必威体育app下载官网

Skip To Content
June 05, 2025
ICFF News

Original Thinkers: Designing with Purpose, Passion, and Integrity

Words by: ICFF

Words by: ICFF June 05, 2025

In an era where design is often commodified and replicated without attribution, brings forward an urgent conversation about originality in design. In their “Original Thinkers” panel, industry pioneers Jaime Derringer (), Stephanie Forsythe (), and John Christakos () explored the tensions between creativity, commercial success, and ethical production.

Moderated by Thomas Krizmanic, Principal at , the panel offered a candid look into the creative and operational lives of those who shape the future of design.

A crowd looks on at ICFF 2025 during the Original Thinkers Talk (from left: Tom Krizmanic, Jaimie Derringer, Stephanie Forsythe, John Christakos) (photo credit: Jenna Basom photography)

A crowd looks on at ICFF 2025 during the Original Thinkers Talk (from left: Tom Krizmanic, Jaimie Derringer, Stephanie Forsythe, John Christakos)

Each panelist brought a unique origin story, united by a shared resistance to traditional paths. Jaime Derringer鈥檚 trajectory鈥攆ounder of the blog-turned-brand Design Milk and later TRAME鈥攔eflects a restless curiosity and a penchant for experimentation that confused her parents but defined her vision. 鈥淚鈥檝e always had jobs that are impossible to explain,鈥� she said, proudly.

Stephanie Forsythe鈥檚 journey began with folding paper in a small Vancouver apartment, a practice that evolved into molo鈥檚 globally celebrated soft architectural products. 鈥淲e underestimated paper,鈥� she admitted, 鈥渂ut when the light hit it and we heard it rustle, we knew we had something magical.鈥�

John Christakos, co-founder of Blu Dot, traced his design entrepreneurship back to a time when mid-priced modern furniture barely existed. 鈥淲e wanted to democratize design,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t might鈥檝e been original. Or just naive. Or both.鈥�

molo's ICFF 2025 Booth (photo credit Jenna Bascom Photography)

A running theme through the conversation was how each thinker balances artistic integrity with business realities. Derringer emphasized the collaborative nature of her projects at TRAME: technologists, artisans, and designers work together to create pieces that are both digitally innovative and deeply tactile.

Forsythe echoed this, explaining that while molo鈥檚 pieces are emotionally resonant, every detail is functionally scrutinized: 鈥淲e obsess over purpose, but the goal is always that the emotive quality transcends.鈥�

Christakos offered a more systemic lens, describing Blu Dot鈥檚 weekly design reviews, open collaboration, and the need for a carefully curated product line. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want 80 sofas. We want 15 good ones.鈥�

From left: Tom Krizmanic, Jaimie Derringer, Stephanie Forsythe, John Christakos (photo credit: Jenna Bascom Photography)

The panel didn鈥檛 shy away from the thorny issue of knockoffs. Christakos shared a tale of legal confrontation with a major retailer, while Forsythe recounted seeing her own face in product images on Alibaba. Derringer, by contrast, emphasized the ethical importance of working directly with craftspeople to amplify鈥攏ot replace鈥攖raditional methods.

鈥淲e鈥檙e empowering artisans with tech,鈥� she said. 鈥淣ot erasing them.鈥�

A crowd looks on at ICFF 2025 during the Original Thinkers Talk (from left: Tom Krizmanic, Jaimie Derringer, Stephanie Forsythe, John Christakos)

Despite vastly different business models, all three speakers highlighted the importance of collaboration and clear creative rituals. Whether it was Christakos鈥檚 Thursday design reviews, Forsythe鈥檚 four-day work week emphasizing time outdoors, or Derringer鈥檚 journey from solo blogger to global design leader, the message was clear: sustainable creativity requires community.

molo's Booth at ICFF 2025, (photo credit: Jenna Bascom Photography)

When asked by a student how to navigate the fear that 鈥渆verything鈥檚 already been done,鈥� the panelists offered encouraging insights.

鈥淛ust start,鈥� advised Christakos. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 need to know the whole path.鈥�

Forsythe emphasized process over perfection: 鈥淒esigning a business is itself a creative act.鈥�

And Derringer, ever the polymath, reminded us of the joy in juggling multiple creative outlets: 鈥淐lose the laptop sometimes. It actually makes you better.鈥�

From left: Tom Krizmanic, Jaimie Derringer, Stephanie Forsythe, John Christakos (photo credit: Jenna Bascom Photography)

You May Also Like

More Stories