Karishma Kusurkar

Karishma is a multidisciplinary designer whose work spans a broad range of disciplines, from fashion and farming to placemaking and museums. Her interests lie in developing the creative economy, building sustainable businesses, and facilitating accessible knowledge sharing. Karishma's work has been featured in publications including Creative Boom, The Sunday Times, and 100 Archive, and she has spoken at Birmingham Design Festival, Why Design (Institute of Designers Ireland), and at The British Council's UK/Viet Nam Season in Ha Noi.

Collaboration is a vital component of Karishma's design practice. In 2015, she co-founded Belfast Design Week to engage the local design community. The festival has developed over 300 events and live projects locally and internationally, enabling Karishma to work with over 500 businesses and organizations. Belfast Design Week has played a crucial role in supporting emerging designers and has partnered with educational institutions, including Ulster University, The Graduate School at Queen’s University, and Belfast Metropolitan College.

In 2020, Karishma co-founded Venture Folk, a cooperative of innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs implementing sustainable solutions, impactful economic development, specialist mentor support, and meaningful partnerships that link to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Karishma loves creating new music, inventing recipes, and better understanding the world through great conversations.