Raising Products
In 2018, blkHaUS studios co-founder Norman Teague came to the museum with an idea for a project –Raising Products. The goal of Raising Products is to expose the design process and its relation to fabrication, economics, and artisanship, and start an economic conversation about the history of Chicago design and its relevance to contemporary communities of color. It illuminates the design process; provides opportunities to develop economically valuable pragmatic skills, and establishes a creative outlets expands arts industry in South Shore.
With Teague and blkHaUS partner Fo Wilson, we began to develop a structure for Raising Products through several ideation sessions. Both the Museum and blkHaUS believe that design can be an agent of change that uplifts and transforms marginalized communities and are convinced that craftsmanship, the act of creating with one’s hands, is extremely valuable monetarily and socially. In the end, we landed on a multi-phase concept that utilizes the unique nature of South Shore and works to bring attention to the legacy and relevance of Chicago’s designers of color.
Raising Products
The Workshop
The first funding for Raising Products supported a student shoe design workshop led by Chicago designers Yohance Lacour and Norman Teague, hosted at South Side Weekly’s offices at Experimental Station, and funded by the Chicago Architecture Biennial. Students learned about the shoe design process from beginning to end, creating mood boards, creating designs, critiquing each other’s work, and watching a demonstration of craftsmanship by Lacour. One student even received a scholarship to a shoe design and production class at the Chicago School of Shoemaking!
The Conversations
The second Raising Products event was a planned conversation at Rebuild Foundation. Sponsored by the Terra Foundation for American Art, the conversation was planned to bring together city commissioners, artists, designers, curators, and scholars to discuss the design process and its relation to fabrication, branding, and artisanship, as well as spark conversation about the history of Chicago art and design, artists’ and designers’ relationship with the contemporary state of art and design, and the future of the field as it concerns people of color and ways to open paths to more opportunities, acknowledgment, and visibility — what systems, structures, platforms, and support do artists and designers of color need to thrive?
But, best laid plans. COVID-19 forced us to shift this event to 3 virtual conversations between 2 panelists. The conversations were both broad and focused, inspiring participants to think about their relationships with the field. Even though we were disappointed the event didn’t happen in person, we were thrilled with the broad reach of the event, and will continue to hold virtual conversations about the themes of Raising Products with artists, designers, planners, scholars, and consumers from around the world. You can watch all of these conversations here!
Conversation I: Katherine Darnstadt & Zoë Ryan
Conversation II: Erin Harkey & Yohance Lacour
Conversation III: Paola Aguirre & Obi Nwazota
Conversation IV: Brandi Summers, Toni Griffin, Maurice Cox & Kamilah Rashied
What’s next?
blkHaUS studios continues to work towards making the South Shore studio/production model a reality, prototyping templates for the designer–fabrication–product relationship and continuing to develop South Shore-specific solutions. Together we continue to plan Raising Products conversations and look for sponsors and grants that can support moving the project to Phase II. We’re always looking for ideas and opportunities – are you the person who can help us make it happen? Get in touch!