Fashion Brands such as Donna Karan’s Urban Zen known for its collaboration with Haitian artisans or Lia Kebede’s brand Lem Lem with Ethiopian artisan communities provide a backdrop for course discussions. Global Artisans will explore the current landscape of fashion and design brands who source from artisan communities in developing and emerging economies – The course will explore the artisan communities in areas such as Haiti Peru, Mexico, India, Guatemala, with an eye of comprehending and acknowledging the craft, culture, histories and the importance craft associated story-telling. Product development or systems thinking approaches to engaging with artisan communities are both welcome.