Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper are recognized for their groundbreaking approach to design, which challenges traditional notions of a design studio. Their work transcends geographical boundaries, rooted in a nomadic lifestyle that sees them immerse themselves in diverse cultures and communities worldwide. This unique methodology emphasizes direct engagement with artisans, fostering a collaborative environment where craft, community, and industry converge. Their commitment to exploring alternative design centers and promoting equitable trade relationships distinguishes their practice, making them influential figures in contemporary design.
Through their extensive global travels and residencies, Burks and Leiper have cultivated a design philosophy that champions craftsmanship and cross-cultural exchange. They actively seek to understand and evolve long-standing traditional techniques, pushing boundaries beyond Western expectations of authenticity. Their projects, ranging from textile collaborations to sculptural installations, consistently highlight the value of diverse voices and hands in the creative process. By connecting local cooperatives with international brands, they aim to influence the systems of design, ensuring that creativity is both inclusive and economically empowering, thus fostering a truly global design dialogue.
A Nomadic Approach to Global Design and Craft
Stephen Burks and Malika Leiper, recent honorees at the Wallpaper* Design Awards, have embraced a nomadic lifestyle, living and working in various locations such as Paris, Montana, Senegal, Alabama, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and rural Japan. This itinerant existence allows them to reimagine the conventional design studio, moving beyond remote conceptualization to direct, on-site collaboration. By embedding themselves within local communities, they gain an intimate understanding of traditional crafts and materials, working hand-in-hand with artisans. This approach ensures that their designs are not only aesthetically innovative but also deeply rooted in cultural context and communal values, fostering a more authentic and inclusive design process.
Their work, which emerged from a period of introspection during the pandemic, reflects a profound inquiry into the potential of design to address contemporary challenges. Burks, a product designer, and Leiper, an urban planner, combine their distinct backgrounds to explore how design can bridge disparate worlds. Their project, 'Stephen Burks Man Made,' exemplifies this vision by connecting artisans, manufacturers, and non-profits, promoting a model of 'trade, not aid.' This initiative aims to develop products that enhance local capacities and steer design toward new, socially conscious directions. By foregrounding human connection and craft, they challenge the prevailing industry tendency to prioritize singular styles, advocating instead for a dynamic, evolving design landscape.
Reimagining Craftsmanship and Challenging Design Norms
The collaborative practice of Burks and Leiper integrates art, design, and exhibitions seamlessly, with residencies forming a crucial structural element of their methodology. Their exploration of Kuba textiles, a historic raffia weaving tradition from the Democratic Republic of Congo, exemplifies their dedication to understanding and advancing traditional crafts. Through partnerships with local collectives like Kilubukila, they have pushed the boundaries of this technique, creating new forms that refute the notion of it being a 'lost art.' These endeavors extend to projects in Japan, where Kuba geometries interact with local cedar forests, and collaborations with engineered wood specialists, showcasing their versatility and commitment to interdisciplinary design.
Their distinctive approach is characterized by a series of critical questions: who participates in contemporary design, how can established techniques evolve, and what economic structures support sustainable creative work? Leiper emphasizes the meaningfulness of diverse voices in their process, while Burks sees himself as a 'tube,' connecting small cooperatives with major brands. This perspective aims to influence design systems by defining who is involved, what is created, and how the benefits are distributed. They advocate for a design world with 'many centers, not one,' resisting the industry's conservative tendencies and championing risk-taking and new perspectives, ultimately seeking creative, emotional, and structural freedom in their work.