London-born British Nigerian artist and designer, Miminat Shodeinde, at the helm of Miminat Designs, has crafted a niche for herself at the intersection of art and architecture, creating spaces and pieces that transcend traditional categorization. Her work is an example of a design philosophy that marries the fluidity of art with the discipline of architectural design, achieving a harmonious blend of the prosaic and the poetic. Through her unique lens, Shodeinde navigates the complementary and contradictory, integrating the old with the new to forge immersive experiences that are at once timeless and innovative. Her sculptural design pieces challenge the conventional relationship between form and function, allowing art and design to seamlessly intersect.
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Mimiinat Shodeinde sits down with DSCENE Editor Katarina Doric to talk about the impact of her rich British and Nigerian heritage on her design aesthetic, the creative equilibrium she maintains between functionality and personality in her work, and the fluidity of her design process that draws from a wealth of inspiration.
How does your British and Nigerian heritage influence your design aesthetic and approach to creating art? – My heritage has definitely influenced my approach to design. I like to capture and balance influences from both European and African schools of design. I think the interest comes in fusing both cultures together. My African heritage definitely guides the materials and aesthetics of my practice, too—I love African sculpture and its scale, and I try to bring that across in my work.
Your work often defies categorisation, blending art and architecture. How do you maintain functionality while ensuring each piece has its unique personality? – It’s definitely a balancing act, aligning the prosaic and the poetic, pushing the boundaries of my own imagination and creativity whilst ensuring the pieces serve their own functional “purpose.” My design process is ever-evolving in this way.
I have always been interested in art, music, and architecture – I go to bed and wake up thinking about design; it’s just a part of who I am.
Can you describe the creative process behind your sculptural designs? – I would say my design process is more fluid than fixed. The way my mind works, I have endless inspirations. I guess you could call these micro influences. I seem to remember certain trips, scenes, and soundtracks that spark this small flame that turns into a larger fire. I have always been interested in art, music, and architecture – I go to bed and wake up thinking about design; it’s just a part of who I am.
The Borris Collection emphasises the pause within motion. What inspired you to explore this concept, and how does it reflect in the design elements of the collection? – The poetry of movement is something I am often drawn to explore in my work. Here, I looked to capture its pause—movement suspended in time; you could say—and the beauty of those solid, rigid structures that emerge.
I really enjoy the process of layering and pairing unusual textures and materials to create sensory pieces that feel sumptuously tactile and one-of-a-kind.
The Borris Collection features materials like aluminium, nero marquina marble, and ash wood. What led to the choice of these specific materials? – I have an obsession with materiality and like to see materials as flavours. I really enjoy the process of layering and pairing unusual textures and materials to create sensory pieces that feel sumptuously tactile and one-of-a-kind. When working on new designs, I often find myself returning to the pairing of wood & metal; I think the organic, textured quality of the wood beautifully complements the industrial feel of metal. With the Borris Collection, I particularly love the juxtaposition of the soft suede upholstery and the sleek aluminium panelling–heaven!
How do you envision the modular compositions of the Borris Collection altering and enhancing the spaces they inhabit? – There’s a growing trend for customisation in interiors, and it was important to me that the Borris Collection embodied this sense of fluidity. This definitely informed my decision when making the collection modular, as I wanted to ensure the pieces were adaptable to the demands of different spaces.
Throughout your career, you have worked on a variety of projects, from residential to hospitality. How do you adapt your design approach to suit different types of spaces? – I would say the essence of our approach remains consistent across all our projects, whilst residential work is obviously more personal and intimate, delving into the clients’ lifestyle, taste and home dynamics. We’re certainly noticing more and more crossovers between the hospitality and residential worlds, and I feel super excited about our work in the hospitality sector. I really enjoy the experiential element, crafting and tailoring immersive spaces that will leave a lasting impact on their guests.
Looking forward, how do you see your work and Miminat Designs evolving, and are there any particular goals or projects you aspire towards? – We have just completed a beautiful boutique hotel in Antigua which I couldn’t be more excited to share with the world. We will also be unveiling a new studio space in the near future which I like to call Casa Miminat!
miminat is beyond talented! this is gorgeous !