6. Norman Teague

‘Design should always satisfy a level of learning, human connection and interaction,’ says the designer, maker and educator Norman Teague, whose studio, set up in Chicago in 2018, focuses on connecting with local communities and specialises in spatial design, furniture fabrication, objects and custom millwork.

His 2020 exhibition ‘From Lawn Road to South Chicago’ at New York gallery R & Company featured pieces by Gerald Summers and Marcel Breuer, as well as Teague’s ‘Africana’ chairs and ‘Sinmi’ stools (pictured). The latter are based on Chicago city life, their rocking movement inspired by chilling out while leaning on a car or the backrest of a sofa. These pieces ‘speak to the African diaspora, its steadfastness and resilience’.

Often more important to him than physical designs are local initiatives such as Back Alley Jazz, an annual community festival he helped set up to pay tribute to the jazz alley jams that took place in Chicago’s South Shore in the 1960s and 1970s; and the Tilden incubator programme, which introduces design fundamentals to high school students in a predominantly African American/latinx school district.

‘Teague designs collaboratively, thinks strategically, and is committed to training Black and brown makers.’ says Gates. ‘His determination and design vocabulary continue to inspire me. I’m grateful to have this Chicago-based brother in my circle.’ normanteaguedesignstudios.com