THE "HEROES OF THE INDUSTRY" SERIES: HOLDING THE FORTS

Hey folks, 

Trust u r doing great.

Happy Eid-el-Fitri to my Muslim audience.

My posts in the last 3 weeks has been about heroes and legends in the interior design industry in Nigeria, hence the series tagged Heroes of the Industry.

I commenced the series paying attention to industry Pioneers, people who took a leap into the design industry when it was unpopular to do so.

Then I took the series a step further in my last post by pulling my audience's attention to game changers who have shifted gears by venturing into new horizons in the industry.

Today's post features individuals who have been holding the forts by creating and promoting African heritage and culture in their works.

Allow me beam the spotlight on just 3 out of several of them 👇:

*#7: MUNIRA SHONIBARE*

Munira Shonibare has over 30 years experience in Interior Design. She is the CEO and founder of IO Furniture, a company originally founded as Interior Options in 1987, and rebranded as IO Furniture in 2008.

In 2002, as the company expanded its services beyond interior design to include furniture manufacturing, she co-founded a spin-off company from IO Furniture Ltd called ETHNIKI, with the aim to pursue a line of African inspired furniture and accessories, design, production, and trading.

The Ethniki range also promotes ethnic culture, local artisans, arts and crafts, celebrating the rich and vibrant African lifestyle.

Munira's infusion of African theme into her works creates a signature on the projects she has embarked on with her team, some of them being renovation of the 5-star Hilton Hotel, The Wheatbaker Hotel, Federal Judicial Service Commission, Asset and Resource Management Co, Four Points by Sheraton, Cummins Head office, to name a few.

*#8: MOYO OGUNSEINDE*

Moyo Ogunseinde, is an architect and real estate developer, who launched Àga in 2017 as a platform for design.

The brand, Àga Culture, is built on five Yoruba principles: ayo (joy), ife (love), inurere (kindness), alaafia (peace), and ifokan bale (calmness).

She launched the platform with the purpose to celebrate Africa—past, present, and future, a value you feel and see in her works.

Moyo works in collaboration with artisans across Nigeria, and displays her works in fill Àga’s Victoria Island boutique in the Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel. 

She loves to feature Nigeria’s rich history and Lagos city’s frenetic dynamism continue to inform all of her work.

source:architecturaldigest.com

*#9: NIFEMI MARCUS BELLO*

Nifemi Marcus Bello graduated from the University of Leeds with a bachelor's and master's degree in Product Design. He is also a recepient of the "Potential for Social Change" award from the University of Leeds' School of Mechanical Engineering.

In 2017, he founded nmbello studio, focusing on furniture, product and installation design. The studio has been featured in various publications such as Vogue, The Financial Times and Dezeen, and received in 2021 the "Life Enhancer of the Year" award by Wallpaper* Magazine.

His works features elements that projects Africa's image in a positive way.

source: princeclausfund.org

I look forward to featuring some of the works of these fort holders on your next project.

Always feel free to contact me whenever the need arises.

I'm Kenny, an interior designer and project manager

#interiordesign #projectmanagement #consultkenny #heroesoftheindustryseries #holdingtheforts #munirashonibare #moyoogunseinde #nifemimarcusbello