Imagine this scene for a moment. You’re in New Orleans. It’s nighttime, and two groups of men approach, singing and dancing. Leading these two groups are two men—Big Chiefs—dressed in stunning suits adorned with feathers and mosaics..

These Big Chiefs dance, jump, and strut in front of each other, shouting, “I´m the prettiest Big Chief“.It might seem like a fight is about to break out, but instead, they stop, look each other in the eyes, and say, “You are pretty.” The two groups then continue on their way, singing and dancing.

They are the Mardi Gras Indians divided into tribes with incredible names like “Wild Tchoupitoulas“, “Creole Wild West” and “Wild Magnolias“.

No matter how hard you look, you won’t find Native Americans among them. None of them are actually Indian. History tells us that these groups were formed by Black men in New Orleans as a tribute to the Native Americans who once helped enslaved people escape their captors. But, as is often the case with traditions like these, the true origins remain unclear.

What does any of this have to do with design? Everything and nothing.

The people in these tribes are the poorest of the poor—and believe me, in New Orleans, that means truly poor. Yet they make their own suits, selecting each feather one by one, crafting every mosaic stone by stone.

All of this immense effort is for just one night. They spend the entire year working with love and passion to create something beautiful—something unique that will never be repeated. Each year, the suits must be different. In every suit, there is love, tradition, shared stories, and pride. All this work, all this passion, transforms into an act of honesty and respect when they stand before another Big Chief and say, “You are pretty.”

To me, that phrase represents why I love design. Creating something beautiful is a process filled with work. A lot of work. An incredible amount of work. But beyond that, design is a process in which, without honesty and respect for others, you will never create something truly beautiful.

Seek beauty—it’s the only thing worth pursuing in this messy world.

Ramón Trecet

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