Today we’d like to introduce you to Natou Fall.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’m a Senegalese-American designer, born in Paris France, raised in Ft. Lauderdale. I’ve been working as an architectural designer, art director, educator, and makeup artist in LA since receiving my Masters of Architecture from SCI-Arc (Southern California Institute of Architecture) last September. I stumbled upon design as a field in college, I was studying electrical engineering and hated it, and I randomly switched to the interior architecture program and fell in love with it. My passion for makeup art started much earlier, I used to put makeup on my sisters and cousins with gel pens as a kid (I wasn’t allowed in my mom’s makeup) and as I grew older I started collecting makeup of my own and experimenting with my look on a regular basis.
My graduate thesis project, named Shaping Face after my makeup Instagram was really the convergence of my interests: makeup, style, design, and challenging the status quo. I took risks with it and won the Gehry Prize for best graduate thesis project of my graduating class, which was an honor. Through my design and makeup practice, I try to convey the message that there’s beauty in everything and everyone. I feel like as a society, we’re so quick to judge others based on their appearance, and the beauty industry has a great responsibility in pushing inclusivity. I don’t post on my account nearly enough but it’s more for myself than anything else. I think there’s a kind makeup that is deeply personal and about self-creation and self-expression, and I don’t think that’s talked about enough. Shaping Face isn’t just something I’m building into a brand, it also represents a way of being: ouvert d’esprit, ever-evolving, and playful.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It hasn’t been smooth, my biggest obstacle was the stress that comes with looking for work when you’re fresh out of school. I’m trained as an architect but I’ve never been interested in just designing buildings, I’m more of a generalist but without the proper experience getting work outside of architecture was difficult for sure. At the beginning, I was really down about it and worried I was going to have to settle for the 9-5 at a corporate design firm, not that there’s anything wrong with that but I know myself and that wouldn’t have worked for me. I’ve managed through my connections and friends to get work to keep me afloat and I’m just starting to feel like things are picking up in terms of projects I’ve been able to work on.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a multidisciplinary designer, mostly known for my work in architecture and makeup. I specialize in set design, artistic/creative direction, graphic design, and makeup artistry.
I would say I’m most proud of the work I did for the outerwear brand Emory Bee’s Collection III campaign last December. It was the most fun I’ve had on set, we had a great team, and the shoot was super successful.
What sets me apart from others is my versatility, my skillset spans 3D modeling to styling a set. I’m the most “in my element” when I wear many hats.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was always a quiet kid, super polite, but I stuck to myself. I was bullied in school so my friend group was always really small.
My sisters and I had a big Bratz Doll collection and played dress up often. I used to read and draw a lot. I was into manga, not so much the stories but the illustration style. I was always really into mythical creatures, so anything Vampire, Fairy, Monster related I was here for it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.natoufall.com
- Phone: 9546551724
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaping_face/, https://www.instagram.com/natou_fall/
Image Credit:
Images shot by: Natou Fall, Splendid Visuel (Single Cover), Sydney Jackson (Emory Bee), Emmanuel Angulo (Presentation Image), Brandon Kintzer (Michelle Ray)
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