El Dot Designs started as a small, Los Angeles based studio in 2003 with Lishu and Leonardo Rodriguez, both environmental artists and designers. They are originally from Nepal and Venezuela.
Moving to Kathmandu, Nepal in 2003 was a pivotal point in the development of El Dot studio. The owners were exposed to the vast potential of bamboo, and the need of the billions of people that live in poverty everyday and yet hold so much untapped potential. Utilizing Design as a Catalyst for Change, they focused their work in designing bamboo based products while providing skill development and employment opportunity to artisans of various skill level. The result is an innovative approach for creating products that truly benefit all.
When the two moved to Seattle in 2007, the economic crisis that followed made it evident that smart design with renewable materials and sustainable practices that included people of various skill levels is as necessary and beneficial to communities in developed countries as it is in developing ones.
Today El Dor Designs collaborate with local and global artisans, organizations and ethical businesses to create mindful home furnishings, inspired by the craft traditions and the needs of the global community.
