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!!!

KLVR just finished up the fab on our big black C13 heart.  Dark love from a dark man.  We’re effin’ stoked.  Is it art, is it design, who the fuck cares – it’s just damn fine work from one helluva nasty craftsman.

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.

Nice teeth for a pig.

Kristian just finished installing his pieces with Dave and Travis over at David B. Smith Gallery for Group Exhibition, Part 2 (opening this Saturday night).  There’s a couple new additions to the BOX PIG family, including #3 and #4.  Both are amazing, but #4 is 6′ of awesome.  Check it out!

Just wait…

Our close friend and collaborator Kristian Kluver is joining the ranks over at David B. Smith Gallery for their second group show of 2009. The show title Group Exhibition, Part2 will include works from the following: Bruno 9li, Lori Field, Tara Lisa Foley, AJ Fosik, Katherine Guillen, Robert Hardgrave, Naoto Hattori, Hiro Kurata, Kristian Kluver and maybe a few others.

Kluver will be showing the infamous Box Pig as well as some other top secret pieces.

Kristian Kluver has just completed his second conceptual exploration into the realm of the BOX PIG.  This latest iteration, BOX PIG #2, has been realized on a entirely new, and improved level.  Look for more members of the BOX PIG family over the coming months.  From what it sounds and feels like, Kluver is just getting warmed up.

NOTE: BOX PIG #2 is 16″ tall x 14″ wide x 19″ deep (mouth to rear)

Kluver… new tricks in the works

Kluver’s been workin’ on a super hot new sneaker specific body of work. It looks like it’s gonna turn into an installation for the new adidas Originals store in Miami.  The verdict is still out.  The work keeps evolving and each iteration gets better than the last.  We’ll just have to wait and see where Kristian stops and what adidas has to say…

Finally.  Kristian is getting some of his work up on flickr.

Kristian showed up at our studio today armed with a new piece.  He’d been working on it for Square Footage at the Plastic Chapel, but wasn’t able to complete it in time for the show.  He decided our pristine white walls needed some love.  It’s rad – and gross – and so glorious..  We love it.