New Year, New Challenges

After a relatively relaxing summer, it's been back to the grind for the last month or so. One of this fall's major projects for me is shaping up to be the Wilsonart Chair Competition. Since CCA is the first California school to be chosen for this annual collaboration, the design brief this year is to embody the concept of "California design"—and to use Wilsonart laminate in a beautiful and novel way, of course. I've taken L.A. freeways and the work of Ed Ruscha, one of my favorite artists, as starting points, and spent the last few weeks twisting and bending strips of paper into Mobius-like configurations to explore the idea of turning something 2D into 3D. Very excited.

Learning about heat-bending laminate from the Wilsonart rep

Bay Area Now 6 Opening Party

And the results are in: Sergio Sandoval's cardboard tables have been chosen to be produced for YBCA's Grand Lobby, with Wobble Chair named runner-up! The good news is that both—along with Sarah Ward's bench combo and Michael Wlosek's walnut/steel rocking chair—will be exhibited as part of YBCA's "Bay Area Now 6," the museum's every-six-years retrospective of SF-based art.

Tonight was the opening party, which I was excited to attend with Sarah and Sergio. The Grand Lobby, which we have grown accustomed to seeing empty and hushed, was bustling and packed. To my great disappointment, I was told Wobble Chair was put upstairs in the office area for "safekeeping" during the party (seriously, isn't this the best opportunity to put it to use?), but it's still gratifying to know it will be part of the exhibition later on. A good night was had by all.

With Sarah (second from left) and Sergio before entering

Introducing...Wobble Chair!

I'm excited to officially unveil Wobble Chair, the result of the recent collaboration with SF's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts that I first mentioned here. Made of solid medium-density cork, Wobble Chair adds warmth and organic curves to the rectilinear modernity of YBCA's Grand Lobby, while providing visitors with a way to play and interact. Read more about it here. Even more exciting, Wobble was recently named a finalist for the museum's commission. Stay tuned for YBCA's final decision!

New Products Launching Soon

All has been quiet here on the site for a couple months, but not for long. New products will be joining the "Projects" section very soon, so check back often. Here is a sneak peek of projects in process...

Trading Inspiration

Big shout-out to designers David Kim and Kat Coburn, who recently released the first batch of their LoveSeat pendant necklaces for Click Boom Pow - inspired by none other than yours truly and my long-distance boyfriend! (I am very flattered.) Writes Kim: "Like many modern couples, our friends J & K have lived in separate cities for a significant portion of their relationship. Since they are unable to sit next to each other, we wanted to make them a love seat that could be carried around whenever they're apart." Click over to Click Boom Pow's website for more, including details on some of very exciting new projects, including a fab collab with design legend Milton Glaser.