vol. 2
A
/ˈansəˌlerē/ adjective
Providing necessary support to the primary activities or operation of an organization, institution, industry, or system.
(lo•cal) /‘lok(ə)l/ adjective Belonging to or relating to a particular area or neighborhood, typically exclusively so. In this issue of (an•cil•lar•y) we explore the relationship between good design and staying close to home. Inspired by the innovative makers, designers, and master craftsmen and women of our Bay Area community, we sought out a few of them to hear their stories. In the following pages you will meet the great people behind CGL, Ohio Design, Kay Chesterfield, Pfeiffer Lab, and Pablo Designs – all of which have carved out their own unique place in today’s interior design industry.
(c•g•l) 1
CGL INTERIORS
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FURNITURE FABRICATOR
HAYWARD CALIFORNIA
Business Type Furniture Fabricator Location Hayward, CA Employees 28 Years in Business 2-1/2 Founders Chayo Gonzalez and Steve Wedman Three Words Affordable, Fast, Quality Mission statement Making Office Furniture. Simple. Biggest source of inspiration A fine blend of Santiago Calatrava and Andy Goldsworthy.
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CGL INTERIORS
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FURNITURE FABRICATOR
HAYWARD CALIFORNIA
Interview with Steve Wedman & Chayo Gonzalez Founders of CGL
We understand that the bull in CGL’s logo represents a part of Chayo’s past. Can you share this story?
Chayo, how did you get into the furniture manufacturing industry and how does your culture play a role in CGL’s business?
Chayo was a bullfighter in his early years. This unique background provided Chayo with the agility and keen eye needed for the furniture business. The bull also represented Chayo’s journey to CGL. It all started on a small farm, with a chicken. He sold the chicken for a rooster, sold the rooster for a pig, sold the pig for a cow, and finally bought the bull. CGL also started with one project, grew to another, and today has a deep pedigree and project list not only in our own backyard, but nationwide.
I started many years ago with my cousin, who is still in the industry and leads one of the largest laminate manufacturing companies in the Bay Area. I took a break to get my business degree with the intention of starting my own business. I have many family members in this industry and know most of the true craftsmen in the Bay Area. One thing I look for in a craftsman is having pride in what you make, to stand by your work. This is a big part of my culture. We are very proud of where we are and thank our friends and family for helping us get here.
Steve, since you are a jack of all trades, can you talk a little bit about what you do? I like to keep busy. I strive to create a manufacturer/dealer partnership, to be an extension of the furniture dealer. I do quite a bit of the client facing project management, including traveling to job sites to see the product, to make sure the client is happy, and to see what we could do better. I have a furniture dealer background which I apply to every order we receive. Like any good relationship, the key is communication, quality product, and a smooth install.
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CGL INTERIORS
FURNITURE FABRICATOR
HAYWARD CALIFORNIA
“We have the best edge band master, the best CNC guy, the friendliest installation and delivery driver, the best wood stain team, and three of the best metal shops in the Bay Area.”
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CGL INTERIORS
FURNITURE FABRICATOR
HAYWARD CALIFORNIA
CGL puts heart and soul into its work. Can you talk about the people you employ that are making these pieces come to life?
You mentioned that you work with local companies to source materials. In addition to improving lead times, how else does this improve the finished product?
We are very lucky to have Alfreado and Kevin. Alfreado is our production manager. He is amazing with the tools and even better with the people. He was promoted from within, so he has a friendly connection to his workers, is a great motivator, and has an enthusiastic sense of humor. Kevin has a much dryer sense of humor. He is a former math professor turned master craftsman. His ability to calculate angles, figure out material cut lists, and come up with amazing solutions to solve any complex construction is second to none. I could go on about every employee at CGL. We have the best edge band master, the best CNC guy, the friendliest installation and delivery driver, the best wood stain team, and three of the best metal shops in the Bay Area. These people make us great.
