Frampton Co kicked off 2018 with some exciting speaking engagements. First we participated in the City of Tomorrow summit at the 92nd Street Y. Editor Mieke ten Have moderated the “Women in Design” panel, a timely topic. Elena discussed the changing face of product designers and Frampton Co’s purchasing power to support female talent; entrepreneurship (don’t be so easily discouraged, keep moving forward); leadership and on leading women; and the importance of focusing on the business bottom line in order to sustain the creative pursuit.
Then the Designer’s Way video featuring Elena premiered as part of the ASID NY Metro series geared towards emerging designers and students. It provides a behind-the-curtain look at the realities of being a designer. The video was filmed inside our Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse room, capturing many of the special details.
During the Q&A, Elena shared some practical advice based upon her career path and years of experience:
“Do as many projects as possible in the beginning and establish a point of view. Not everything will be portfolio work, I built a lot of projects that were never featured on a website. Find a good photographer and be thoughtful of where your work is featured.”
“Especially in client services it’s important to nurture your creative process and feed the soul. I carve out space for my own inspiration and am selective on how I spend my time. I don’t go to every event. I make time to visit galleries for myself, not necessarily a project.”
“Be yourself in your business relationships and operate from an earnest place. People will remember you, refer you, and want to work with you for years. I’ve received calls a dozen years after meeting.”
Thank you Duralee and ASID NY Metro for hosting the lovely evening!
