This exclusive video series profiles each of the 2017 Housewares Design Awards judges and their views on what makes a product great.
Monique Epstein
Monique Epstein is a principal at Epstein Sourcing and Design in Marin County, CA.
She began working as a graphic designer in the early 1970’s joining partner Matthew Epstein as design and sourcing consultants, eventually forming Epstein Designs in Sausalito, CA in 1984. The company imported proprietary-designed housewares products for the top department stores, mass merchants, catalogs and upscale stores. They sold that company in 1996 and she stayed on to handle large clients, including Starbucks and Target, among others.
In 1998, she began what has since grown to be a full-range design and sourcing firm focusing on recycled and sustainable products for the housewares, giftware and hotel industries.
In 2008, she helped form BYOIC LLC, a design, manufacturing and consulting company for consumer products and creator of the BYOIC ice cream carrier and the e-ReaderRaincoat.
2017 Housewares Design Awards Judges (click on name for profile):
Jason Belaire
Max Burton
Steve Cozzolino
Monique Epstein
Eric Ludlum
Kiel Mead
Mary Moore
Helen Maria Nugent
Deborah Shearer
Kathleen Taggart
Howard Thornton
David Tisdale