To mark the end of Dezeen's North America Design 2024 series, Universal Design Studio has selected 10 stand-out designers ? each from a different city across the continent.
London-based Universal Design Studio recently opened a location in New York and partnered with Dezeen as a sponsor, along with its sister studio Map, for our North American Design 2024 series, which highlighted a set of independent designers in 10 different cities across the continent.
"The series is a great platform for us to engage with this talent and gain a better understanding of the design culture in this part of the world," said Universal Design Studio creative director Satoshi Isono.
Isono said that the studio was drawn to designers forefronting locality, including utilisation of local materials and processes as well as community-oriented approaches. Regional design and sustainability
"I was intrigued to see that so many designers have a strong connection with their distinct local cultures through materiality. This is also reflected in how their environments inform their overall inspiration and methodology," said Isono.
"There were specific regional connections that jumped out. For example, it was interesting to see a number of former Nike designers working independently in Portland and discover how a strong maker culture in New York allows for special design pieces."
"Clusters were born from regional design traditions while others formed around independent desi...