Black and white beauts

In our fresh talent profile today, we chat to the brains behind The Assembly design co-op: stylist Mia Widlake, and product designer and architect Kate Ghyoot Jollye. Since the launch at the Foodwinedesign Fair last year, their small but tasteful black-and-white collection has set more than a few hearts a covet. In fact, in our DIY Deluxe edition, bloggers Hanneke Schutte and Heather Moore both fingered The Assembly as their hot tips for new talent.

Who are you? 

Kate Ghyoot Jollye

Mia Widlake

Where were you born? 

Kate: England

Mia: Johannesburg

Where do you live? 

Kate: Pretoria

Mia: Johannesburg

What is the most exciting place you’ve ever lived? 

Kate: New York

Mia: Los Angeles 

What did you want to be when you were a kid? 

Kate: It changed a lot, but ballet dancer featured quite often.

Mia: A fashion designer.

What do you do now? 

Kate: I’m and architect and product designer.

Mia: A stylist – textiles, ceramics, anything I can think of that my hands can make.

What are some of your biggest accomplishments as a designer? 

Kate: I’m still working on it, but at the moment I’m quite proud of the new range of ceramics. It’s the first step towards a range of interior products that I am planning.

Mia: That people buy the things I make.

How did that come about? 

Kate: A creative person cannot be confined to one discipline, and this was a natural manifestation of other design interests that I have.  The collaboration with Mia Widlake helped fuel this passion, as she is a great inspiration and “maker of all things covetable”.

Mia: I have a constant urge to make things.

Does South Africa have a unique design language? 

Kate: A lot of South African trends follow what is happening in overseas markets.  Though I do believe that we give this our own interpretation influenced by our culture and way of life.

What would you decree if you were appointed Minister of Design in the national government? 

Mia: That we design and build better pavements to encourage walking, jogging and cycling.

Do you feel that local design is well supported? 

Kate: It is certainly getting more recognition, and people are turning towards items that are locally designed and produced.

Mia: More so than ever. 

Advice for aspiring designers? 

Kate: Stay true to what you are passionate about, and keep at it.  If you love the design, so will others.

Mia: Keep at it. 

For more about Kate: www.ka-ad.com, josephine-road.blogspot.com

For more about Mia:www.miawidlake.com, number-nineteen.blogspot.com

More of VISI’s fresh talent featured at www.visi.co.za/fresh