Future Icons Panel
Thursday 29 June
15:00 - 16:00
Riya Patel, Design Writer and Curator
Louisa Pacifico, Founder, Future Icons
Jacob Monk, Designer
BC Joshua, Designer
Ikuko Iwamoto, Ceramicist
Chaired by Riya Patel, design writer and curator, this panel brings together Louisa Pacifico, Founder of Future Icons and this years’ curator of ND Selects, joined by three Future Icons makers: hand-weaver and textile artist Jacob Monk, designer BC Joshua, and ceramicist Ikuko Iwamoto who will discuss their careers in contemporary crafts and design.
All talks and workshops are free to attend with a valid ticket to New Designers. To attend a talk or workshop please book your ticket to New Designers, making sure to book on the corresponding day. You may then reserve your place to attend the talk or workshop using the link below.
Riya Patel is a London-based writer and curator specialised in architecture and design. She was formerly the senior editor at Icon magazine, and as a freelancer her words have appeared in FRAME, Crafts, Design Anthology, Wallpaper* and Disegno. Until 2019 she was curator at The Aram Gallery, an independent platform for new and experimental design. She started her career at The Architectural Review and Architects’ Journal and holds a Masters degree in architecture.
Louisa Pacifico founded Future Icons in 2017, previously having been the Chief Executive of Craft Central and leading sales teams for both New Designers and Clerkenwell Design Week.
As founder of Future Icons, Louisa selects makers and designers to represent and nurture through business consultancy and curated showcases. Most notably, she developed and managed the curated showcases for The Future of Craft at London Craft Week, gallery venues within the iconic Burlington Arcade in Mayfair and was appointed VIP room curator for prestigious London Art Fair.
In addition to Future Icons, Louisa freelances as a consultant for venues across London, lectures at universities and colleges and has been appointed as an interior designer for private and corporate clients.
Louisa’s next project is Future Icons Selects, a showcase of up 80 makers in Oxo Tower Wharf’s Bargehouse, showcasing in May for London Craft Week.
New Designers is delighted to welcome back Louisa as the curator of ND Selects. As a 2004 New Designers alumni and previous sales manager she has a wealth of knowledge of the event and industry that will put her in the perfect position to help and advise ND Selects exhibitors.
Jacob Monk is a hand-weaver and textile artist based in south-east London. He established his studio in 2019 to create vibrant fine art textiles and design luxury rugs for interior spaces.
Jacob’s aim is to reinterpret the ancient technique of ikat with dynamic colour combinations inspired by the natural world.
Born in Minneapolis USA, Blake C Joshua now resides in London following his MA in Design Product from the Royal College of Art. Materiality and pre-conceived narratives form the basis of his small batch furniture collections, which has led him to be a recent runner-up for the prestigious Deutsche Bank Award for Creative Excellence. Blake is currently working with a number of A&D firms to develop his collections for commercial and private use.