The Caribbean Aesthetic. A Conversation with Marlon Darbeau

"I think its ok to make what you want to make, where you make it. When you do it and for whom you do it." - Marlon Darbeau, Designer and Creative Director of AbovegroupOgilvy.

"I've never really had to consider ' The Caribbean Aesthetic'"

"I guess it's because I've never lived anywhere else. I've travelled to a couple places. Never been there long enough to heavily consider how it affects how I do things."

"The internet has had a very profound affect on how we see ourselves. What we do, how we create things of beauty. On mediums utilised, how we use them and even what we make."

"But for me it's about having insight.
Insight into yourself and insight into the space around you.
I think what is important is looking."

"I think it's based on your experiences and where you've been, and that in itself is a changing thing."

"For me I just try to make things based on how I experience things, how I see things and that aesthetic is based on my own eye sight."

left: Dishout, kitchen utensils right: Peera, designed by Marlon Darbeau

'Jazz on The Beach', set design

Do you think Trinidad has a brand?

"Yes I think Trinidad and Tobago has a brand but what we have to ask ourselves is "is it a brand that we like?"

"Is it a brand of value?"

"That value has to do with our perceptions of patriotism and economic value.
We haven't yet reached to the point of understanding how to maximize our brand."

Marlon is a collaborator at the Alice Yard art-space initiative. He comes from a family tradition of making things in a workshop that was at home or very close to home. He has become very interested in how those traditions intersect with his practice as a graphic designer, and in using this convergence to formulate ways of making his work.

The Caribbean or Island Aesthetic with Ayanna Gillian Lloyd

Ayanna Gillian Lloyd is a  Writer and Blogger. 

She is currently a Literatures in English Teacher at the prestigious Bishop Anstey High School in Port of Spain Trinidad and pursuing a masters at Arthur Lock Jack Graduate School of Business studying Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

Ayanna currently writes one of my favourite blogs about Literature and Culture and is very interested in the creative industries. 

She's a beautiful smart woman and I totally admire her (and wish I had her brain!)

I've also quoted her in one of my earlier post; 'So Island, Anya Ayoung-Chee. A Sense of Pride."

Because of Ayanna absolute smarts and genuine interest in the Arts and in how to make creative industries here better I had to ask her the question, 'What does the term Caribbean Aesthetic mean to you?' 

Please check out the video and leave your thoughts by commenting! :)

'I think it's something that moves along a spectrum of influences and you can't really define it. It depends on your where you sit, where you're from, where you start, where you reach, where you going.' -Ayanna Gillian Lloyd

The recording and editing of this video post was done by Photographer; Kibwe Brathwaite

An Island Identity

My name is Tanya Marie Williams and I have always been obsessed with design, advertising, books, products, style and beautiful things.

I'm a graphic designer on an island, working for a brand engineering firm, creating and developing brands. I work with and know some amazingly gifted and intellectual artists, designers, architects, strategists, photographers, writers and fantastic inspiring people!

Some of these great people were born and raised on the island. Others were born here but grew up and went to school abroad then came back home with degrees and different experiences. Some people aren't at all from the island but the melting pot of amazingness adds to my 'wordly-island view'

I'd love for you to share your views and comments with me while I continue to craft  

my idea of an 'island aesthetic.'