Connecting with producers and understanding emerging markets a fundamental part of William Gordon’s design practice.
While it is a given that designers depend on makers to fully realize their vision, makers in turn depend on designs to offer environmentally and economically sustainable development. The designer’s responsibility in this equation has been lost in much of today’s design practice. Regrettably, most designers are cut off from any physical connection to the site of making and therefore have no basis for understanding the true ramifications of their design decisions.
Towards repairing this fundamental relationship, William partnered with the Filipino government agency CITEM in 2005 and worked onsite designing for 16 local exporter manufacturers. This collaboration brought a collection of over 100 high-end environmentally sustainable and ethically produced furniture and accessories products to the 2005 Manila F.A.M.E. International trade fair.
His dedication to ethical design brought him to Guyana, South America in 2007 and 2009 to produce sustainable designs for local furniture and craft producers such as Liana Cane. In addition, he has created diverse designs for houseware and plumbing product manufacturers throughout Asia and South America. Most recently he has joined the board of Serrv, a 60 year old American fair trade organization which fosters a network of ethical designer/producer relationships as well as developing new designs for emerging markets.
In an effort to share his experiences and knowledge with current and future designers, William has lectured and written widely about his experiences and has taught courses in sustainable production and product design at the Pratt Institute and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.