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WORTH Partnership Project

WORTH Community

WORTH is about creating a relevant community throughout Europe whose members share vision and values around design and innovation.

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WORTH Community (79)

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  • Co-Founder of The Institute of Future Creations and Chief Innovation Officer at Selyn Exporters, leading transformative strategies and fostering global innovation

Robert Meeder

Responsibilities

Sector: Retail, Luxury and Fashion and emerging markets 

Robert Meeder is a visionary leader and pioneering innovator with a global footprint. His profound achievements in crafting and executing transformative strategies have not only reshaped lives but have also created world-first achievements, leaving a lasting and profound impact in every field he engages with.

Co-Founder of The Institute of Future Creations and Chief Innovation Officer at Selyn Exporters (Sri Lanka).

Proficient in overseeing all aspects of product life cycle management and value chains, from conceptualization to manufacturing, supply chain, sourcing to consumer retail integration. Adept at fostering collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders, navigating through emerging markets, and aligning business strategies with market trends to achieve set objectives.

His key competencies are strategic thinking, relationship building, market insights, cultural intuition, creativity and innovation, motivation and analytical mindset.

He has received numerous honors and awards for his creativity and innovation, including being named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA) in 2023. Additionally, he serves on various international advisory boards focused on creativity and development.

WORTH Community
Steering Board Members
  • Vice-president world crafts council

Laura Miguel Baumann

Social media links
Responsibilities

Laura holds a degree in Translation and Interpretation by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra. She has completed her studies by several master’s degrees in international Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid; International Business Administration; and, Intercultural Communication and European Studies.
She has been working for the private sector as well as for non-profit organizations and public bodies, mainly in Spain but also in foreign countries as Serbia, Belgium and Germany.
Currently, she is in charge of Fundesarte, the department of crafts promotion at EOI (School of Industrial Organization, under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism). For more than 10 years she has been managing cultural projects related to crafts and carries out tasks to promote Spanish crafts through various activities, as the Spanish National Craft Awards, international exhibitions on crafts, the European Craft Days in Spain. She directed also the Master on Crafts Management, Design and Craft Skills at EOI. Laura is currently vice-president of WCC-Europe.
Exhibitions as:

  • “FUSION, glass jewellery contest”: Contemporary Glass Museum of Alcorcón, Royal Glass Factory in La Granja, Valencia, Valdemorillo, Valladolid, Zaragoza…▪ “10 years of Spanish National Craft Awards”: Madrid, Murcia, Bratislava (Slovakia), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Úbeda, Zaragoza.
  • “Cutting Edge Spanish Crafts”: Madrid, Elche, Washington, Lima, México DF and Cartagena de Indias.
  • “21st Century Spanish Crafts”: Madrid, Paris, Oporto, Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Tangier, Tetouan, New Delhi.
  • “3 territories – National Craft Awards”: Lisbon, Paris, Madrid.

Other projects to strengthen the crafts sector on an international scale, such as development cooperation projects in several African countries or projects to promote design in the artisanal sector, including:

  • DREAM and Crafts & Design: master
  • Cr@ftsman, online business management training for SMEs.
  • Empowerment of Palestinian refugee women in Lebanon through the traditional Palestinian embroidery “tatreez”.
  • Technical Assistance to the National Museum of Niger and the International Women’s Artisan Fair in Niger (SAFEM).
  • Technical assistance to the jewellery sector in Tangier and the forge sector in Tetouan, for the reorganization and professionalization of both sectors.
  • Creation and management of the European Crafts Network (EUROART) and the Ibero-American Network of Crafts Managers (RIRA).

#opportunity #innovation #design #creativity #future

WORTH Community
Ambassadors
  • Secretary General of the Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine

Elizabeth Myroshnychenko

Address
Ukraine
Social media links
Responsibilities

Elizabeth is co-founder of the Handicraft Chamber of Ukraine (HCU), where she now holds the position of Secretary General. She received a master’s degree in economics and entrepreneurship. Since joining HCU in 2009, she has been actively involved in its development, specifically in the areas of intersectoral and international collaboration and public-private dialogue in the craft and SME sectors. Apart from this, Elizabeth has been actively participating in task groups, handling problematic issues related to craft in Ukraine, where reform suggestions with regard to vocational education and SME were identified and elaborated. In her work, she had continuous professional contact with relevant central executive authorities tasked with the development of the Ukrainian craft and SME sector.