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Location matters. We are in Hayward, because it’s cool, and smack dab in the middle of the best vendors: laminate, glass, metal, powder coat, acrylic, quartz, fabrics, upholstery, robot parts, tacos, child care, schools, coffee, you name it, Hayward has it. I can’t tell you how many times I find a product at NeoCon or on the internet, and the company headquarters is in Hayward, a block from the shop! We always search our local vendors before ordering from out of town, or state. This trims our leadtimes, and if there are any issues with the raw product, we know the owner and can go see them right away, and get this fixed.
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CGL INTERIORS
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FURNITURE FABRICATOR
HAYWARD CALIFORNIA
What sets CGL apart from other fabricators and what would you say is your specialty?
What’s next for CGL and where do you see your business in the future?
Our speciality is looking at your new project with fresh eyes, the enthusiasm of a company that is happy to be in business, and happy to help. We say “yes” and we mean, “yes.” Even if at the moment we are not totally sure how it’s all going to come together, we appreciate the challenge and have the confidence built by experience, that it’s going to be great.
CGL is built to be nimble, we can steer into whichever direction the market takes us. We dabble in products that are so amazing they can become standard products, which is a direction that every custom manufacturer dreams of. We are going to expand our relationships with local installation companies, to be sure they contact us first if they have questions about our products. We are also planning to partner with local colleges to find interns interested in manufacturing. We believe there is no better way to learn than total immersion into the chaos of the industry. The goal is to not become too big to steer, just big enough to support our love of fine furniture.
“The goal is to not become too big to steer, just big enough to support our love of fine furniture. “
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(o•hi•o)
OHIO DESIGN
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FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Business Type Furniture Designer and Manufacturer Location San Francisco, CA Employees 23 Years in Business 15 Founder David Pierce Three Words Simple, Refined, Modern Mission Statement OHIO Design is a designer and builder of modern furniture. Our affordable, high quality products and spaces are rooted in honesty: of design, materials, method, and character. We value raw materials and the finished piece; the home it decorates and the people using it; the makers who made it and the designers who designed it. Biggest Source of Inspiration Design-wise we love Dieter Rams. I have been fortunate to have many inspirational people in my life. David Hornik from August Capital, Sam Moneghan from Bi Rite Market, Mitch Pergola from Fuse Project, just to name a few people. I am not sure if there is truly one source. It can come from a Fortune 100 CEO or a homeless person. I just try to be open to everyone. I know this is a cop out answer, but it’s true. Currently, the book, 15 The Secret Life of Plants has been inspiring me.
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Interview with David Pierce Founder, OHIO Design
Tell us the story of OHIO and where it all began. I had been making furniture for a few years when my business partner and I decided to open up a restaurant called Schmidt’s. I was focused on that for a little bit and then after stepping away from OHIO I was able to look back at it and clearly see the brand that it could become. I feel like that’s when we really started and that’s how it’s grown into what it is today.
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What inspires each design and what is OHIO’s design process like? Our designs are nothing new, everything that we’re doing has been done before. We aren’t on some high horse about our designs or anything because we try to have as little design as possible. We try to refine all of the details until we arrive at the beautiful, efficient product.
“We aren’t on some high horse about our designs or anything because we try to have as little design as possible. We try to refine all of the details until we arrive at the beautiful, efficient product.”
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
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OHIO DESIGN
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FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
You mentioned that the 10 Principles of “Good Design” by Dieter Rams help shape OHIO’s work. You also mentioned an 11th rule has been adopted – care to share? We like to say that the 11th principle is to “Make it sexy.” Just because our furniture is simple doesn’t mean that we can’t make it sexy. In most cases, if you have followed all of the first 10 principles, the product will be sexy to us. We just want to make extra sure that we have looked at it through this lens. We want people wanting to touch it. Who doesn’t like sexy?
We were excited to learn that you have recently introduced an upholstery division that is partnering with LA Mills to design your own textiles. Can you talk about this a little more? We are building a vertically integrated furniture company. That means that we want to have every operation that will allow us to design and build whatever we think of under our roof. Upholstery is certainly one of those operations.
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OHIO DESIGN
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FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
“We have seven core tenets that guide us, and empathy is the first one, in all caps. We care about how people feel.”
