For the fourth edition of COVER Conversations, Damien Clark of Black Sheep Unique talks to COVER Editor Lucy Upward about a range of topics including how he transmits his passion for rugs, the people who have influenced his decisions over the years, his two kids joining the company and designing using AI.

Black Sheep Unique is a rug retail showroom based in Austin, Texas. Company owner, Damien Clark founded the firm with his wife Erica—the brand’s Creative Art Director—and opened their first retail space in 2010. Here he discusses how the company team, which now includes his two kids, is a great inspiration for him and how the team’s enthusiasm for rugs passes on to those who visit the showroom.

‘I think our attitude towards rugs is contagious. We are very passionate about what we do. When people come here they sense that’, Damien Clark, Black Sheep Unique

Lucy also draws Damien onto the subject of designing rugs with AI, following on from a project he published on the company’s revamped website earlier this year. For the project, 4 different AI progammes designed a rug collection and website visitors were asked to vote for their favourite collection. The selections are still on the Black Sheep Unique website to peruse.

Click below to listen to the full podcast ‘COVER Conversations: 04 Black Sheep Unique’ on Spotify and SoundCloud.