Vancouver is a center of diversity whether your describing the people there or the environment in which the city exists. In addition to the indigenous people and Canadians of British and French roots who have lived there for centuries, you're as likely to find those who hail from India, China, and other parts residing there. The cultural diorama of Vancouver is congruent to the diversity of mountains and ocean beaches, offering something of interest for everyone.
Exposure to this was key for a young Megan who was inclined towards creative design. A successful career in the corporate business world honed her business acumen, which she paired with her design artistry in the creation of her globally successful furnishings company EcoChic Lifestyles.
Inspired from her interaction with families who had taken the tragedy of a devastating tsunami and created beauty, Risdon began procuring materials from damaged fishing boats in Southeast Asia and implementing the wood in her designs. She was able to simultaneously help support a devastated community and create dazzling and unique furnishings. Her creations were so popular that she soon had some of the biggest suppliers in the world knocking at her door.
In addition to designing specific pieces for Carnival Cruise Lines, South Street Development Group, Brentwood LLC, and others, Risdon has become a supplier to huge entities like Amazon (the world's largest internet retailer, generating more than $177 billion in 2017) and Wayfair (e-commerce seller of home good whose revenue approached $5 billion last year) who make her EcoChic Lifestyles creations available to the public. Whether in hospitals, restaurants, hotels, or one's own home, EcoChic adds a spark of color, inspiration, and unique style to the surroundings. The "earthy" characteristic seems intrinsic to every piece and is a calling card for Megan's creations.
Even with her success and accolades for ecologically benevolent business practices, Risdon sees herself as a designer at heart. She comments, "A good designer showcases the greatest assets of any space. My main objective is to make the environment desirable to those who find themselves spending time there, whether it's their own home or someplace they may be spending a short amount of time. A good Designer identifies opportunities, then takes things into their own hands to provide options, ideas, and leadership. Many people believe design equals the visual object or result of the presentation skills a creative person creates but I believe that design happens prior to these results and is actually about taking an original idea and applying a point of view by translating it into presentable, tangible elements for ease of sharing with others."
