Shown Above: The Glamorous World of Jonathan Franc Furniture
When I founded Design Gives Back, many years ago, it was to create a trademark that would train, certify, and support the interior designers and design-loving volunteers that have been the fashion-forward boots-on-the-ground in affecting the hopes, health, and happiness of those that need better living conditions. Together, we have outfitted homes for struggling families, created rooms for foster kids, healing nests for women with breast cancer, and joyful senior's center "family rooms." Now, more and more designers are hearing the call and rising to the Design Gives Back mission.
Last year's Design Gives Back Award recipient, Enchanted Makeovers, led by Terry Grahl, offers design help at shelters for battered women; providing comfortable spaces. Kamonda Phillips, in the previous post, just designed a suite for The Ronald McDonald House and also led an intercity creative workshop for disenfranchised kids; working all of last summer, using only the funds, and materials she could gather together. Volunteer Sherry Mirador teaches sewing workshops so poor teens will have the ability to put together a home that is functional and creative. Kim McCole of Daisy Cottage blog fame has so beautifully demonstrated that Goodwill is a retro-style treasure trove and has encouraged us to rely on the creativity in our hearts rather than the money in our wallets. Rhoda, the intrepid DIY loving classic designer from the Southern Hospitality blog did a super lovely makeover at a homeless shelter. There is a recently formed group in Atlanta called Room Service Deserving Design Delivered, and they do much the same.
Some of you resourceful designers collect furniture from the curbs to remake or to use in workshops. Many of your Saturdays have been spent in Habitat for Humanity neighborhoods and on build sites, getting paint covered or saw dusty alongside the new residents who are there earning their homes through sweat equity hours. It has been my delight to teach workshops, certify those that want a more holistic design approach, and lead national projects for interior designers and design volunteers, who feel the call to "give back." In the book House of Belief, I shared the DIY interiors program I started in 1997 for Habitat to provide skills and inspiration for the new owners to turn a house to a home. I found -- through that endeavor -- that you generous souls are many and your hearts are huge.
Recently, the high-design furniture company Jonathan Franc has heard the Design Gives Back call as well. Meredith Xavier of the Ligne Agency has launched a PR campaign called Design Gives Back -- it has a ring to it :) -- to bring attention to the furniture that ten designers are promoting. Jonathan Franc will make the pieces upon order and donate a portion of the proceeds to a designated charity. Good idea! I hope they take many orders and give lots of money to good causes. So, I say "yes" to the fabulous Jonathan Franc company, allowing them to gently use our trademarked moniker for their campaign until December 31, 2011. After all, the most important thing is to allow designers to "give back." Like those I mentioned earlier. Because, the world really needs them.
In an upcoming post I will be showing the designs of the Jonathan Franc Furniture Campaign.
Posted: Kelee
