer living in Minneapolis. When she's not checking out a new brewery with friends or blasting Taylor Swift in her car, you can find her dreaming up ideas as the Brand + Editorial Manager at LAB.
