Jomo Tariku on what it takes to change the canon

Jomo Tariku’s life and career have followed a winding path, from his childhood in Ethiopia to a design degree in Kansas and a stint in data visualization at the World Bank. Today, he’s internationally recognized as a furniture designer, with pieces in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Tariku is also the creator of an impactful 2020 study that demonstrated the startling lack of Black furniture designers working with major manufacturers. 

In this episode of the podcast, Tariku speaks with host Dennis Scully about why data is more powerful than anecdotal evidence, why he’s getting into wallpaper and other categories, and what it will take to truly make design a global language.

This episode is sponsored by Loloi and Isla Porter

LINKS
Jomo Furniture
Jomo Tariku
Dennis Scully
Business of Home