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OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
What does the work week look like at OHIO?
How does your location in San Francisco, the Mission District, play a role in defining OHIO’s culture and product?
Well, we really value working and getting a lot done. So when we’re working, we’re on our game and really pushing hard, but at the same time, it’s under control. We talk a lot about getting into a flow state where you’re just checking things off your list and feeling really good about the work. Work can be such an important, satisfying part of life. We want to feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment and we want our employees to feel this way as well. Establishing good systems help them feel these things. We want them to be happy and satisfied when they leave at the end of day. Efficiency is also very important, not only to the bottom line, but to the employees as well.
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A lot of our clients are here in the City, so one of the best parts about being here in the Mission is that we are close to the end users and then when they need something, we’re here and close by and able to help. We love our customers and want to serve them. Relationships are the most important part of our business. First with our employees (our family) and secondly with our customers. We like to be close to them to nurture those relationships, and so they can have the option of coming to visit us and have us visit them.
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
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OHIO DESIGN
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FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
OHIO DESIGN
FURNITURE DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
What is the story behind the materials that are used in your designs and how they provide value to each piece?
What does the word “sustainability” mean to OHIO? Can you talk a little more about where your materials are sourced from?
We find that OHIO has a distinct family feel and a strong sense of culture. What qualities do you look for when bringing in new members onto the OHIO team?
Well, we use steel where it structurally makes sense and wood where you touch as a general rule. Both have some amazing qualities, of course.
We like to know where our materials come from and how they are made or harvested. As a rule of thumb, we can get to those stories if they are produced here in the States. Generally, there are very few raw materials for furniture here (in the States) that are not produced sustainably. It’s the products that arrive from overseas that we don’t know too much about. I have a hard time trusting materials that come from a long distance. There is still some amount of green-washing out there, and if we can’t find a way to design without using questionable materials, then we are not good designers.
“There is still some amount of green-washing out there, and if we can’t find a way to design without using questionable materials, then we are not good designers.”
We look for empathetic givers. We love our employees and I think that they feel that. I never want to lose this quality no matter how big we get. I have had the great benefit of working with all different types of companies. When we see culture that we like, we try and trace it back to the source. Many times it comes from the top. Being open is very important to us, and this helps bring people together. Not all people are naturally this way because of their circumstances, but we try to inspire this in our employees. We have seven core tenets that guide us, and empathy is the first one, in all caps. We care about how people feel. When they work for us, and when they work with us. Why do what you do if you don’t care about people?
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•ter•field) (kay•ches (•_•)
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Business Type Full service re-upholstery and custom cushion/pillow company Location Oakland, CA Employees 16 Years in Business 94 Founders The Kay Family Three Words Reuse, Handmade, Creative Mission Statement To provide furniture purchasers with the option to reuse the furniture they already have. We especially love to keep things out of landfill and/or extend the life of a sentimental piece. Inspiration Heath Ceramics
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KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
Interview with Kriss Kokoefer President, Kay Chesterfield
Kay Chesterfield has been in the upholstery business for almost 100 years. Can you tell us a little bit about the history of the company? Sam “Kay” was the first owner, and “Chesterfield” means fancy sofa. Sam started the business in 1921. He passed the business down to his son and daughter-in-law, Marvin and Lois. In the early days Kay Chesterfield did re-upholstery and also manufactured living room suites of upholstered goods using machine-carved wood. Eventually Marvin focused on the art of re-upholstery and steered away from manufacturing. The Kays live in the East Bay and still visit us on occasion.
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How does this history of your company influence your current practices? Upholstery is a very old trade and there are not many ways to shortcut or streamline the re-upholstery process. Unlike manufacturing furniture from a catalog, re-upholstery work is done one unique piece at a time. There is no science to it – it’s an art. Thinking about all the amazing furniture that has passed through the doors of Kay Chesterfield over the last 94 years amazes me. The incredibly talented craftsmen and craftswomen that WOW us with their skills on a daily basis continue to inspire me.
“Unlike manufacturing furniture from a catalog, re-upholstery work is done one unique piece at a time. There is no science to it – it’s an art.”
KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
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KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
How is Kay Chesterfield inspired by and involved in your local community?
Your business is driven by the exceptional knowledge and craft of your workshop employees. Can you tell us a little bit about them and their trade?
I was an advisor and speaker with the Center for Environmental Health based out of Oakland. They spear-headed, along with the Green Science Policy Institute, the new law that states flame-retardants are not required in upholstery foam. We participate yearly in IIDA’s “Made Local” event which showcases the talents of local manufacturers who have products for the interior design community. We also participated in the “Repair Fair” in Oakland where local repair-focused trade people perform on-site repairs and demonstrations on a variety of products. We believe in fixing before buying new!
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I am fortunate to have two lead upholsterers who have been working for Kay Chesterfield for more than 25 years. Their knowledge and experience brings so much value to our business. New upholsterers and seamstresses join us with varying degrees of experience and do a lot of continuing education. Our upholsterers tell us that they are always learning because each piece of furniture is unique and has a history of its own.
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
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KAY CHESTERFIELD
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RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
From your antique sewing machines to your local sources for materials, we were impressed by how many elements of your business support sustainability. Can you talk a little bit more about this?
Aside from reupholstering existing furniture and making custom throw pillows, ottomans and cushions, is there anything else Kay specializes in or has plans to create in the future?
I have been interested in sustainability and human health ever since I started attending IIDA events on the subject about 15 years ago. The “green” aspect of re-upholstery is one of the reasons I purchased the company. RE-upholstery is REuse. In addition we will only use foam without flame retardants. We also curated a nice selection of fabrics that have no added flame retardants or stain guard. These are displayed in a section all of their own in our library.
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
You pretty much have it right, after years of experience in the world of commercial furniture I feel very strongly about focusing on what we do best and doing it with expertise.
“RE-upholstery is RE-use.”
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KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
We’re curious, how long does a 2-seat sofa typically take to reupholster?
What’s next for Kay Chesterfield?
What classic pieces do you reupholster the most?
A 2-seat loveseat and a 3-seat sofa take about the same amount of time. The extra cost for the 3-seater will be due to the amount of fabric required. A 3- seater sofa will take about 24 hours to complete all steps involved.
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I have a lot of ideas and I hope to embark on them someday soon. I am not ready to share them now but I will be reaching out for feedback from our community. In a more nuts and bolts way, I would love to become a ‘B Corp’ as their values are important to me. I would also like to file as a “Woman Owned Business.” The certification process for both of these are laborious but worth it.
Womb Chair, Mission style chairs, Egg Chair, Eames Lounge, Brno, HBF, Bernhardt.
What makes you the most proud? Bringing my young daughter to work with me… and the day she said, “YOU are the boss?”
KAY CHESTERFIELD
RE-UPHOLSTERY & CUSTOM CUSHION/PILLOW COMPANY
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
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•fer) (pfeif (•_•)
PFEIFFER LAB
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FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
Business Type Furniture Design Studio Location Oakland, CA Employees 4 Years in Business 11 Founder Eric Pfeiffer Three Words Purpose, Intelligence, Beauty Mission Statement To provide unique solutions to the everyday objects in our lives with a balance of beauty and utility. Biggest Source of Inspiration The diverse landscapes and people of California.
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PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
Tell us your story. How did Pfeiffer Lab get started and what brought your studio to Oakland?
What is the inspiration that drives your designs and what is the creative process at Pfeiffer Lab like?
Eric, you have several design achievements under your belt. Can you tell us a little bit about how you got started with furniture and product design?
After serving as the VP of Design at Offi, I founded Pfeiffer Lab with the goal of addressing the design and future of the everyday objects that surround us. My family moved from SF to a mid-century home in the Oakland Hills and after having offices in SF for a time moving the studio to Oakland made it easier to balance work and family.
Our design approach is focused on beauty, sustainability, and utility. We address the design challenges of the home and office with simple solutions inspired by nature and built for longevity. The process in our studio relies heavily on building, prototyping, and testing at various scales. There is so much to be learned in the process of model making and testing prototypes at full scale. It is the part of this essential process that connects us to our products in a way that working only on the computer never lends itself.
