"Five Inspiring Designers You Need to Know About: A Deep Dive into Their Work and Legacy"
Hello everyone! I hope you're doing well. Today, I want to share with you my top five favorite designers and why I love them.
Ford
Let's start with Tom Ford. He's not just an accomplished designer, but he's also a movie director.
Nocturnal Animals is a movie directed by Tom Ford that I absolutely love. It's hauntingly beautiful and agonizingly sad at the same time. The movie is like someone wrote down my worst nightmare and charged me money to see it. But it's a masterpiece, and I highly recommend it.
I love how multifaceted he is, and it shows in his designs. Ford’s black suits are almost trademarked, and they scream elegance. They exude sophistication. I even use his beard oil and cologne in my daily routine. The Ombré Leather cologne is perfect for a moody, cold NY day, while his black suits are almost trademarked and wearing one of his pieces screams elegance. Also, I highly recommend watching Mr. Porter's series of videos featuring him. His rules of style are ones to live by.
McQueen
Next up is Alexander McQueen. I love how his brand essence is all about being bold and daring. From BDSM-inspired leather harnesses to asymmetrical jackets, McQueen's designs are edgy and unique. You have to be someone bold enough to wear McQueen to the office. My personal favorite is the 3-piece skull ring - it's definitely an attention-grabber and a great conversation starter.
Abloh
Another designer I admire is Virgil Abloh. He's a true visionary in the fashion industry, with collaborations with Nike, IKEA, and Evian. I don't own any of his work yet, but his ICONS book sits in my studio, and I look at it daily. Abloh's unique style and vision have garnered him well-deserved recognition in the fashion world, and he continues to be an inspiration to many aspiring designers. He has a range of talents that make him stand out from the crowd, including being an American fashion designer, DJ, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the Milan-based fashion label Off-White and the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear collection since March 2018.
Sadly, the world lost Abloh in 2021, but his designs live on.
Ive
Jony Ive is also on my list. He's a true master of design, and his contributions to Apple have been immeasurable. I remember my first Apple product, the iPod Nano, and how much I loved it. For a long period of time (pre-smart phones), my iPod lived on me. I spent hours listening to music and dreaming of one day making a contribution to the world that brings people joy, just like the iPod did for me. Ive's designs were not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, making them user-friendly and accessible to a broad range of people. His designs helped Apple to establish itself as a leader in the technology industry, and his contributions were widely appreciated by both the company's executives and its customers. In 2019, Ive announced that he was leaving Apple to start his own design firm, LoveFrom. Ive's new venture is expected to focus on a wide range of design projects, including consumer products, furniture, and architectural design. His departure from Apple was seen as a significant loss for the company, but it also marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Ive's illustrious career as a designer. As Ive embarks on his new journey with LoveFrom, the design world eagerly awaits to see what he will create next.
Hadid
Last but not least is Zaha Hadid. Like myself, she was born in Iraq, and she shattered ceilings for women and people of color in the world of architecture. Hadid was an iconic figure in the world of architecture, renowned for her innovative and futuristic designs that pushed the boundaries of what was possible. Her buildings were characterized by their fluidity, dynamism, and sense of movement, as if they were in a constant state of transformation. Hadid's designs were not just visually striking, but also functional, with careful attention paid to the needs of the people who would be using the buildings. Some of Hadid's most famous works include the Guangzhou Opera House in China, the London Aquatics Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games, and the Heydar Aliyev Center in Azerbaijan. Her legacy will undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come. Every time I walk the High Line in Chelsea and see Hadid's only completed project in New York City at 520 West 28th Street, i feel like I am looking at a piece of my home. The building features Hadid's signature curves and fluid lines, and includes amenities such as an IMAX theater and a 75-foot pool. It was completed in 2017, a year after Hadid's passing.
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These five designers have all made significant contributions to their respective fields, and I admire them for their innovative and daring designs. I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite designers as much as I enjoyed sharing them with you. Who are some of your favorite designers? Let me know in the comments!
