MANIFESTO

Hej! My name is Susannah (Suzi for short) and I am a metalsmith, textile artist, writer, digital designer, and enthusiastic historical reenactor. I also play guitar, lift weights, love spending time in nature, and enjoy performing a little creative witchcraft now and then. 

I am proudly neurodivergent, and will always keep space for those who are a little different and love diving down special interest rabbit holes. 

While I have worked on a huge diversity of creative projects over my lifetime (installation artworks, website development, costumes for the opera, etc.) my current focus is on crafting one-off or limited-edition objects that people will appreciate for their uniqueness and quality, and treasure forever. 

In addition to my artisan skills, I am also available to complete digital design / branding / service design / event design and UX projects. I am particularly interested in the fields of interaction and sensory environment design, creative technology, data visualisation and storytelling, and improving design for neurodiversity. 

I've always had a habit of combining contrasting elements - dark and light, metal and cloth, ancient and modern - and these days I can oscillate happily between a sewing needle and thread, a web interface, a steel anvil, or a sketchbook. Whether physical or digital, all aspects of my design practice are closely connected. 

I love to teach and educate people about historical objects and techniques, and how these may be reinterpreted and incorporated into our current lives using new technology. I am also deeply interested in the ethical conversations around how we can use newer technologies such as AI. 

 

At the core, all of my creative work revolves around a few key tenets - 

+ Evidence of the hand of the maker - those little idiosyncrasies that make people go, yes - this was made by a real human being

+ The creation of high-quality products that are built to last - durable, repairable, adaptable

+ Celebration of unique viewpoints - especially the voices that have been historically under-represented in our communities

+ Creative reuse of existing materials - both to reduce environmental impact, and because previously used objects carry the most interesting stories

+ Embodied sensory experiences - as a means to teach practical skills, tell stories, or to promote emotional regulation

+ Elements of creative disruption and rebellion - encouraging DIY and counter-cultural expression in the face of the increasing homogenisation of contemporary culture

+ Forming deep connections to history, folklore, our ancestors, and our natural environment - because stories from the past can teach us valuable lessons about the futures we dream of

 

So - if you are ready - let's forge something beautiful and memorable together 🖤 

X X Susannah