Terri Bryant (Rochester, New York, 49 years old) has always been drawn to the world of makeup since she was a child accompanying her mother shopping. He had a goal and soon discovered the ability to see how to highlight features using pigments and brushes as tools. “While my friends drew on paper, I saw faces as canvases. I played for hours and experimented with different techniques.” Soon he was working for brands like Dior and Stila. Everything was going according to plan until, after two decades of professional dedication, his pulse began to fail. A highly spectacular kickback for which precision is a work requirement. “I had lived with mild but progressive symptoms for years before I found out I had Parkinson’s. While it’s certainly not a diagnosis anyone wants to hear, I was both relieved and empowered to finally have answers.”
Actress Selma Blair applies makeup to her eyes with the eyeliner applicator. Raul Romo
Instead of being intimidated, he had the reflexes to deviate and create applicators and formulas that he could keep using. Also the insight that she wasn’t the only one they could serve. This is how the idea of own make-up company Guide Beauty came about, the realization of which took two and a half years. When this happened in February 2020, a global pandemic broke out. She never thought of leaving him, “not even on the worst of days”. Last June he was joined by Selma Blair. Creative direction rests with the actress, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018. “He introduced us to a mutual friend,” says Bryant, “we instantly bonded as we shared life experiences and our love of beauty.”
The entrepreneur’s experience with the disease gave her an opportunity to expand her vision: “Having Parkinson’s has given me a unique perspective, as a makeup artist and as someone who knows what it feels like to have to struggle. When you create through an inclusive lens and follow the principles of universal design, consider and accommodate as many needs and challenges as possible.” This design paradigm that focuses on creating products that are easy for everyone to use without them Having to adapt was the guideline for the American to develop one prototype after another and test them with more than 200 user tests. The result? Ergonomic applicators and intuitive packaging that make the moment of make-up pleasant for those who want to use it, whatever their skills.
Details of the designs by Guide Beauty Raúl Romo
For a long time, the normative concept of beauty was based on exclusion. To speak of the opposite means a radical change for the industry. But it’s an inevitable one, according to consulting firm Wunderman Thompson Inclusion’s Next Wave report last July, which indicates much more is expected of brands: “There’s a grassroots movement of historically marginalized communities aligned with consumer proliferation Expectations”. According to the consulting firm, companies that do not take inclusion into account are irrelevant for 6 out of 10 respondents.
Microsoft’s lead in inclusive design, Christina Mallon, often argues that all people should understand that they are “temporarily able” rather than “disabled” because there is a high likelihood that their abilities will decline over the course of their lives . . Archetypes should be developed that serve all of these moments. The industry is starting to do its homework on usability, Bryant argues, “from the delicious click of a Kjaer Weis palette that doesn’t require sight to know the eyeshadow is securely closed, to the innovative hair dryer and eyeshadow brush.” From Revlon’s hot air to enabling one-handed styling, we’re seeing more products every day that address the needs of many who might not otherwise be able to access or enjoy beauty so easily.” Diversity is spoken of and recognized that it People with different paths exist.” And most importantly, we value our differences and use them to create products and techniques that allow us to share our love of makeup. When that happens, our community grows and, with it, ours.” Connections because you don’t design for us or for them, you design for everyone”.
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