Furniture designer Jomo Tariku grew up in Ethiopia in a home full of eclectic objects collected via his dad’s travels. In the U.S. with an Industrial Design degree, he embarked on a mission to change the western canon by designing modern furniture through an African lens. After initial heartbreak and years as a data scientist, Jomo Furniture is now in museums and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever!
Images, links and more from Jomo!
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Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Rich Stroffolino, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 181: Furniture Designer Jomo Tariku is Changing the Canon

Clever is a window into the humanity behind the design of the world around us. In each episode, designer Amy Devers has candid and revealing conversations with the visionaries, culture-makers, and creative forces who shape our world and inform our society. Through raw candor and honest shop-talk, Clever peels back the layers to unearth the gritty, authentic and sometimes surprising details of their creative paths. 
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Ben Clymer grew up in a New York suburb, raised by middle-class public school teachers and enamored by his grandfather’s swagger and style. An Omega Speedmaster, a gift from said grandfather, is the piece that captured his heart and sets his story in motion. A painstakingly shy student, he began to gain self-confidence in high-school and a need to differentiate in college. In 2008 he started a tiny blog, HODINKEE, a passion-project about watches that gained traction and sent him on a mission to get a Master’s in Journalism. Since then, HODINKEE has led to creative collaborations with the most prestigious watch brands and famous rockstars, and grown into a multi-channel platform that has transformed the world of luxury watches. 
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Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
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Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 212: HODINKEE’s Ben Clymer on Agency, Permanence, and the Talismans of Life

Co-founders of House of Rolison, Amanda Leigh and Taylor Hahn, grew up on opposite coasts but were both self-described angsty teens. Both had a deep love for art and architecture, choosing different professional paths before they met online and their fates intertwined. Their first date turned into a road trip and then quarantine-based cohabitation. Since starting House of Rolison, they’ve renovated a number of forgotten old homes into warm, elegant, modern beauties. Their complementary strengths and deep reverence for their crafts and trades crew, ensures that each new project has room for magic and a whole lot of soul.
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
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For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
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If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 211: The Soulful Renovations of House of Rolison

Frequently referred to as the godmother of Italian design, Marva Griffin Wilshire, grew up in a large family in Venezuela, reading House & Garden and rearranging the furniture. Drawn to Italy in the 1970’s, she landed a job as a secretary for Piero Busnelli, founder of B&B; Italia, which opened up her entire world. She was introduced to architects and designers, getting a first-hand look at the inner workings of Italian design. Since then, she’s committed herself to giving young designers a chance to showcase their creativity – most notably by founding the wildly successful SaloneSatellite which welcomes emerging designers worldwide. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript (with links!) of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.
For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers
If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 210: Marva Griffin Wilshire on 25 years of Salone Satellite and Showcasing Creativity

Polymath Holly Howard has lived many lives. A former professional ballet dancer, bassoonist, medical researcher and board-certified music therapist, she’s pulled from science, art, and design to create a one-of-a-kind path for herself. Now, she runs the successful culture-first business consultancy, Ask Holly How, to help creative entrepreneurs grow personally and professionally, and better understand that business and creativity are more powerful when wielded together. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
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For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
Gild Insurance is revolutionizing the small business landscape and putting the power back in creative entrepreneurs’ hands with Credited and Healthcare for Creatives.
Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers
If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep 209: Holly Howard on Business Growth for Creative Entrepreneurs

Lionel Ohayon was born in Canada to a family spanning Morocco, Israel, and Spain. This multi-cultural upbringing armed him with the ability to synthesize different inputs and understand complex topics from an early age, and an innate appreciation of hospitality. He founded ICRAVE as a design-build startup in 2002, and several ground-breaking projects later, is now leading the charge in reinventing hospitality experiences like the immersive and otherworldly Las Vegas Sphere, and the anxiety-reducing David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. 
Head to cleverpodcast.com for a transcript of this episode, images, resources, and over 200+ more episodes! 
Subscribe to our free substack for updates, bonus content, and new episode alerts.
For info, resources, and special offers from our guests and sponsors: Clever Resources
Special thanks to our sponsor: Wix Studio is the platform that allows you to create exceptional sites with smart tools that streamline your workflows.
If you enjoy Clever we could use your support! Please consider leaving a review, making a donation, becoming a sponsor, or introducing us to your friends! We love and appreciate you!
Please say Hi on social! X, Instagram, Linkedin and Facebook - @CleverPodcast, @amydevers
Clever is hosted & produced by Amy Devers, with editing by Mark Zurawinski, production assistance from Ilana Nevins and Anouchka Stephan, and music by El Ten Eleven. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 181: Furniture Designer Jomo Tariku is Changing the Canon

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