Curiosity earns its keep.
Ask questions. Pay attention. Be willing to discover that the interesting bit is somewhere else.
The House of Better
One house.
A lot of
possibilities.
Velvet Onion is a human-centred innovation studio and a home for ventures, products and original worlds.
We’re interested in how things connect. How a story can give a product meaning. How a learning experience can help someone become more independent. How an imagined world can make familiar life look a little different.
The person behind the onion
Meet our
founder.
Oh, I’m Charbel. A founder, designer, writer and educator. I’ve also spent a considerable amount of time thinking about imaginary creatures.
I’ve built businesses, worked with organisations to create new ventures and developed learning experiences. My work crosses food, design, technology, education and storytelling. Over time, those interests have become increasingly connected.
The past year has brought some hard questions. I’ve had to take a proper look at the work I want to do and what I can bring to it.
What’s become clearer is the connection between understanding people and making things real. Physical products, digital experiences, ventures and stories all begin with that curiosity.
I’m also doing more mentoring. Building something can be lonely, and experience becomes more useful when you share it.
Velvet Onion is where I bring those things together.
I lead the work directly and bring in people whose skills make it stronger. That’s the “& Friends” part. Good work benefits from good company.
A few things we care about
Imagination needs something to do.
Give it a purpose, some room and a way into the world.
People make the work matter.
Who’s going to use this, read it, watch it or live with it? Keep them in the conversation.
Better is a practice.
Keep noticing. Keep learning. Take care with what you put into the world.