Happiness hit cruising altitude on Friday, October 18, the final day of Jamaica Observer Design Week 2024. Having wowed attendees last year with her Orient Express-like, late-evening train ride, Karen Booker, Dezign Diva CEO’s arrival at Kaya on Lady Musgrave Road was via private jet.

With PR practitioner Brithney Clarke handling emcee duties the evening’s festivities kicked off with a pillow stuffing competition which challenged competitors to adorn their pillows in the fastest time possible. Flavia Thompson was the deserved winner, who won the pillow she stuffed — a Dezign Diva creation.

The games continued with the wall shelving competition, which tested guests’ creativity in a Do-It-Yourself challenge. After a meticulous battle, Jamaica Observer Promotions, Campaigns and Communications Coordinator Sachina Russell emerged the winner, with her prize being the shelves that she created.

Guests were then treated to a musical performance from recording artiste Soulchild Tanice before Jamaica Observer Senior Associate Editor Novia McDonald-Whyte offered greetings, declaring Design Week 2024 a success. What’s more, as a reward for attending most of the events throughout the week this year, Chantier Construction CEO Chanté Blackwood and owner of Onyas Kloset Onia Chambers were gifted with tree toppers courtesy of Dezign Diva.

The games resumed in earnest with the bed spreading competition. Three volunteers were challenged to creatively adorn pillows, blanket and comforters on offer to present to the enthusiastic crowd.

With the crowd egging him on, Jamaica Observer Digital Media Manager Gavay Watt was named the victor by audience vote. His win earned him a gallon of BH paint.

An interlude allowed guests the opportunity to mingle, lime, and enjoy refreshments.

It was now time for the evening’s special guest, Tribe Sankofa’s Founder/Artistic Director Fabian Thomas, who turned the ‘Happiness Soars’ theme into a challenge to the gathering in being designers of their own life.

“Happiness is not walking the treaded path. When we say happiness soars we are going above and beyond,” Thomas shared. His motivational presentation encouraged those present to design their own lives… “to be intentional…present and active”.

Booker, who has been a part of Design Week for all seven editions, says that it was important for guests to be taken on a journey that inspires the creative mindset as well as personal upliftment.

“It is always about happiness… [whether it’s] happiness by design or something else… This year it’s ‘Happiness Soars by Design’, meaning that you design yourself, you design your life from the inside out. We bring fun to the table,” Booker said.

Booker believes in having a unique concept that reaches people.

“You want to be authentic, credible and relatable. So I like to bring that type of experience and journey to the people,” Booker said. “We felt it was appropriate to find a plane because last year it was the train. Trains, planes, it’s all about some kind of travel because it’s a journey.”

Design Week is certainly a journey. An enjoyable one for many. Plans are already in place for the eighth iteration.