JOYENGINE: cause sharing is cool

When the AIGA approached us to design and construct the award for the (Re)designAwards 09 we were equally excited and slightly dumbfounded.  We’ve always been a bit left of the AIGA, but for no reason in particular.  Perhaps it was due to creating our own free democratic creative network via the web?  In all likelihood our disconnect from the AIGA was a function of the self-taught nature of our studio.  It seems like it’s in design or art school that most designers, particularly graphic get involved with the AIGA.  Either in school or through their more agency-like employers.  Having neither gone to art or design school, or being previously employed by any sort of “agency” or more traditional firm we just weren’t all that familiar.  Subsequently we found the opportunity intriguing, challenging, and a chance to experiment a bit.  And anytime we get the bug to build and fabricate we lean on our pal Kristian Kluver (you can see more of Kluver’s fabrication work here).

We knew right from the start that we didn’t want to make 26 trophies bound for the landfill.  We wanted to keep our footprint small.  Afterall, the (Re)designAwards are focused on honoring sustainable and socially responsible work – two ideals we value highly. We set out to craft an award that was in sync with the values established and reinforced by the (Re)design Awards.  We got off to a good start with lots of ideas.  We quickly narrowed down our options to the idea of a hand-carved forest of individual native conifers stuffed with helathy seed and the notion of an easy to replicate chair or stool.  We determined immediately that either option would be built from all reclaimed materials.  The only real constraint we had was that each award needed to fit in a 12″ x 12″ x 5.5″ standard rate USPS box.

From there we strove to create a sustainable and replicable process, once again to minimize the total  footprint of awards creation project.  We decided the hand-carved forest was just too material heavy and labor intensive.  To create our forest in the aesthetic envisioned without the use of adhesive would be tricky.  And, we didn’t want to use glue.  We ruled it out and opted for the chair.  Enter Kluver.  The “chair” quickly became a stool out of necessity.  We weren’t going to get a chair into our required USPS box.  Settling on a valuable and usable object felt much more appropriate.  We knew we weren’t just wasting time and materials.

We went through a number of stool designs but none felt quite right.  It wasn’t until the idea of producing a truly flatpack design arose that things fell into place.  Kluver honed in the flatpack concept, we made some tweaks, dialed in the dimensions, collected our materials, set the type and AIGA (Re)design logomark in preparation for laser-engraving by our pals over at laser tag cartel and got busy.  Kristian created an uber-efficient production process, replicating individual panels in sequence, the 26 laser ready panels were dropped off, lasered, returned, and each stool was boxed for AIGA pickup.  We hope all the winners enjoy their new flatpack stools!!!

Our close friend, master fabricator, Kristian Kluver just completed a most exceptional 3D iteration of the C13 logomark.  Kluver concepted and integrated his own cleat-based mounting mechanism guaranteeing perfect alignment.  The install was flawless, just minutes.  When it comes to fabrication, Kluver is not to be fucked with.  Period.  We’re stoked.

Kluver’s custom GROOND in reverse order…  odds are good he’s not done yet.  Fabrication by Kristian Kluver at its finest!!!

While on a recent visit to Mike Dunn’s wood shop to work on some custom panels and frames we found this… in the trash pile, of course. Kluver has a ridiculous propensity to create. Often, hiding, throwing away, or just plain choosing to never show anyone what he’s worked on. While this graphite sketch on particle board is kinda neat, it is in no way indicative of Kristian’s magical creative powers. Which brings to mind the “Kaminetski Case, ” a semi-mythical portfolio case Kluver designed and built in ‘97, which has long been a subject of discussion in the underbelly of our little designerly posse. The story behind the Kaminetski Case is semi-legendary. We finally witnessed the case this weekend in all it’s glory and the only word to describe it… amazing. We’re gonna try and drop some pics, specs, and other brilliant Kaminetski related info later today.

It would appear that KLVR left a little goodie here at the office.  Dude can draw… site coming soon! 

Kristian sent over an oldy but a goody – meet itch – he’s now available for download. All we can say is KLVR is bustin’ ass and coming in hot for the upcoming toy show. Woooo!

Just got this in an email and figured I would share it with y’all. Hopefully his site will be up soon and we can see all his work together at last!  Pretty frikin’ awesome illustration, eh?

… and make some of the raddest shit on the planet. We showed you an illustration he sent over a few weeks ago, but little did we know that KLVR was bringing it to life. Kristian is a super humble dude, if you talk to him about one of his crazy ass projects he’ll walk you through, step by step, the super complicated process as though it was as easy as tying your shoe. And to him it is. KLVR has been an major inspiration to me personally and it’s great to get a glimpse at some of his new work.

This custom munny will be at the Plastic Chapel + The Shoppe + Fabric Lab’s Custom Toy Show, so be sure to check it out in the flesh!

Just got this in a email titled “spring is right around the corner.” This is what happens when you coop up an awesome illustrator in arctic conditions. If you aren’t familiar with Kristan Kluver’s (aka KLVR) work, you should be. His site is currently under construction, but should be up real soon.