Tuesday - October 28 - 3 pm ET
Nawal Motawi joins us to talk about her journey from art school graduate to founder of an award-winning Ann Arbor-based nationally known art studio, Motawi Tileworks, that creates unique handmade tile reflecting the classic styles and craftsmanship of 20th Century American design.
Nawal Motawi founded Motawi Tileworks more than 20 years ago. A University of Michigan art school graduate with a restless spirit and an interest in applied arts, she moved to Detroit to learn tilemaking at Detroit’s storied Pewabic Pottery. She returned to Ann Arbor after a few years and began making her own tiles in a garage studio and selling them from a stand she rented at the local farmers’ market.
Today, Nawal is still designing and making tiles in Ann Arbor. Her companies, Motawi Tileworks and Rovin Ceramics, employ more than 30 people. The tiles are sold in over 350 shops, galleries and showrooms across the country.
The Motawi business philosophy:
We make distinctive ceramics in a healthy way. We share our story. And we have fun.
Why?
We believe that we can make the world a better place by making beautiful things for everyday places and modeling healthy company practices.
How do we do this?
We make things that are valued for their design and quality.
We cultivate an intentional workplace culture that fosters constant improvement, positivity and consistently high performance.
Listen to learn how Nawal made the move from her first art class to becoming a successful business owner, plus her best tips for building a sustainable career in the arts.
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Nawal's business has won many awards, including recently 2014 Economic Bridge Builder from American Arab Chamber of Commerce for her commitment to building economic, social and cultural bridges through her business practices, demonstrated social responsibility and cultural ambassadorship. Her business has also won the prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Excellence in Workplace Flexibility Award, 2009. Visit the website and you can see the obvious pride her workforce takes in the creation of the art tiles:
If you've ever been tempted to put together a production business with your art or craft, this podcast should be an inspiration to you.