For thousands of years, humans have sought out beautiful objects to decorate their spaces and their persons. How those objects were commissioned or collected may have changed, but the use of storytelling through motif has not. With a specific focus on Egypt, this presentation will examine one of the world’s most ancient cultures and discuss how modern-day branding, visual merchandising, and product development are incorporating ancient themes within the modern Egyptian context to not only create beautiful spaces and products, but to connect modern-day Egyptians, and modern-day travelers, to the country’s past.
Renee Lamb is an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, a recipient of the Fulbright U.S. Scholars award, and the founder of Soulié, an artisan-based social enterprise. Her work focuses on identifying opportunities to increase personal capacity, foster poverty reduction and implement culturally sensitive development through education, informative design, conscious consumerism, and corporate citizenship. Her design work has been featured by national and international press outlets. Lamb holds degrees from Parsons, Johns Hopkins University, and North Carolina State University.
R. Elasfory