Spotlights
Spotlight on Creativity
July 2008
July's spotlight on creativity is Jaime Salm, Creative Director of MIO, a design company dedicated to creating the most sustainable and innovative design experiences in the market. A native of Medellin, Colombia, Jaime was interest in the arts and sculpture as a young adult, which led him to study under several art academies, independent local artists and architects. He received a bachelors of Science in Industrial Design in 2001 from The University of the Arts.
Following graduation, Jaime founded MIO with his brother, Isaac, and exhibited his first collection at the 2003 International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Since then products from the MIO Collection have been showcased by Material ConneXion, Felissimo Design House, The Ontario Science Center, The National Building Museum in Washington and The Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, among others.
He was presented with the People's Choice Award in 2002 for the Need International Design Competition sponsored by Core 77, for his collaboration in Fibrid. In 2005 his designs for MIO were recognized with the Best Collection Award at the New York International Gift Fair. His work is part of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum's permanent collection. As the Creative Director of MIO, Jaime has consulted for a variety of companies on projects ranging from furniture and environments to branding and interactions.
Photo (left to right): Isaac Salm and Jaime Salm
Name:
Jaime Salm
Firm/company:
MIO
Occupation:
Creative Director
Current Location:
Philadelphia, PA
Hometown:
Medellin, Colombia
Favorite Philadelphia neighborhood:
Italian Market Area
Quote to live by:
"Energy and persistence conquer all things." ~ Benjamin Franklin
Your favorite thing about living in the Philadelphia Region:
The balance between city and country, intimate and public and how affordable it is.
Your favorite "Philly moment":
Riding my bike to work every day!
Your favorite thing about working in the Philadelphia Region:
[Philadelphia is] a strategic location with untapped resources from talent to manufacturing to cutting edge ideas.
How can businesses and professionals consciously "go green" ?
Developing a sustainable culture at work starts with simple things. Recycling, composting, re-using what you can and becoming aware of the opportunities to be connected to the community and to the immediate environment. It almost sounds clichè but it is hard to calculate how important it is for companies to walk before running.
Please give an example of how your company helped a client "go green" with a product design.
We were asked by Bloomberg to develop a product for their bureaus worldwide using their old business cards, letter heads and envelopes. We made several proposals and ended up designing seats made from the waste paper that would reflect the company's commitment to make their employees aware that nothing should go to waste. The whole process was documented and circulated around their HQ. It was a very clear message and a way to encourage innovative thinking about resources.
The Mio CultureLab is an atelier for sustainable design, delivering desirable and eco-intelligent interactions, services, products and environments for a broad range of clients. Recognizing that accomplishing sustainable goals can be complex, the Lab focuses on delivering solutions that bridge existing infrastructures with the demands and opportunities of the emerging sustainable economy. They provide the necessary tools and information to develop profitable and sustainable solutions for any organization.
To learn more about Jaime's work in the region, visit: http://www.mioculture.com.