From finance to design and decor
0 Comments | Weekly Gleaner, The; North American ed., May 27-Jun 2, 2010 | by Collinder, Avia
ANISHKA CLARKE has exchanged a career as a financial adviser for that of interior design, swapping cold numbers for what appears to be the warmer, more exciting world of colour and form.
The New York-based designer, who lays claims to ‘mutli-cultural aesthetic and ou tside-t he-box thinking.’ was born in Kingston, where she studied accounting and economics at the University of the West Indies, graduating with honours, and later completing a Masters in Business Administration from New York University’s Stern School of Business.
A 10-year career in finance followed, starting at Mayberry Investments Limited on Oxford Road, and ending in New York as an equity research analyst at investment bank Morgan Stanley and ratings agencv Standard & Poors.
In 2007, the creation of Ishka Designs Inc coincided with her graduation, summa cum laude, from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City with an associate degree in interior design.
START-UP CAPITAL
Partnering with fellow designer Niya Bascom; a creative photographer also based in New York, Clarke secured start-up capital for her business, later taking a bank loan, which created a 45 per cent debt-toequity financing ratio for the firm.
The duo worked at projects, from conceptualisation to implementation, including colour selection, concept studies and hand-rendering.
Clarke said the small team did everything at first.
“From strategic direction to taking out the trash, we wore all the hats, including accountant, lawyer, sales. Web designer, graphic designer.”
Ishka Designs, she says, does not have the typical partnership structure of a design firm.
Clarke is principal designer and majority shareholder. Her title at the firm is chairman, president and chief executive officer.
In total, there are three team members as well as a steady intern.
Adrienne Smith, an MBA graduate of Columbia University, also joined the team in February, bringing with her business-development skills.
The company’s brick and mortar design studio is located in Brooklyn, with a satellite office in Kingston.
“With technology and increasing outside-the-box thinking, we are pretty much able to design anywhere,” Clarke said.
Ishka provides interior design solutions for both residential and commercial spaces. Services currently range from one-day consultations on conceptualisation, colour, furniture fixtures and equipment or FFE selections, and material selections, to long-term comprehensive design-project solutions, which includes space planning, working drawings, hand-renderings, customdesign solutions, as well as FFE and materials selection.
Clarke explains that a comprehensive project solution starts with conceptualisation and finishes with a fully installed project, including lighting solutions, custom furniture design, colour selection, renderings and sketches, as well as design consultation.
On almost every project to date, they have created a custom piece of furniture.
“We find this highly appealing to most clients. Our future goal is to have a line of furniture/fixtures to sell at the retail level,” said Clarke.
The primary development cost in the early start-up phase was building out technology.
More recently, the company has switched to investing a great deal in marketing.
Its chief focus is to grow business in New York, but. “we also have an eye on the Jamaican market.” said Clarke.
As Clarke sees it
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