Maker Monday: An aspire Exclusive Interview With Kate Mellinger

Sojourn Pottery was founded by Kate Mellinger to address a gap in the home decor market for high-quality tableware that can be mixed and matched across collections. Inspired by a visit to a small shop in southern Portugal that showcased vibrant factory settings, Kate set out to replicate this unique shopping experience in the United States. After researching and learning that larger retailers usually only stock white tableware options year-round, Kate set out to launch Sojourn Pottery, centered around mixing and matching with the integrity and quality of Portuguese handmade ceramics. Learn more about Sojourn’s beautiful tableware in today’s Maker Monday.

Andrew Joseph: Can you tell us about a design trend you are excited about?
Kate Mellinger: There seems to be more of an effort from trade shows and markets to highlight up-and-coming and fair trade brands which is a trend I’ve been loving, (and appreciating as a new brand). I think designers attend shows seeking something new and something as simple as adding an exhibitor tag or added show marketing goes so far for buyers and brands.

AJ: How do you stay creative and inspired?
KM: I find the easiest (and most affordable) way to get inspired at home is checking out design books and magazines from Libby, the digital library app, and searching the designer or author on Pinterest to find similar directions. Sometimes the Pinterest feed gets overly curated and this helps break it up. I’m also lucky to live around the corner from the Design Center of the Americas (DCOTA) building which always has something new.

AJ: What is your favorite design tool to use?
KM: I was initially going to say Figma for design collaboration or Pantone Connect to find harmonious colors, but I don’t think I could live without Color Dropper, which is a free Chrome extension that pulls the hex code for any color in your Chrome window.

AJ: What’s your favorite cocktail?
KM: Paper Planes are the best cocktail to welcome a crowd! They can be batch made, look great in any glass, and are frankly delicious. Plus, the recipe is really easy to remember: equal parts bourbon, aperol, lemon juice, and amaro nonino. I will make a batch using ½ cup of each ingredient for 4 guests and serve with fancy potato chips as an easy apero.

AJ: Style (or design) icon and why?
KM: Lukas Lewandowski from Casa Lawa. I love their use of color and food settings. Recently food styling for events has bordered on performance art and seems so wasteful (who is actually attacking the butter mounds or artichoke centerpieces?) but I love Casa Lawa’s crowded tables and curated scenes.

AJ: What’s a new hobby/skill that you have learned recently?
KM: How to wrap and prep pallets of ceramics for freight shipping! Not glamorous but very useful for restaurant and wholesale orders.

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