The key objectives of HCU are, amongst many others: continuous support and promotion of craft at the national and international level; reform of vocational education in Ukraine, and development of the necessary craft support infrastructure. Thanks to sustained collaboration with EU countries, in 2010 the HCU gained membership in the largest international associations for the support of crafts and SME. Between 2015 and 2017, HCU was partner to the “East-Invest-2” programme, hosting EU4Business-Week events, including workshops on various topics, such as mediation, analytics, communication, competition, clusters and cooperation, PR, export and marketing, as well as staging forums for craft and SME support under donor programmes.

HCU is currently working on promoting craft trades as an independent sector and on embedding craft in the triangle of education institutions, businesses, and employment services. HCU is also about to launch “craftpoint”, a project implemented as a sales platform for craft goods, available both in Ukraine and in the EU.

#designyourfuture #makeyourownstory #futurefashion #fashionbridges #creativecommunity

WORTH Community
Ambassadors
  • Fusionist Designer and Lecturer, exploring wearable technology and interactive installations, co-founder of Shifa Technologies

Ricardo O'Nascimento

Responsibilities

Sector: Smart Textiles and Design  

Ricardo O'Nascimento is a fusionist designer. He investigates body-environment relations focused on interface development for worn devices, interactive installations, and hybrid environments. O'Nascimento is interested in a non-disciplinary approach to create new means of communication among living beings and experiences that challenge and enhance human perception specially focused on emerging markets.   

He holds a degree from PUC - SP, SENAC - SP and the University of Arts and Industrial Design Linz at the Interface Culture Department. Currently, he works in his studio and teaches at some universities.  

His works have been featured in several museums, galleries and art festivals like Ars Electronica, FILE, LABoral, V2, Instituto Itaú Cultural, Soft Galleri, Transmediale, and MAC - Coruña, among others. 

He is a PhD student in Electronic textiles and wearable technology at Loughborough University, School of Design and Creative Arts. He is a PostDoc researcher in Consumer experience for the Textile circular Center at Royal College of Art. Ricardo is co-founder of Shifa Technologies. 

WORTH Community
Steering Board Members
  • International Design School and Co-organisers of Cracow Fashion Week

Cracow School of Arts and Fashion Design

Responsibilities

Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design (established in 1989) offers complementary two-year programs in English: Fashion College and School of Creative Photography. Students receive an intensive education with an individual attention to start their professional career with an amazing portfolio. Many of nearly 10 thousand of our graduates have opened their own businesses, others have found employment in companies in a diverse range of countries. Creativity and independence is our motto.

Students are surrounded by people who love what they do, who have ideas and talent, plans and passion. Photography and Fashion take determination, hard work, flexibility, and passion to succeed.

Our school is for self motivated fashion or photography enthusiasts, informed and mature enough to commit to a course that is demanding in both its breadth and depth. The school allows students to interact freely and often, encouraging an exchange of ideas and debate. The informal, lively atmosphere creates a community of working artists.

Graduates of the Fashion College receive a Diploma in Fashion Design. Graduates of the Photography School receive a Diploma in Fine Art Photography.

Cracow is a cultural capital of Poland is also one of the reasons why people choose to study with us. Numerous museums, exhibitions and international events put Cracow on the list of the most interesting cities in Europe.

Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design is approved by the Polish Ministry of Culture and National Heritage and is listed in the Ministry Art School Directory.

The School owns 2 buildings of nearly 3 thousand square meters in the historical part of the city. There are separate rooms for sewing, pattern making, jewellery, painting, 3 computer rooms as well as 2 photography studios, 2 dark rooms and others.

Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design also offers separate programs in Polish: interior design, visual merchandising, pattern making, acting, choreography, fashion, photography.
We organize Polish Talent Support Competition with very attractive prizes for students of Polish origin. It is opened every year for those who can participate.

Cracow School of Art and Fashion Design organizes in cooperation with the City of Cracow Authorities the following events: Cracow Fashion Week, International Fashion Photography Exhibition “Focus on Fashion”, Cracow Design Days.

Our Students and Graduates are from the following countries: USA, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Germany, Spain, England, Austria, Mauritius, Philippines Nigeria, Slovakia, Moldova, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Zimbabwe, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and others.

WORTH Community
Ambassadors
  • Development Centre

National Consortium of the Craftsmen Center

Responsibilities

Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia is an organisation which has been leading, co-ordinating and connecting development projects in the area since 2000. The team at Development Centre of the Heart of Slovenia, in cooperation with numerous local, regional, national and European partners, realizes projects to enhance the quality of life of people within the region and further.

