Top 10 Friday Five Posts of 2025: Discover What Captivated Readers!

10. Joya Nandurdikar Discusses Divine Inspirations and Artisanal Craftsmanship

Joya Nandurdikar integrates India’s vibrant craft traditions into her design work, using creativity as a tool for expression and cultural conservation. As a co-founder of both Untitled Design and later Furgonomics, she promotes sustainable luxury by working closely with local artisans, fusing age-old methods with modern designs. Her creative sparks are ignited by shared energetic experiences and solitary introspection alike, drawing from diverse sources such as Kerala’s murals, goddess symbolism, the tranquil Ganga at twilight, and the meticulous craftsmanship of ancient artifacts to craft compelling narratives and imbue objects with rich histories.

9. Elizabeth Graziolo on Architectural Influences and Inspirations

Elizabeth Graziolo’s architectural journey commenced at Cooper Union, setting her career and outlook into motion. Under the guidance of Ann Kalla, she learned to apply theoretical concepts practically while navigating the field as a woman. After spending nearly two decades at Peter Pennoyer Architects, she established Yellow House Architects in 2020, fostering a collaborative environment in her New York and Miami offices. Graziolo finds inspiration in everyday sights—sunsets, libraries, art, nature, and even door knockers, using photography, sketches, and collected items to capture these ideas. Her practice revitalizes historical properties with innovative reinterpretations, driven by curiosity and a dynamic creative process.

8. Karim El-Ishmawi Explores Urban Design and Collaborative Spaces

Initiated by his childhood home in the Bavarian mountains, Karim El-Ishmawi’s fascination with architecture started early. Raised in post-Wall East Berlin, he delved into creativity through graffiti, film, and installations, setting the stage for his future collaborative approach. In 2005, he co-founded Kinzo with friends Chris Middleton and Martin Jacobs, a studio known for its participatory design and user-focused approach, deeply influenced by El-Ishmawi’s strategic insights. He values partnerships as a cornerstone of innovation and is inspired by a range of influences including Siza’s landscapes, Berlin’s experimental projects, Brutalist architecture, immersive art, and vivid design moments, all fueling his commitment to collective creativity and pioneering spaces.

7. Alex Matisse Reflects on Pottery, Heritage, and Creativity

Growing up in an environment steeped in artistic heritage, ceramist Alex Matisse carved his own niche in pottery, realizing early on that working with clay was his true passion. Opting out of college for a traditional apprenticeship, he later established East Fork on a former tobacco farm in North Carolina. There, he constructed a large wood-fired kiln and expanded his business into a prominent dinnerware brand with his wife, Connie. Matisse’s creative journey is deeply personal and rooted in place, influenced by handmade objects, family history, a cherished woodland cabin, and the hands-on craft processes he developed. Even away from the pottery wheel, he finds that inspiration seamlessly integrates into his life.

6. Amanda Leigh Discusses Architectural Restoration and Design Passion

Amanda Leigh’s early exposure to art, architecture, and community service shaped her bond with the built world. Initially a restaurateur in New York, she discovered her true calling in the design aspects of the business, leading her to establish House of Rolison in Los Angeles in 2022 with partner Taylor Hahn. Their firm is known for transforming neglected properties into meticulously curated, luxurious spaces by blending vintage and modern elements. Leigh’s inspirations are varied, encompassing iconic buildings, intricate architectural details, and classic automobiles, all reflecting her love for innovation, narrative, and collaborative creation.

5. Sam Sacks on Design Narratives and Sensory Experiences

Sam Sacks transitioned from a journalism career, where she edited a shelter magazine, into interior design—a shift prompted by the 2008 financial crisis. Now running her own firm in Toronto, she views design as a continuation of her storytelling skills, crafting spaces that mirror the clients’ identities through a mix of patterns, materials, and atmospheres. Sacks is constantly observing and gathering inspiration, whether from travels, screenshots, music, or the scents and textures of Moroccan riads, Spanish cedar, artisan textiles, anthropomorphic furniture, and the thrill of textile hunting.

4. Nathan Warkentin Melds Music, Photography, and Interior Design

Nathan Warkentin’s diverse background in photography and music led him to the immersive world of interior design. In 2023, he launched his own firm in New York and Los Angeles, focusing on creating refined, functional, and emotionally engaging spaces within the hospitality and residential sectors. An avid reader and collector, Warkentin gathers inspiration from a vast array of sources including fashion, Japanese design, and eclectic finds from second-hand stores around the globe. His influences are as varied as art, underground ’90s culture, Mexican architecture, street life, and the emotional depth of subtle browns.

3. Leo Marmol on Integrating Life and Design

Leo Marmol credits an early mentor for boosting his confidence and curiosity in design, later enriched by the philosophical insights of Louis Kahn. As co-founder of Marmol Radziner, he takes a comprehensive approach to architecture, encompassing building, furniture, and craftsmanship, while also pursuing personal interests that keep him balanced. Painting, originally a private stress relief, has evolved into a national exhibition practice. Whether through introspective moments, museum visits, or outdoor activities like fly-fishing with his son, Marmol values the creative process, finding profound meaning in the act of creation itself.

2. Jun Aizaki Shares Insights on Design and Personal Passions

Jun Aizaki’s design career was seeded by childhood play with LEGO and an innate love for drawing, enhanced by travels and formal education at Pratt. After refining his skills at Rockwell Group, he started CRÈME in 2004, adopting a holistic, narrative-driven approach to hospitality and product design. Aizaki sees each project as a story crafted with collaborators and clients, frequently sketching in notebooks or digitally, and also finds joy in pottery, appreciating its tactile unpredictability. His inspirations include mobility, crafted objects, expansive storytelling, and the natural world, grounding his work in meticulousness, humanity, and a continuous exploration of ideas.

And the most popular Friday Five post of 2025 is…

1. Amanda Gunawan on Her Influences in Running and Art

Explore more of Design Milk’s year-end coverage here!