A new design incubator program from design gallery and strategy firm Colony has hit the ground running! The Designers’ Residency aims to nurture the next generation of designers by providing real studio experiences and collaboration opportunities under the guidance of Colony’s founder, Jean Lin. Over the 8-month long program, young design residents will have the chance to discover and hone their craft with the ultimate goal of launching their own studios and their first collection through Colony.
The curriculum was put together by Lin and Colony Art Director, Madeleine Parsons, leaning on both Lin and Parsons’ time as professors at Parsons and RISD. Focused on product development and design leadership, the program moves through the steps of launching a studio, including collection development, marketing and sales strategy, and exhibition and photography. The lessons combine to offer success in the contemporary design landscape, as well as positioning of their own studio. During the residency, Colony subsidizes shop space and employs the residents at the gallery, allowing for studio and curation experience at a professional level along with income.
For its inaugural Residency, Colony worked with two burgeoning studios. Marmar Studio, a furniture and object design studio founded by Ingemar Hagen-Keith, will be showcasing their debut Pet Collection. Alexis & Ginger, the namesake design studio led by Alexis Tingey and Ginger Gordon, will be debuting Ode. Both studios will ultimately be added to Colony’s permanent roster of independent American design talents.
“Each piece in the collection captures that explosive affection you feel when you see something you can’t hold back from embracing. I see these pieces as living companions for your home,” says Marmar Studio founder Ingemar Hagen-Keith of Pet Collection.
The furniture and object design studio is guided by animated gesture and refined form, with Pet Collection uniting the practical and fanciful. The series’ visual language pulls from abstract depictions of animal silhouettes and translates them using wood craft. For example, the Pippi Nightstand is an abstract interpretation of Hagen-Keith’s cat, bringing together smooth curves and sharp edges. Noon Valet follows suit with circular cutouts that cast dynamic shadows throughout the day.
Alexis & Ginger, aka Alexis Tingey and Ginger Gordon, create work that brings together the pair’s love of process rooted in research and the desire to use traditional craft to evoke stories. Innovative material and form explorations reflect their appreciation of the nuanced details. The Ode collection is inspired by the balance of weight in materiality, form, and color.
From hand-carved forms to compositions using natural materials, the pieces exude a refined strength while paying homage to artistry and craft. These talents are often associated with female makers, such as embroidery and lace making. An inlay of mother of pearl makes its way around an India ink dyed wood base of the New Morning Side Table. Meanwhile, the Tower of Song Light features a hand-pleated and cut ivory shade that brings to mind architectural forms and tapestry details.
“We both began by going to the NYPL picture collection and sifting through the endless stacks of folders filled with images of lace, gloves, architectural details, greek urns, and portraiture from every era,” said Gordon. “We find inspiration in the smallest details and the largest forms.” Tingey adds, “Through gathering images and discovering details we find stories and moments that resonate with us. Through our research we look for stories that feel tactile and hold a connection. We try to incorporate these experiences into our designs.”
“At Colony, we have a foundational imperative to support and celebrate emerging independent American designers. In recent years, my work in design education as a professor at both Parsons and RISD has inspired me to explore new ways to provide a bridge from designers in their nascency to professional practice,” said Lin. “Starting one’s own studio is an enormous undertaking both creatively and financially, and a privilege that is not always afforded to many immensely talented designers. My hope is that this program allows more voices to shine, and more young designers to feel supported enough to take the leap into creating work that is wholly their own.”
An advocate of education and inclusivity, Lin hopes for the program to create more accessibility and opportunity in an industry that can hold many obstacles. While the inaugural residency was by invitation, applications for the 2023-2024 Residency program are open until May 1st.
To learn more about the Designers’ Residency, visit goodcolony.com.