Form & function: from industrial pioneers to industry innovators, these designers create the world's hottest products

The Harlem office of former President Bill Clinton. The Freddie Mac headquarters in Washington, D.C. The halls of Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. The Chrysler 300C. What do all of these have in common? The bear the signature of African American designers. Associated primarily with the fashion industry, African n designers have made significant inroads in interior, architectural, automotive, and industrial design.

There are nearly 500,000 designers employed in the U. S. Of that pool, African Americans number an estimated 18,000. A select group has ascended to stardom such as industrial designer David Rice, founder and chairman of Washington, D.C.--based Organization of Black Designers; interior designer Sheila Bridges, who has created spaces for notables such as Clinton and P. Diddy; and architect Jack Travis, recently named an American Institute of Architects Fellow. But the vast majority of black craftspeople goes unnoticed.

The editors of BLACK ENTERPRISE decided to acknowledge the African American design community as a growing force in America We surveyed the overall landscape, drawing on the resources of industry insiders, design schools, and associations. The goal: to identify those who best represent both style and substance.