By Chrissa Amuah

Chrissa Amuah is a British-Ghanaian multi-disciplinary designer, curator, editor and creative consultant.  She founded AMWA Designs in 2014, a contemporary design brand, where much of her creative work is inspired by her Ghanaian heritage.

Collaborating with world-leading global brands, Chrissa brings a unique perspective to design.  Her work is complemented with African sensibilities, reflecting a striking assimilation of concepts and cultures.

Chrissa’s design versatility can be seen across projects including one-of-a-kind customisations for San Francisco-based sustainable footwear brand Allbirds, for whom she is also a brand ambassador; her wallpaper has been sought after by the Detroit Institute of Arts; and in 2022 she was commissioned by Mortlach, a Diageo-owned whisky brand, to design the ‘2.81’ light fixture. 

At Design Miami/ 2020, Chrissa created Freedom to Move, a co-collaboration and conceptual design for luxury car brand Lexus. Chrissa has gone onto design an award-winning collection for Bernhardt Design – one of the largest and most prestigious textile and furniture manufacturers in the United States. The fabrics collection, A Sense of Duality interprets her experience growing up between two cultures and was recognized at the NeoCon HiP Awards (2021), voted for by the top interior designers and journalists in America. 

In 2021, Chrissa was invited to join the London Design Biennale at Somerset House - a global gathering of ambitious and imaginative designers and curators – where she collaborated with Ghana-based architect Alice Asafu-Adjaye to create the Ghanian pavilion. Called ‘Amplify’, the celebrated creative installation explored Ghana’s colonial past.

Chrissa made her international debut in 2015 at the Milan Furniture Fair’s Salone Satellite – a launchpad for emerging designers – showcasing her expressive, artisan fabrics, wallpaper and furniture.  Capturing her strong love of colour and texture, the collection was acknowledged for its imaginative interpretation of traditional Ghanian Adinkra symbols and proverbs conveying empowering wisdoms and attitudes.

Chrissa is also the founder of AFRICA BY DESIGN.  Established in 2017, it provides a showcase for the best of African design talent and sees Chrissa mentor and promote designers throughout sub-Saharan Africa.  The platform, which spans furniture, textile and product design, has staged exhibitions in five cities across four continents as well as directly helping creatives build commercial networks.

In October 2021, Chrissa was named as one of House & Garden magazine’s top 100 Designers shaping the world of contemporary design. She has since gone on to join the magazine as a contributing editor.

She is frequently called on to speak about her work, including an invitation from renowned Sotheby’s to moderate a panel conversation about African art and design.

Chrissa is a graduate of Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of The Arts London.  Her work has gained global recognition across international publications, including; Dezeen, Wallpaper*, Elle Décor (Italy and South Africa), FT How To Spend It, Architectural Digest and Casa Vogue Brazil. She is based in London.