Since 2014, they have been coordinating the National Consortium of the Craftsmen Centres of Slovenia. They are included in the international partnership network with 280 organisations from 33 countries.

The members of the team are experienced and excellently interconnected professionals that can assist with individual fields of development. They also consider the needs of the local environment through their work. To realize this, they organize, lead and coordinate networks, such as the network of communities and municipalities, the network of craftsmen, the network of entrepreneurs, the network of tourist bidders, the network of kindergartens and schools, and the network of farmers. By assisting people within the network, they have increased competences of local bidders of various products and services, as well as their power of self-organizing.

WORTH Community
Ambassadors
  • Creative Industries Business Coach, Adviser, and Consultant.

David Parrish

Responsibilities

David has firsthand knowledge in leading and managing creative and cultural businesses. Academic qualifications, professional accreditations, and participation in many management institutes complement his practical expertise.

Through mentoring, training, and consultancy projects, he applies his expertise and experience to help creative and cultural enterprises in becoming even more successful.

David adds value to the companies and organisations of his clients around the world by transferring brilliant ideas, effective techniques, and best practises across industries and sectors, as well as national and cultural borders. He empowers clients by helping them in adapting worldwide best practises to their specific local circumstances.

David's work is globally recognised, and he has worked with several businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organisations in over 60 nations ranging from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe.

David Parrish is the author of the book 

"T-Shirts and Suits: A Guide to the Business of Creativity". 

WORTH Community
Mentors
  • Founder / Partner at Wemanage Group

Matteo Patalano

Responsibilities

Matteo has a master's degree in management from Bocconi University in Milan and a professional background in marketing. Through his company Wemanage Group, Matteo has assisted several fashion and luxury brands in designing and executing their business strategy, the field in which he has consolidated the majority of his knowledge.

He has specialised in PMO initiatives concentrating on digital channels for both start-ups and major fashion and lifestyle brands over the last five years.

WORTH Community
Mentors
  • Strategic Brand Communications Executive & Consultant

Daniel Pérez-Barriga

Social media links
Responsibilities

Sector: Fashion - Textile & clothing, business strategy

Executive in charge of brand strategy with 20 years of expertise in the fashion and lifestyle industries. Founder of  Waterboy, a consultancy business that assists brands in communicating the discourse of the 21st century. Former member of the Mercedes Benz Madrid Fashion Week Steering Committee, Brand & Strategy Director at Madrid Es Moda, and member of the Global Fashion Council for Slow Fashion.  

Mentor and Board Member at Worth and ELIIT Projects, and Professor of Brand Building, Strategic Communications, and New Luxury at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland and Blanquerna University. Former guest writer for Fashion & Arts in the subject of Social Trends, Social Inclusion and aspiring novelist. 

Daniel has participated as jury and evaluator in the Madrid Es Moda awards, Mercedes Benz Contest, ELIIT project, EU-S-TARTS-Re FREAM, Cre@tive Wear, among others.

WORTH Community
MentorsSteering Board Members
  • Trend and Design consultant and founder of Pisco & Co.

Alexandra Pisco

Responsibilities

Alexandra embarked on her design career after completing her studies at Parsons in New York. Eager to gain insights into the business aspect, she took on a sales role at Chanel. Her intrigue in socio-cultural trends and their impact on consumer behavior led her to Promostyl, where she thrived as a Trend and Design consultant for a decade. From 2008 to 2016, Alexandra assumed the role of Director at Maisons de Mode (Accélérateur de Talents Mode & Lifestyle), where she successfully established an incubator and accelerator program that evolved into a benchmark for best practices. In 2017, she founded Pisco & Co., a consulting firm specializing in advising and creating programs tailored to the growth of emerging and independent fashion brands. Throughout her journey, Alexandra has collaborated with esteemed organizations such as MBFW Madrid, ACME, MAD Brussels, WBDM, D3, Fashion Council Germany, and the European Fashion Alliance. Currently, she is actively involved in developing the PINTU Incubator in Jakarta. Moreover, she serves as a consultant for ME Advisors, an investment advisory firm. With profound connections to the worlds of business, craftsmanship, and creativity, Alexandra plays a pivotal role in bridging these diverse industries. Her unwavering commitment to championing and promoting independent fashion remains at the core of her endeavors.

WORTH Community
MentorsSteering Board Members