S.E: I experienced a few different “flavors” of design before starting FROM THE ROAD. I was a creative director for many years in both the print and interactive space. I was responsible for the design of large media projects like Hulu and New York Times Online while at Razorfish. I’ve also done the brand strategy and design for a number of luxury boutique hotels in remote locations in Africa and Asia when I owned my own studio.

Strangely enough, these different design roles laid the foundation for what I do now. The digital work helped me to learn how to use technology to story tell, and the hotel branding opened up my eyes to beautiful artistry available in different parts of the world. To bring local influences into my hotel projects, I started commissioning work from artisans for everything from turndown service items to room décor.

Even in my personal life when I traveled on vacation, I would collaborate with artisans. I enjoyed visiting the local markets to see what each culture had in the way of traditional techniques. Inevitably I would find something that I loved, but would want to make a few changes. We would work together to create something new and I would bring it back home. When friends and family would inquire about a piece of jewelry that I was wearing or a throw on my couch, my answer would always be, “I was in Peru or Kenya or (fill in the blank) and had it made.” Eventually, I had a group that wanted me to make for them whatever I was making for myself.

Inspired by my time exploring up north in Kenya where I had the opportunity to visit a number of bomas (traditional African homesteads which housed both people and livestock), I became intrigued with the irregular oval shape of the compounds dotted by circular homes within. They became the basis for the design of these unisex bracelets–hand carved from cow bone and tied with locally sourced leather. Without realizing it, I had been in training for years, and so when I entered this business, everything sort of magically fell into place.