Design Studio
Hands on iteration
After a year of travel and stepping back from the business, I've reconnected with my passion for design and collaboration with artisans, while living close to nature. I am launching a lean design studio whose mission is simple, yet very ambitious: to partner and collaborate with artisans to make the very best products using natural, renewable, and recycled materials we can. Our portfolio of product lines will include fair trade, hand-crafted products that are rich in texture and quality.
To do this, we will leverage rapid prototyping to design and manufacture physical products in a short period of time, usually within a matter of days. These materials include wood, bamboo, bone, horn, coconut, shell, ceramic, oil drums, stone, fabrics, handmade paper, leather, Pandan, alang alang grass roof material, rattan, recycled motorbike tires, copper, brass, glass, and recycled plastics or aluminum.
Over the next year, I will be generating ideas, researching, conceptualizing, and developing designs for a series of small pilot product lines. Once we have these designs finalized, we will move on to building prototypes and putting the products into small batch production.
In addition to the pilot product lines, I will be creating opportunities to make small batch, artisan-crafted products more accessible through partnerships and custom orders.
The studio will partner with a network of skilled artisans proficient in various crafts such as woodworking, carving, weaving, basket weaving, hand-painting, and hand stitching, as well as more advanced techniques such as screen printing, laser engraving, CNC, and paper making. In addition, we have the capability to produce our own storytelling, photo, and video content. My goal is to combine traditional skills with contemporary designs to create unique, handmade products that reflect the heritage craft of Indonesia.
In a world of fast fashion and disposable, low-quality products, it can be easy to lose sight of the value in taking the time to create something with care and intention. Many mass-produced items are made in unethical, oppressive factory working conditions, contributing to a culture of excess and waste. However, I believe that deep down, people are yearning for something higher quality – for products that are not only well-made, but also ethically produced and sustainable. That is why I am committed to partnering with artisans to craft fair trade, hand-crafted products that are rich in texture, quality, and meaning.
On the road again
As I move into this next chapter, I’ll be on the road out west working on new designs. I'd love to connect and catch up! Whether you're interested in discussing e-commerce (product development, design, social media, paid ads, email and SMS promotional strategy, customer support, web development, testing, packaging, fulfillment, project management, building teams and systems) or partnering with me to bring your ideas to life and bring an artisan-produced good to your market, I'm here to help. I've had my fair share of successes and mistakes over the past 8 years, and I'd be happy to share from my experience. Please reach out, I’d love to connect.