Interview with Eric Pfeiffer Founder of Pfeiffer Lab
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I gravitated to furniture because it was a process I felt I could control from start to finish. I also really liked the close connection between end users, the products, and the factory. To envision a product, design and prototype that product, and then work with a factory to have it made is still a process I love.
PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
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PFEIFFER LAB
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FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
It’s evident that at the core of your designs is form and function. What are the main problems you are trying to solve with your work?
You have worked on several successful collaborations with other furniture manufacturers in the past. Can you talk about how these got started?
First and foremost we must strive to provide a functional response to a problem using responsible materials and processes. Most recently the studio has been focused on the workplace and creating products that enhance how people work.
What is the vision for Pfeiffer Lab’s future in the contract world? We are really interested with the “in between” spaces you find in the workplace. There are so many interesting ways these spaces are being used. We are addressing these hybrid spaces with products that recognize new emerging work patterns.
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
These collaborations usually start with mutual respect we have for each other’s work. The best collaborations we have had are when each party builds upon their strengths in design or manufacturing to create something useful and unexpected.
How does the current Bay Area market influence the utility of your designs? Being a 5th generation native to the Bay Area, the region has had a huge influence on me growing up and as a designer. Now more than ever this dynamic place drives us to create work that accommodates a fast moving marketplace with timeless, long lasting design solutions.
“First and foremost we must strive to provide a functional response to a problem using responsible materials and processes.” 45
PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
“Growing up as a skateboarder the material [bent plywood] has always fascinated me and to this day we find new ways to use the process. Bent plywood allows the designer to reduce the object to its essence while creating a product that is clear in form and utility.”
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
The use of bent plywood is an iconic part of your line and the construction is beautiful, as seen in the Mag Table. Can you talk about the inspiration you find in using bent ply as a material? Growing up as a skateboarder the material has always fascinated me and to this day we find new ways to use the process. Bent plywood allows the designer to reduce the object to its essence while creating a product that is clear in form and utility. Bent plywood is also a very sustainable way to utilize wood in furniture because it utilizes so much of a tree leaving very little waste. Additionally its strength allows you to create forms that are lightweight yet highly durable and long lasting.
There is a distinct versatility that Pfeiffer Lab possesses. What is the next problem that you will use great design to solve? There is no easy answer to that question....but I would say we follow our interests whether that is a new material or solving new problems or being inspired by the natural landscape to create something timeless and beautiful.
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PFEIFFER LAB
FURNITURE DESIGN STUDIO
OAKLAND CALIFORNIA
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•lo) (pab (•_•)
PABLO DESIGNS
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LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Business Type Lighting Design Location San Francisco, CA Employees 20 Years in Business 23 Founder Pablo Pardo Three Words Innovative, Timeless, Essential Mission Statement To create lighting solutions that deepen the relationship between the object, the user, and the environment it inhabits. Biggest Source of Inspiration We are inspired to create lighting designs that capture the very essence of light itself, to design objects which are free of decorative element, emphasizing performance with purpose within a minimal footprint. We are inspired to elevate the user experience by creating a harmonious context between the object, light, and the space that surrounds it. 51
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Interview with Pablo Pardo Creative Director & Founder, Pablo Designs
How did your upbringing and education influence your design aesthetic? Who was Pablo before Pablo Designs?
I was greatly influenced by my father who was both an engineer and a classically trained musician at the Julliard School of Music. It’s probably no surprise that 4 of my 5 siblings studied design and the arts. My schooling at the University of Cincinnati was a place where I could finally hone my skills in the making and designing of things. A Bauhaus influenced program, I learned how to approach design as a tool for better living and that design was not just an occupation, but a way of life. In between school and the founding of Pablo Designs, I worked in the automotive design industry, toys, and a variety of product design that eventually gave me a sense of confidence to develop my own unique voice. 52
What is the design process at Pablo?
We are a research intensive collaborative that believes that great design is achievable only through fusion of appropriate materials, production processes, and an exhaustive design development.
