Design Thinking: TOMME Studio

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

In Graduate School, one of the buzzwords professors love to discuss is "Design Thinking." Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be instantly apparent with our initial level of understanding (Dam and Siang). Design Thinking enables a company to understand consumer needs to serve their audience better. For this project, I contacted different companies to learn how the organizations apply Design Thinking into their market offerings. I had the opportunity to talk with Kelly G. from TOMME Studio to learn more about the brand.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

1. What does art mean to you?

Its cliche, but Art is whatever you want it to mean. For me its expression and liberty of self expression, it allows me to express my creativity and explore ideas. Without the freedom of Art I wouldn't have a business.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

2. What makes TOMME Studio different from other bags on the market?

The type of product that we make does naturally set us apart and give us a point of difference, but now that there are people out there that have copied the work, it is all about providing a product as unique and as premium as possible. We are always pushing the process, pushing the designs, the collaborations we have to create something that is special for our customers. We put them first all the time and we value them as part of our community. We always create with them in mind, ask them feedback and want to make them feel good. If they feel good, we feel good.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

3. How does TOMME combine pop culture, art, and fashion?

Through the designs and through the product itself. I see a basketball as a canvas, as you can get really creative not only with the design but using the materials to create something new. We look at whats happening in the culture around us and within Fashion (streetwear) and pop culture to use as inspiration for our designs and also to push our creative thinking around what could be our next product innovation. Pop culture is so inherent within sport and basketball in particular (esp fashion), that is it is in the DNA of the brand, in the product as are we now within the culture.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

4. How does TOMME incorporate its mission and vision into its product offerings?

Our mission is to empower and give the wearer confidence. our tagline is to connect feminine and masculine with ease and confidence. We want people to feel powerful when wearing our bags. We try to create designs as unique and individual as our customers. With the product we make, we were trying to capture a moment and a feeling that you get from carrying a basketball, hence why we use the product we do. There is something strong in the product itself and we have translated that into something wearable.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)

5. What is the future of the company?

There will be some product expansion, were working on some new product lines currently which will roll out over the next year. There are some special collaborations in the pipeline also that we cant wait to share. But ultimately were just working to keep pushing the innovation and creativity that we started with.

(Image courtesy of TOMME Studio)