Selam, and thank you for stopping by!

 

Deseta Design is a modern lifestyle brand that makes giftable items inspired by the rich patterns and colors rooted in traditional Ethiopian art. This brand is a reflection of of who I am - an Ethiopian by birth raised in the Diaspora, and now living in Brooklyn pursuing my creative dreams. When I first launched this site, I wanted to showcase my mixed media and ceramic pieces, two of the mediums I was exploring at that time. These artforms were influenced both by my heritage and my lived experience; the mixed media pieces recreated the classic Ethiopian angel motif by merging my love for fabrics (thanks to my life as a textile & home decor designer by trade) with painting, and the ceramic pieces were hand painted with designs inspired by the beautiful and intricate patterns found in orthodox crosses. 

 

I've moved away from fine art pieces to start making commercial products. I started by designing greeting cards for a range of occasions and had fun applying Ethiopian themes to celebrate these holidays. Back then this was a void in the market, but I was really using it as an excuse to force myself to practice digital illustration - a skillset I've vastly improved since then. As someone who is always inspired by what's trending in the market, I eventually shifted my focus away from greeting cards to design other products like temporary metallic tattoos that looked like Habesha jewelry and an emoji app celebrating all things Ethiopian and Eritrean.

 

Today, the shop features my most recent launch of silk scarves and cotton bandanas, a line of nursery and kids room decor, and a wedding card collection for Ethiopian and Eritrean brides. I am super excited about the scarves and bandanas as I was able to explore print and pattern design on a much more comprehensive level, something I've wanted to do for a long while. And I will always adore the babies and kids room decor products and have plans to expand these lines in 2025. The patterns applied to these products are inspired by Ethiopian art, but the designs are very endearing and relatable, giving them broad audience appeal. The collection of wedding cards, however, do speak to a specific audience as the designs are a direct reflection of Ethiopian and Eritrean marriage ceremonies.

 

My growth as a digital illustrator has landed me some exciting client work opportunities and collaborations. I am always available for commissions if the project is right. Please contact me if you have an opportunity I'd be a great fit for. If you have any questions in general, please also drop me a line, I would love to hear from you! Or if you would just like to stay up to date on my latest shenanigans, please follow me on Instagram and sign up for my newsletter below.

 

Deseta means "happiness" in Amharic, and I certainly hope my work has put a smile on your face as I celebrate my heritage through every piece I create.

​

Cheers,

Maro Haile