Did you always see yourself as a lighting designer and how did you get into the industry? At first, I had no real long term plan to become a lighting designer until I introduced our very first product called, Piccola. I was lucky to have success early in this development which led me to defining our true voice and underlying philosophy and approach.
“...I learned how to approach design as a tool for better living and that design was not just an occupation, but a way of life.”
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
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PABLO DESIGNS
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LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
How did Pablo Designs end up in San Francisco and what factors have kept your business here?
We appreciate how much thought and creativity is put into each of your products. What is the longest and the shortest time you’ve spent designing a successful lamp?
Your packaging is stunning and clearly an important part of your product. How does Pablo Design’s packaging speak to the design of the lamp itself?
After a few years in Southern CA, San Francisco became my calling. It’s an incredibly open minded environment that’s conducive to the entrepreneurial spirit. I have been able to foster incredible relationships within the design community here and have been able to tap into a talented pool of creatives who share a common vision.
Design incubation period can be between 6 months to 2 years depending on the size and complexity of the product or collection.
We consider packaging as a critical aspect to the product’s overall design. Good packaging enhances the overall user experience and provides for a better branding opportunity for the design. Good packaging also reinforces our sustainability story, ensuring we use only recyclable materials that pack as small as possible.
We understand that scalability and longevity are motifs in your work. What is it that pushes you to create under those constraints? The effort and energy we place into the design development process forces us to create solutions that are scalable from application to application . . . a systemic and scalable design can solve for more usable scenarios and ensures greater success for the collection overall.
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PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
“Our job is to enhance the relationship between the object, light, and the space that surrounds it. Our work seldom takes center stage but rather complements its surroundings.”
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SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
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PABLO DESIGNS
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LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
How do you tackle the issue of overconsumption and sustainability in the lighting industry through your own product?
You mentioned that architecture plays a role in your designs – can you speak to that a little more?
Our approach is to counter the traditional model of overconsumption by striving to create designs that are more permanent and that stand the test of time. However, this approach does present challenges as technology advances over time. Our job is to make sure we keep the same design moving forward and simply plug in new technology over time.
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Of course, architecture is a defining inspiration for our design philosophy and approach to our work. Our goal is to create solutions that integrate seamlessly into spaces, whereby the lighting object is always in harmony within many different kinds of spaces regardless of whether they are modern or transitional. Our job is to enhance the relationship between the object, light, and the space that surrounds it. Our work seldom takes center stage but rather complements its surroundings. For us, this is a recipe for success.
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PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
Pablo Designs seems to always be forwardthinking. What do you envision for Pablo Designs in the future?
Good design principles and practices will continue to drive the nature of our work and technology will continue to play a critical role. To give you a brief peek into the future, we are currently launching a portable lantern + Bluetooth speaker that will be able to move from the indoors to the outdoors and travel with you anywhere you go. It’s called UMA and will be launching with the Museum of Modern Art. We see light integrating with other technology types and envision a world that’s smarter and more connected than ever before. We are striving to be a leader in this technology renaissance and see how light can be evermore integrated into our daily lighting experiences. Another area of focus is the workplace where light plays such a critical role. We are planning to combine light with flexible partitions, creating flexible workspaces that are infinitely reconfigurable to address our new working lifestyle.
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PABLO DESIGNS
LIGHTING DESIGN
SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
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(an•cil•lar•y) is brought to you by CRI’s Ancillary Specialists, Virginia Nonaca and Madeline Fitzwater. With over 11 years of combined experience in specifying commercial furniture in the Bay Area A&D community, they have cultivated a strong understanding and appreciation of quality furniture craftsmanship and design. Their vision for (an•cil•lar•y) is to share with you the stories behind what inspires and moves them. For more information & product pricing, contact: ancillary@cri-sf.com 415.293.0729
Creator / Editor / Interviews Virginia Nonaca Senior Ancillary Specialist CRI Co-Creator / Editor / Interviews / Photography Madeline Fitzwater Ancillary Specialist CRI Design / Photography Michael Stark Graphic Designer CRI
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